Henry Wilson  

contributor: Richard LaBrosse

 
1955  

RITES TUESDAY FOR HENRY WILSON  
LONG TIME FALLS RESIDENT 

, . OCONTO FALLS — The word of the death of Henry Wilson, 82, on Saturday afternoon came as a great shock to his family and friends as he had not been ill. The Wilsons had lived on a farm near Oconto Falls since 1942, but closed it last fall and moved to Pulaski where they were living with her son Loren Wilson. They had driven in to Pulaski and were shopping in a grocery store when he was stricken with a heart attack.

A physician was called and Mr. Wilson was rushed to the hospital in Oconto Falls, but passed away shortly after arrival. Mr. Wilson had never been seriously ill at any time.

He was born in Angelica October 9, 1873 and at an early age worked on farms and in lumber camps in N. E. Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.

On May 8, 1896 he was married to Edith McLaughlin at Seymour. There are two daughters, Marjorie, Mrs. H. A. Kune of Chester, England and Lulu, Mrs. Joseph Plain of Oconto Falls.

About 1900 the family moved to Oconto Falls, where he was employed by the Union Manufacturing company. One of his first tasks was the excavation of a basement for the home of his employer, Mr. John Bach. The house is now the home of his daughter, Mrs. Plain.

He drove team and hauled a considerable amount of lumber from Hickory Corners to the Falls yard.

In 1903 he helped build the first wooden dam on the Oconto River above the bridge, and later continued to "ride Carriage" in the Union Mfg. Company's sawmill until it burned in 1912. After that he worked in the "wet room" for the Falls Manufacturing Company until it closed during the depression. He was among the first to work in the CCC camps and enjoyed building roads, bridges and dams, as well as planting trees.

Mrs. Edith Wilson died of scarlet fever on November 18, 1923. On September 2, 1942 he married his lifelong friend, Mrs. Daisy Wilson, and they lived on their little farm near here until closing it for the winter last fall.

The remains lay in state at the Soulek Funeral Home until noon Tuesday when they were taken to the Methodist church. Rites were conducted by the Rev. Huntley C. Lewis at two o'clock and interment was made in Woodlawn Cemetery. Pallbearers were Harold, Loyd, Loren, Douglas and Archie Wilson, Step-sons and Donald Kraning.

Miss Joyce Lartz presided at the organ and Mrs. James Schaub sang "Let the Lower Lights Be Burning" and "The Old Rugged Cross."

Heartfelt sympathy is extended to the bereaved.


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