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Information for Harold B Wilson, birth father of Dorotha Ruth Winters.

The Corning (NY) Evening Leader, Jul 15, 1925, reported: "Adoption papers were granted today by Surrogate Smith in the adoption proceeding of Dorothy Ruth Wilson, age 12, daughter of Harold B. Wilson to John G. Winters of Caton." As mentioned in the information for Dorotha Ruth Winters, that daughter was, in fact, born2159 Feb 27, 1925, 12 days before the death3358 of her birth mother, Dorotha (Gridley) Wilson.

Harold Wilson's Parents

James B Wilson, age 39, married2200 Nov 4, 1890, in Sheffield, PA, Mrs Jennie W Isherwood, age 30. Both were residents of Cambrige, PA, at that time. No further information regarding Jennie's first marriage is immediately evident. In any case, James was born ~1851, and Jennie ~1860.

In 1900, Harold B Wilson, b Jan 1900, age 4/12, is listed as the son of James B Wilson, b Jul 1851, and James' wife, Jennie W., born Jun 1861.

That information appears to coincide closely with the information discussed below, to identify Harold's parents, In particular, in the marriage record of Harold and Dorotha Gridley, "Ischoold" is likely a mispelling of Isherwood..

Harold Wilson's First Wife, Dorotha Ruth Winters' Birth Mother

Harold Beech Wilson, a tool maker by trade, the son of James and Jennie (Ischood [sic]) Wilson, married firstA on Mar 21, 1922, in Elmira, NY, Dorotha Mary Gridley, daughter of Mahlon and Nellie (Clark) Gridley.

The obituary for Mrs Harold Willson, nee Gridley (clipping below) states she died "Tuesday afternoon March 9." In fact, Tuesday was March 10, and Steuben Co. (NY) Historian, Ms. E Silliman, provided information: "Death record (3/10/1925) for Dorotha M Wilson is in City Corning. Parents - Mahlon J and Nellie M Clark Gridley," which corresponds to the information in the obituary. In addition, the cited obituary mentions another daughter Wanda. Wanda's obituary3359 mentions her parents "Dorotha (Gridley) Wilson and Harold Wilson of Caton, NY," and her birthdate June 28, 1923.

Harold Wilson's Second Wife

Less than a month after the untimely death of his first wife, Harold B Wilson, the son of James and Jennie (Beach) Wilson, married secondB on Apr 11, 1925, in Andover, NY, Lena Viola Hepworth, age 18, the daughter of Fred and Stella (Miles) Hepworth.

About 2 months later, Harold and Lena appear in the 1925 New York state census3370 in Corning, enumerated ~June, 1925. Harold's daughters Wanda, age 2, and "Baby" Wilson, age 90 days, are listed with them. Baby Wilson is most certainly the Dorotha Ruth Wilson whom Harold gave up in adoption the following month to John Winters.

Harold Wilson's Third Wife

Whether Harold and first wife Lena had divorced between 1925 and 1930, or Lena died in that interval, as indicated in Harold's obituary below, at the time of his death, he was married to Beatrice Emery of Corning, NY. By 1930, Harold, third wife Beatrice, Harold's daughter Wando O., and son Harold B Jr (age 1) residedC in Erie, PA. Harold was working as a "fender man" for an auto company. In 1940, Harold, Beatrice, son Harold Jr (age 10), and daughter Jeanne Louise (age 5), resided2452 in Los Angeles, CA. That census record indicates that all four members of the family had resided in Columbia, SC, in 1935.

A. "New York, County Marriages, 1847-1848; 1908-1936," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-159382-114494-47?cc=1618491 : accessed 4 August 2015), Chemung > Marriage records, 1916-1923, vol 2 > image 460 of 540; county offices, New York.
B. "New York, County Marriages, 1847-1848; 1908-1936," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-159371-34013-96?cc=1618491 : accessed 4 August 2015), Allegany > Marriage records, 1917-1932, vol 2 > image 285 of 526; county offices, New York.
C. 1930 Fed Census PA, Erie Co., Erie City; www.ancestry.com.

1434. 1900 Fed Census NY, Steuben Co., Bath; www.ancestry.com
2159. U. S. Public Records Index, Volumes 1 and 2; www.ancestry.com, familysearch.org
2200. Pennsylvania County Marriages, 1885-1950; familysearch.org

2452. 1940 Fed Census CA, Los Angeles Co., Los Angeles; www.familysearch.org
3358. Obit - Wilson, Mrs Harold, Corning (NY) Evening Leader, Mar 11, 1925; fultonhistory.com
3359. Obit - Davies, Wanda O (Wilson), Star-Gazette, Mar 13, 2013; www.legacy.com
3370. 1925 State Census NY, Steuben Co., Corning; www.ancestry.com