Fifth Generation

28. Adam Abraham,Sr WILSON⁴ was born on 20 July 1834 in Filehne, (near Landsberg Posen), Germany. He emigrated in 1853 from New York City, New York County, New York, USA. He lived in Birmingham, Van Buren County, Iowa, USA in 1854. Adam lived in County Line, Jefferson County, Iowa, USA in 1855. He appeared in the census in 1855 in Libertyville, Jefferson County, Iowa, USA. He was naturalized in 1857. Adam lived in Libertyville, Jefferson County, Iowa, USA in 1861. He appeared in the census in 1870 at Libertyville in Jefferson County, Iowa, USA. He appeared in the census in 1905 at Libertyville in Jefferson County, Iowa, USA. Adam lived 110 M Davis St in Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa, USA in 1909. He lived at 1910 N Davis in Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa, USA in 1910.⁵ He died on 22 May 1922 at the age of 87 in Hazelwood, Grinnell, Poweshiek County, Iowa, USA. Adam has Ancestral File Number L5FX-R59. Adam Abraham Wilson was born in the village of Filehne near Landsberg Posen, Germany on the 20th day of July, 1834.
(Filehne-Wielan, Filehne-Trzcianka, Landsberg-Gorzow(wielkopolski)
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org

He came to the USA in 1853 traveling with his older sister Katrina, landing in NY. She was a seamstress or tailor and I believe he was as well.

He also was fairly learned, since he spoke most of the languages of Europe fluently and was brought to translate when any foreigner came into town. My suspicion is that he was drafted into military school at the age of 12-13 and was due to go into full Military?

The last name was pronounced something like "vilsonski", or "vilczynski", but not certain, since I only heard it spoken. He was deathly afraid that they would find him, so changed his name to Wilson. I think he was either a draft evader, or some sort of a spy against the Germans, I have heard both. After coming to the USA, he was a traveling salesman in the Midwest from a covered wagon selling sewing machines.

1870 Iowa census, Liberty Township, Fairfield Post Office , Jefferson County p. 114, 22 July 1870, dwelling 36, family 37. Adam Wilson 36 Poland, merchant, real and personal assets $3000 and $4000, with (all born Iowa) Clarisse 29, Nickolas W. 7, Kate C. 5, Hyman 3, and William 1/12, born May . 1880 Iowa census, Liberty Township, Jefferson County p. 22, 18 June 1880, dwelling 179, family 181. Adam Wilson 45 Poland (parents born Poland), sewing machine salesman(?), with Clarissa J. 38 Iowa (parents Virginia and Ohio) and children (all born Iowa) Nicholas 17, Kate 15, Human 13, Adam J r. 7, Charles 5, Jane 3, Minnie 3, and Carrie 6/12, born November.

My guess: I believe that he had been selected into the Prussian Army and had been trained in the Military schools since the age of around 13. At age 18, he would be forced into the Prussian army for a period of 18 years. According to information online, forced Jewish conscripts were killed by ordinary Prussian soldiers on a regular basis, which is why he fled the country before going into full service.

Possible names: Wolinski, Wilczyinski, Wilsonski, Wilkowsky

The life-style, songs, and folklore of the amkho sher un ayren ("the simple people of the scissors and ironing board") became in Yiddish literature the expression of the joys and sufferings of Jewish workers. This way of life was carried overseas in the mass emigrations to France, England, and the U.S.

Adam Abraham,Sr WILSON was born on Jul 20 1834 in Filehne, (near Landsberg Posen),Germany. He emigrated in 1853 through New York City. I was under the impression he came to the US with his sister Katrina and had an older brother already here. He shortly moved out west to Iowa settling in the village of County Line, Iowa (just south of Batavia, Iowa.
He changed his name to Wilson upon ariving to the US in order to hide from the Germans. My mother thought to evade the draft, however I remember my Grandmother saying he had worked as a spy against the Germans. Grandma knew the name and I can remember her saying a couple of times. She had a stroke before I asked her to spell it. Mom said it sounded like "Vil-shon-ski", "vil-chin-ski", or "Vol-chin-ski" The best guess I have found is Wilkowsky. In searching Castle Island for immigrants in 1853 the only other "wil" names I found were Wilkinsky, Wilkerosky, Witkowsky, wittkowski, and Wilczynski's but none fit based on age and companion. There was a A. Wilkowsky and a H Wilkowsky(Could easily have been a K) of the proper ages, but gender reversed. In the 1915 Iowa Census Adam stated he had 9yr of school and 2 yr of college.

1915 Iowa Census - 119 N Davis, Ottumwa, IA, Retired, 60 yr in US, 55 yr in Iowa. (Lutheran) 9yr school, 2yr college

CENSUS Data:
Adam A Wilson, Sr.
7/22/1870 Liberty Twp, Jefferson Co, 36, Merchant, Poland
6/18/1880 Liberty Twp, Jefferson Co, 45, Sewing Machine Agt, Poland, Poland, Poland
1885 Libertyville, IA, 50, Farmer
1895 Libertyville, IA, 60, Gen Merchant, Protestant, Clarissa Methodist
6/18/1900 Liberty Twp, Jefferson Co, 40, Merchant, Germany, Germany, Germany
1905 Libertville, 71, 48 in US, 45 in IA, Retired
1915 119 N Davis, Ottumwa, 80, 60 in US, 55 in IA, retired, germany, germany, germany, Lutheran
1/19/1920 Grinnell, IA. 85, Img. 1854, nat.1857: hyman salesman-grocery, Minnie M. Nurse-Prinale

1915 Iowa Census - 119 N Davis, Ottumwa, IA, Retired, 60 yr in US, 55 yr in Iowa. (Lutheran) 9yr school, 2yr college

29. Clarisa Jane BONNET⁴ was born on 7 April 1841 in Jefferson County, Iowa, USA. She appeared in the census in 1855 in Libertyville, Jefferson County, Iowa, USA. She appeared in the census in 1860 in Jefferson County, Iowa, USA. Clarisa appeared in the census in 1870 at Libertyville in Jefferson County, Iowa, USA. She died on 2 February 1918 at the age of 76 in Grinnell, Poweshiek County, Iowa, USA.

Children were:

	i.	Nickolas J.(I) WILSON⁴ was born on 19 November 1862 in Libertyville, Jefferson County, Iowa, USA. He was buried in 1923 in Hazelwood, Grinnell, Poweshiek County, Iowa, USA. He died on 30 April 1923 at the age of 60 in Eldon, Wapello County, Iowa, USA. Nickolas lived in Eldon, Wapello County, Iowa, USA.
	ii.	Hanna Kate WILSON⁴ was born on 1 December 1864 in Libertyville, Jefferson County, Iowa, USA. She died on 19 November 1911 at the age of 46. She lived in Grinnell, Poweshiek County, Iowa, USA.
	iii.	William Ruben WILSON⁴ was born about 1866. He died about 1866 at the age of 0.
	iv.	Mary Francis WILSON⁴ was born about 1869. She died Y about 1869 at the age of 0.
14	v.	Adam Abraham,Jr WILSON.
	vi.	Charles A. WILSON⁴ was born on 7 December 1874. He lived in Denver, Denver County, Colorado, USA on 28 April 1910.²⁸ On 28 April 1910 he was a Grocery Salesman in Denver, Denver County, Colorado, USA.²⁸ Charles lived in Denver, Denver County, Colorado, USA on 2 January 1920.²⁹ He lived in Denver, Denver County, Colorado, USA on 6 April 1930.¹⁴ He lived in Denver, Denver County, Colorado, USA on 6 April 1940.³⁰ On 6 April 1940 Charles was a Senior Clerk State Office in Denver, Denver County, Colorado, USA. He died in 1953 at the age of 79 in Wheat Ridge, Jefferson County, Colorado, USA. Crown Hill Cemetery, BLock 25 He died Y.
	vii.	Alice Caroline (Carrie) WILSON⁴ was born on 24 November 1879 in Libertyville, Jefferson County, Iowa, USA. She lived in Stockport, Van Buren County, Iowa, USA in 1911.³¹ She died Y on 24 August 1960 at the age of 80 in Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa, USA. Alice was buried on 27 August 1960 in Fell Cemetery, Libertyville, Jefferson County, Iowa, USA. married George E son George L, Helen d6/1957, son died infant, 3 grandchildren 1 GGC
	viii.	Dan P. "DP" WILSON⁴ was born on 28 November 1882 in Libertyville, Jefferson County, Iowa, USA.¹ He lived in Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa, USA in 1911.³² He died Y.
	ix.	Edward John WILSON⁴ was born on 17 February 1886. He lived 4307 7th Ave in Rock Island, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA on 12 September 1918. On 12 September 1918 he was a Rock Island RR Clerk in Rock Island, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA. Edward died Y before 19 January 1920 at the age of 33. He lived in Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois, USA.
	x.	Hyman N. WILSON⁴ was born on 26 November 1867 in Libertyville, Jefferson County, Iowa, USA. He died on 26 November 1911 at the age of 44. He lived in Grinnell, Poweshiek County, Iowa, USA.
	xi.	Aminda(Minnie) Mae WILSON⁴ was born on 17 April 1877 in Libertyville, Jefferson County, Iowa, USA. She died Y. She lived in St Louis, St Louis County, Missouri, USA.
	xii.	Jane (Jennie) Mae WILSON⁴ was born on 17 April 1877 in Libertyville, Jefferson County, Iowa, USA. She died on 25 November 1949 at the age of 72 in Hazelwood, Grinnell, Poweshiek County, Iowa, USA. She lived in Grinnell, Poweshiek County, Iowa, USA.