Sunday, August 28, 2016

Lillian Wilson's Gravesite

Here is a photo I found on "Find a Grave" for my grandmothers gravestone. She is buried at Lakewood Cemetery in Rocky River OH. At the time my grandfather purchased two graves. However he later remarried and moved to Dayton and is buried there. The other grave has transferred to me for whatever I decide to do with it.


Friday, August 26, 2016

Wilson Family Gathering

Gathering of the James Wilson & Florence (Brumley) Wilson family. My dad is on the left in the front row. His Dad is on the right end second row kneeling. The other kids in front belong to Mary (Wilson) Ratchford. Back row right is Les Wilson and his wife Dorothy is right in front of him. Ray Wilson is the tall one in the middle of the back row. Ruth Wilson is right behind James Wilson who is wearing a vest. I forget the year but would guess its the late 1930's.

More Misc Wilson Family Photos

Al Wilson Sr., Ray Wilson, Florence Wilson, James Wilson, Mary (Wilson) Ratchford & Ruth (Wilson) Leach at 50th wedding anniversary

Ray Wilson, Lora Wilson and child. Not sure which one it is

Al Wilson Sr. in black on the far right. He worked for Wesson Oil Snowdrift and also at Hunt Wesson.

Al Wilson Jr. in Front of Ruth (Wilson) Leach's house on HWY 28 in Pleasant Plain Ohio

Back of Aunt Ruth's house

The large garden behind Aunt Ruth's house. That is my Grandfather Wilson, Cecil Leach and myself

Al Wilson Sr., Me and Cecil Leach in back garden area

Al Wilson Sr., Nancy Wilson, Al Wilson Jr. Me, Elsie Wilson. 1974 at Van Nuys Masonic Temple for a Demolay installation for which my band played






Misc. Wilson Family Photos

The following photos were found on the website "Find a Grave". My Great Grandfather and Mother are buried in the Decatur Ohio Cemetery:





Also buried there is the youngest son of James and Florence Wilson, Les Wilson and his wife Dorothy:




Ray Wilson and his first wife Lora:





Ray Wilson's daughter Florence:


Ray Wilson & Al Wilson Jr., 1977 Part 7


Ray Wilson & Al Wilson Jr., 1977 Part 6


Ray Wilson & Al Wilson Jr., 1977 Part 5


Thursday, August 25, 2016

Ray Wilson & Al Wilson Jr., 1977 Part 4

Part 4 is a four way conversation about family heirlooms and who should get it and so on. Not the most elevated of conversations perhaps but one I would guess many of us have been part of. The meaning that personal property of the ones we knew and loved is powerful. That said here is part 4


Ray Wilson & Al Wilson Jr., 1977 Part 3


Ray Wilson & Al Wilson Jr., 1977 Part 2


Ray Wilson & Al Wilson Jr. 1977 Part 1


Here is the first of a conversation between my Dad and his Uncle Raymond "Ray" Wilson. The younger brother of my Grandfather Al Wilson Sr. Also on the tape is Louise Wilson, Ray's second wife and myself. It was recorded on August 27, 1977 at 1927 Madison Ct., Carmel Indiana. The conversation is predominantly about the Wilson family. At the time Ray was in his mid-seventies. He was almost completely blind by then. Up until 1971 he and Louise lived in San Mateo CA on Parrot Dr. The picture below is from 1964 and that is my Dad's red Pontiac LeMans in the driveway. Behind the house was a huge rolling field which was between the house and the college. Horses grazed in the field and my Aunt Louise and I would go over the fence and fee them sugar cubes. We used to visit Ray and Louise once or twice a year until they moved back to Indiana to be near his son and family.

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Wilson Family Photos & Family Info

The next series of recordings will be my Dad talking with his Uncle Ray Wilson. Most of the conversation is about family history. As a preface to that here are some photos relating to the conversation as well as the handwritten notes my Dad was taking during the conversation. Included on the tape is Ray's second wife Louise, a fantastic woman and myself:

 James & Florence Wilson, Carey Wilson III, 1955
Russellville Ohio RR #1 Brown Co. Ohio

 James Wilson, Al Wilson Jr. Carey Wilson III & Florence Wilson, 1955

 Al Wilson Sr., Care Wilson III, Al Wilson Jr., Wayne MI 1958

 Al Wilson Sr., Carey Wilson III & Elsie Wilson (Al Wilson's 2nd wife)

 Elsie Wilson, Carey Wilson III & Al Wilson Sr., 1957

Nancy Wilson, Grandma Sherer, Carey Wilson III & Al Wilson Jr.
1344 Edanola Ave. Lakewood OH 1955


Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Al Wilson Sr. & Al Wilson Jr. Tape Part 3


Al Wilson Sr. & Al Wilson Jr. Tape Part 2


Al Wilson Sr. & Al Wilson Jr. Tape Part 1

The following audio was recorded on August 28, 1977 at my Grandfathers apartment in Dayton Ohio. Also on the tape in the background are Elsie Wilson, my grandfather's second wife and me. In part 1 they are discussing Cleveland back in the 1930's - 1950's. They touch on some interesting Cleveland crime connections on my mom's die of the family. Specifically the husband of her Aunt, John McNulty. I have recently received some new information from my surviving Uncle and am in the process of investigating that further. The quality from the cassette tape is not very good as it was recorded on a portable cassette recorder on inexpensive tape back in the 70's. But it is clear enough to understand.

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Nancy Wilson Talks About Lillian Wilson Part 1

I do not remember my grandmother Wilson. She died the day after my first birthday. However my parents spoke of her often so combined with the collection of photos and personal items I feel as if I know her. Back in 1986 I asked my Mom to make a cassette recording of her memories of my grandmother. As one would expect she talks about other family members and friends. Due to file size limitations the audio is broken up into many parts. I also had to eliminate all the photographs and the quality is not high definition visually or audibly.