James M & Florence M (Reynolds) Wilson, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio (2011 photo by Karen)
This is the tombstone of James M. and Florence M. (Reynolds) Wilson, located in row 10 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:
WILSON
Florence M.
1898-1989
James M.
1897-1958
James Michael Wilson was born in Henry County, Ohio, 9 July 1897, the son of James A. Wilson (1849-1943) and Elizabeth (Gessner) (1854-1931) Wilson. [1]
James M. Wilson, age 1 year, was enumerated in the 1900 census with his family: James, 50, head; Elizabeth, 45, wife; William F, 21, son; Emma B, 17, daughter; and James M, 1, son. The family lived in Flatrock Township, Henry, County, Ohio, and according to the 1900 census, the parents had been married 24 years and 3 of their 5 children were living. All members of the family were born in Ohio and the father James was a farmer. [2]
James M. Wilson, 12, was the only child living with his parents in Flatrock Township in 1910. [3]
James M. Wilson, 20, married Florence M. Reynolds, 18, in Monroe County, Michigan, on 9 August 1917. They were married by F.R. Vine, a Baptist minister, and Mrs. Howard Reid and Mrs. Ollie Seymour were witnesses to their marriage. At the time of their marriage both the bride and groom resided at Holgate, Ohio. James was born in Ohio and Florence was born in Michigan. [4]
Florence M. Reynolds was born 19 September 1898 in Adrian, Michigan, the daughter of Ernest A. (1876-1948) and Nellie (Patten) (1877-1963) Reynolds. [5]
Florence Reynolds, enumerated with her family in 1900: Ernest A, 23, head; Patten Reynolds, 20, wife; Florence M, 1, daughter; and Eva L, 4 months, daughter. Her father Ernest was a porter at a hotel. The mother was born in Ohio and the other family members were born in Michigan. [6]
By 1910 the Ernest Reynolds family of four had moved to Toledo, Ohio, where the father was a salesman. [7]
By 1920, three years after their marriage, James and Florence Wilson had a daughter, Virginia Mae, born about 1918. The family lived in Flatrock Township, Henry County, Ohio, where James was a farmer: James M, 22, head; Florence M, 21, wife; and Virginia M, 1, daughter. [8]
By 1930 their family had grown to include Marvel E, born about 1921, and Imogene L, born about 1922, in addition to their oldest daughter Virginia Mae. James continued to farm in Flatrock Township. [9]
Sometime between April 1935 and April 1940 the James M. Wilson family moved to French Township, Adams County, Indiana. Their son James Leroy was born in Ohio in 1935 and was baptized by Rev. S.K. Strams at Holgate, Ohio, on 12 April 1936, so they likely moved to Adams County after his baptism.
By 1940 daughters Marvel and Virginia Wilson had left home and their siblings Imogene, 18, and James Leroy, 4, were the only children living at home with their parents. The father James M. continued to farm in French Township. [10]
In 1950 James M Wilson, 50, wife Florence, 50, and son James Leroy, 14, were living in Blue Creek Township, Adams County, Indiana, where James M. farmed and son James L. helped on the farm. [11]
The Wilsons attended Zion Lutheran, Chatt, during this time and their son James Leroy was confirmed at Zion Chatt on 2 April 1950. His church confirmation record also gives information about his baptism.
James M. and Florence Wilson had a Monroe, Indiana, address, and according to James’ death certificate they lived 2 miles east of Salem. According to Zion Chatt’s records, James M. Wilson died of a heart attack on 15 December 1958 at Adams County Memorial Hospital, Decatur, where he had been hospitalized for a week. He was 61 years, 5 months, and 6 days old. He was buried on the 18th and was survived by his wife, 3 daughters, a son, 3 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. [1]
Florence died at Lakeside Manor, Decatur, Indiana, on 26 August 1989, at age 90. Her cause of death was a heart attack and she was buried the 30th. Her occupation was a cook. [5] Neither her death nor burial are recorded in Zion Chatt’s records.
James M. and Florence M. (Reynolds) Wilson had the following children:
Virginia Mae Wilson (1918-1991), married Aiden L. Babcock; married Leo E. Ulman
Marval Elizabeth Wilson (1920-2003), married Earl Stader
Imogene Lee Wilson (1922-1999), married Robert L. Hahnert
James Leroy Wilson (1935-)
[1] Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, Ohio, death/burial records, James M. Wilson; and Indiana Death Certificates, Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Year 1958, roll 15, James M Wilson, 15 Dec 1958; Ancestry.com.
[2] 1900 U.S. Census, Ohio, Henry County, Flatrock, ED 24, p.9, dwelling 183, family 189, James F [sic] Wilson; Ancestry.com.
[3] 1910 U.S. Census, Ohio, Henry County, Flatrock, ED 26, p.8B, dwelling & family 100, James Wilson; Ancestry.com.
[4] Michigan Marriage Records, 1867-1952, Michigan Dept of Community Health, Division of Vital Records & Health Statistics, record 709, James M Wilson & Florence M Reynolds, 9 Aug 1917; Ancestry.com.
[5] Indiana Death Certificates, Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Year 1989, roll 12, Florence M Wilson, 26 Aug 1989; Ancestry.com.
[6] 1900 U.S. Census, Michigan, Lenawee County, Adrian Ward 2, ED 35, p.1, dwelling & family 2, Ernest A Reynolds; Ancestry.com.
[7] 1910 U.S. Census, Ohio, Lucas County, Toledo Ward 1, ED 31, p.7A, dwelling 147 & family 153, Ernest A Reynolds; Ancestry.com.
[8] 1920 U.S. Census, Ohio, Henry County, Flatrock, ED 52, p.9A, dwelling 180, family 181, James M Wilson; Ancestry.com.
[9] 1930 U.S. Census, Ohio, Henry County, Flatrock, ED 7, p.8A, dwelling & family 170, James Wilson; Ancestry.com.
[10] 1940 U.S. Census, Indiana, Adams County, French Township, ED 1-2, p.5B, household 75, James M Wilson; Ancestry.com.
[11] 1950 U.S. Census, Indiana, Adams County, Blue Creek Township, ED 1-1, p.17, dwelling 189, James M Wilson; Ancestry.com.
