Clifford Wilson

 Clifford Karl Wilson was born 20 Sep 1955 in Traverse City, Grand Traverse, Michigan. The son of Nicholas J. Wilson and Elsie Mark, he joined siblings Eugene, Lillian, William, Leonard, Nicholas, and Melvin.

His birth, at the Osteopathic Hospital, was announced in that afternoon's edition of the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

The Traverse City Record-Eagle of 21 Sep 1955 told of his and Elsie's dismissal from the hospital.

As was common practice with Native American youth during the 1960s "scoop" era, Clifford and his siblings were taken from their parents and placed in foster homes multiple times. 

Eventually Clifford and two younger siblings were placed for adoption. The names in the article are not the children's real names.

Ann Arbor News 17 Aug 1969

Clifford refused to be adopted and remained in foster care. The picture below was taken in 1972 by brother Leonard, while visiting sister Lillian's home in Traverse City.

While the exact date is unknown at this time, one of the foster homes he lived in was the home of Lyle Zak and his wife Marian King Zak.

Clifford was briefly in the army, but no records have been found yet.

The pictures below were taken by brother Leonard in spring 1974, while visiting Leonard in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Clifford was an excellent artist. This painting was done on the side of a friend's shed. 

In March of 1986, feeling unwell, Clifford went to the hospital in Grand Rapids. There the doctors told sister Lillian that Clifford was having delirium tremens (DTs) and to take him home. He died at her home shortly after midnight on 30 Mar 1986. An autopsy showed the actual cause of death was infective endocarditis of the aortic valve. 

Clifford was buried at Kewadin Indian Mission Cemetery, near his father and brothers Nick and Eugene.