Clyde R. Wilson Family

WILSON, KRAMER, HOLTGREWE, HELD

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/26/2017 at 08:27:54

A Family Finds Each Other

June 25, 1977, will long be remembered for the Clyde R. Wilson family. On that day Harold Wilson of Grundy Center, Clifford D. Wilson of Conrad, along with Otis Wilson of Rogers, Ark., and Mrs. Lois Wilson Kramer of Magalia, Calif. met their half brother and sisters, Mrs. Roy (Bonita) Holtgrewe of Addieville, Ill., Clyde Roy Wilson Jr. of Manchester, Mo., Mrs. Clarence (Leona) Held of St. Louis, Mo., and Charles Edward Wilson Bonner of Crystal City, Mo., at the home of Clyde Roy Wilson.

Shortly after the death of their mother, Clifford, Harold, Otis and Lois came to Iowa from Arkansas and lived in the Conrad, Grundy Center and Marshalltown area. Their father remarried and six years later was killed in an accident. Four years later, his wife died. The first family knew that there were several children, and a contact was made by Clifford with the two girls over 40 years ago. After that nothing was heard of the family.

In later years, attempts were made to locate them but without success. On June 13, 1977, when Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Wilson attended a wedding at Corning, Ark., they went to Poplar Bluff, Mo., and placed an ad in the Daily American Republic newspaper asking for information of the family. Mr. and Mrs. Albert King, who had been foster parents to Leona, happened to read the personal column in the paper on the 15th. Mrs. King called Leona and told her she thought she should contact the Wilson's. She did ... she wrote a letter that night.

Shortly after arriving home on the 16th, the phone rang asking if they were the party seeking information of the Clyde Wilson family. "I am one of the daughters. I have written a letter, but I couldn't wait!" The next day Bonita called, the following day Roy called and the fourth day Charles Wilson Bonner (who had been adopted) called.

They all live in the St. Louis, Mo. area. Excitement was at a high level all week! A beautiful meeting took place Saturday afternoon and evening, the 25th, as the family met for the first time! They will all be coming to Iowa to visit in the near future.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 7 July 1977