Honoring Native Ancestors: Roger Wilson c1895-1972

Roger Wilson was said to be born 15 Nov 1893 in Fountain, Mason, Michigan, the son of James Wilson and Elizabeth Wesley. [From his tombstone. It is more likely he was born in 1894 or 1895.]

Brother Charles was said to be born 25 Jan 1897. [This is the date he gave on both WWI and WWII draft cards.]

Brother William Philip was said to be born 19 Aug 1899 in Freesoil, Mason, Michigan [This is the date he gave on both WWI & WWII draft cards, but he is not listed in 1900 census].

1900 Federal Census - Grant, Mason, Michigan

John, Wesley, born ___ 1840, 60, married 30 years, born Michigan, parents born Michigan, no occupation.

Mary, wife, born Jan 1860, 40, 3 children born, 3 children living, born Michigan, parents born Michigan

John, son, born Apr 1886, 17, born Michigan, parents born Michigan

Jennie, daughter, born ___1894, 5, born Michigan, parents born Michigan

Willson, Jim, born Apr 1862, 38, married 12 years, born Canada, father born Michigan, mother born Canada, day laborer.

Mary, wife, born Jun 1864, 35, 2 children born, 2 children living, born Michigan, parents born Michigan

Jacob, son, born Jun 1892, 7, born Michigan, father born Canada, mother born Michigan

Johny, son, born Apr 1896, 4, born Michigan, parents born Michigan

bottom - All are listed as Ottawa, parents Ottawa. John's family listed as 1/4 white, fixed home, became citizen in 1880; Jim's family listed as 1/2 white, fixed home, became citizen in 1882.

There are so many errors in this census record it's hard to trust any of it.

Name was John Wesley not Wesley John. Children are Frank and Emma. Mary had 8 children. Blood count wrong.

Name was Lizzie Wilson not Mary, her and Jim's birth off by a decade, children are Roger and Charles. William was missing if born in 1899. Blood count wrong.

Sister Addie was born 19 Aug 1900 in Grant, Mason, Michigan

Addie died before the Durant Roll was taken in 1908.

Sister Nancy was born abt 1904

An unnamed sister was born 3 Jul 1906 in Grant, Mason, Michigan. Sadly she died 15 Jul 1906 in Grant.

Sister Sarah was born 29 Jun 1907 in Grant, Mason, Michigan. Her baptism was recorded in the Riverton Indian Church Registry.

Father James drowned in Hamlin lake and was found 4 Aug 1907 in Mason county, Michigan

Record from the Rye Funeral Home states James was buried in P.F. (potters field).

Charlevoix County Herald - 17 Aug 1907

On 11 Jan 1908, Roger, 13, and brothers Charles, 11, and William, 8, were admitted to Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School for a period of three years. The boys are listed as Ottawa, parent Mrs. Lizzie Wilson of Freesoil.

Durant Roll Field Notes 1908 #27 page 52

Nay -yaw-waw-sung or John Wesley, 67, Freesoil, wife Mary, 56, on roll with husb. in 1870.

Children:

1) Lizzie Wilson, age 32, Freesoil, husband James Wilson, age 36, died Aug 1907 - Canadian Indian, not enrolled.

Roger, 13

Chas, 11

Wm, 9

Nancy, 4

Sarah, born Jul 1907

2) Frank Wesley, 22, Freesoil, not married

3) Amy Wesley, 14, Freesoil

[This is the last record of Nancy and Sarah, death dates unknown.]

Maternal grandfather John Wesley died 26 Sep 1908. John had served in Company K, 1st Michigan Sharpshooters in the Civil War.

1910 Federal Census - not found

Mount Pleasant Boarding School - 1910

Mount Pleasant Boarding School - 1911

Mount Pleasant Boarding School - 1912. Record states the boys term has expired and they went home on 31 Dec 1911

While William continues to be found in the Mount Pleasant Boarding School records for 1913 to 1916, Roger and Charles are not.

Brother Henry, (son of Louis Crampton), was born 1 May 1914 in Freesoil, Mason, Michigan

Roger, 20, married Elizabeth Moba [Moby], 18, daughter of Joseph Moba, 13 Jun 1917 in Baldwin, Lake, Michigan. Ceremony performed by G. W. Kinney, Minister of the Gospel, witnesses were Mrs. G. W. Kinney and Julia Shaw.

Brother Isaac, (son of Louis Crampton), was born 25 Dec 1917

Roger registered for the draft on 5 Jun 1918 in Eagle River, Vilas, Wisconsin. He gave his birth as 12 Nov 1897 in Fountain, Michigan, his father's birth as Canada, employer as Hackley Phelps Bonnell company. He was described as medium height and build, brown eyes and dark hair.

As a resident of Phelps and an employee of Hackley Phelps Bonnell, Roger and his family would have shopped at the company store.

1920 Federal Census - Phelps, Vilas, Wisconsin

Wilson, Roger, 24, born Michigan, father born Canada, mother born Michigan, laborer at saw mill

Elizabeth F., wife, 24, born Michigan, parents born Michigan

Elizabeth, mother, 45, born Michigan, parents born Michigan

Henry, brother, 7, born Michigan, father born Canada, mother born Michigan, laborer at saw mill

Isaac, brother, 2, born Michigan, father born Canada, mother born Michigan, laborer at saw mill

Maternal grandmother Mary Bailey Wesley died 4 Jul 1925 in Grant, Mason, Michigan.

While his obituary says he married Mary Kisheway, daughter of Julius Kisheway and Martha Cogswell in 1952, they were probably married in 1925. [Roger's first wife, Elizabeth Moby married John Bonner in 1928.]

Son Joseph Eli was born 14 Feb 1927 in Phelps, Vilas, Wisconsin

Daughter Elizabeth (Betty) Jean was born 7 Jan 1929 in Gibbs City, Iron, Michigan

1930 Federal Census - Wisconsin State Prison, Dodge, Wisconsin

Wilson, Roger, 33, 1st married at 20, born Michigan, Ottawa, mixed blood, occupation mending at hosiery mill.

Wilson, William, 29, 1st married at 26, born Michigan, Ottawa, mixed blood, occupation boarder at hosiery mill. [The US department of labor states the boarding operation consists of drying and shaping the wet stockings on wooden or metal forms]

1930 Federal Census - Lincoln, Vilas, Wisconsin

Kisheaway, Julius, head, 57, 1st married at 32, born Michigan, mixed blood, Ottawa, laborer at lumber camp.

Martha, wife, 48, 1st married at 22, born Michigan, mixed blood, Ottawa

Pete, Cecila, daughter, 24, 1st married at 17, born Michigan, mixed blood, Ottawa

Kisheaway, Mary, daughter 21, 1st married at 17, born Wisconsin, mixed blood, Ottawa

Catherine, daughter, 15, born Wisconsin, mixed blood, Ottawa

Caroline, daughter, 11, born Wisconsin, mixed blood, Ottawa

Wilson, Joseph, grandson, 3 1/12, born Wisconsin, mixed blood, Ottawa

Betty, granddaughter, 1 3/12, born Michigan, mixed blood, Ottawa

Daughter Pauline Veronica was born 30 Apr 1933 in Phelps, Vilas, Wisconsin

Daughter Bernadine was born 22 Dec 1936 in Eagle River, Vilas, Wisconsin

Daughter Ruth E. was born 2 Feb 1940 in Wisconsin

1940 Federal Census - Phelps, Vilas, Wisconsin

Wilson, Rodger, 47, born in Michigan, family lived in same house in 1935, wood cutter at log camp

Mary M., wife, 31, born Wisconsin

Joseph E., son, 13, born Wisconsin

Betty E., daughter, 11, born Wisconsin

Pauline V., daughter, 7, born Wisconsin

Bernadine, daughter, 3, born Wisconsin

Ruth E., daughter 1/12, born Wisconsin

Son Roger and daughters Joyce and Beverly were born after 1940.

Roger registered for the draft on 27 Apr 1942. He gave his birth as 15 Nov 1896 in Fountain, Michigan. He was described at white, 5'8" tall, 158 lbs, dark complexion.