John Thomas Wilson

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John T. Wilson was six feet tall, of slender to medium build, blonde, blue-eyed, with fair complexion. He enjoyed working outdoors, and thus found his eventual career working in the southern states agreeable. After his childhood and teenage years during the Great Depression, living on farms and helping his father and grandfather at work in the sawmill and at oil drilling, he married his high school sweetheart from a nearby farm. He served in WWII, mainly as a POW, and afterward lived a very mobile life building power lines for TVA - the Tennessee Valley Authority. His later TVA years and retirement were spent in Scottsboro, Alabama.
(See Complete Biography)


Date Location Notes Sources
Birth 10 Nov 1917 Worth Twp., Butler Co. PA [4]
Marriage 2 Feb 1940 Richland Twp., Venango Co. PA To Ella May Beals [3][4]
Military 19 Jan -17 May 1945 Europe WWII Army Airforce, Cpl.
B17 tail gunner, 483 Bombardment Group,
815 Squadron, based in Foggia, Italy 		caputred near Lenti, Hungary;
POW, Austria & Germany 		[3][4]
Death 18 May 1985 VA Hospital, Birmingham AL [6]
Burial 22 May 1985 Nickleville Presby. Cemetery,
Richland Twp., Venango Co. PA 		[6] 


 Generation 1               Generation 2             Generation 3
 
                                                 +-- Bert Winiford Wilson
                                                 |   (1891-1971)             
                        +-- John Thomas Wilson --+
                        |   (1917-1985)          |
 Elizabeth Ann Wilson --+                        +-- Clara Mabel Wimer
 (1943- )               |                            (1891-1944)
                        +-- Ella May Beals
                            (1917- )
 Sources: [4][6]

Children

(2 daughters with Ella May Beals)

Name Gender Date of Birth Birthplace Spouse Notes Sources
Elizabeth Ann Wilson F [6]
living Wilson F [6]


Places of Residence

Location Dates Notes Sources
Birth & Early Years [3][4]
Worth Twp., Butler Co. PA b.1917-~1930 with parents [4]
Nickleville, Richland Twp.,
Venango Co. PA 		~1930 - 1938 high school in Emlenton,
work with REA during Great Depression 		[3][4]
OH, NC 1938-1940 line work for REA
or private power companies 		[3]
Early Marriage [3]
Laurens, SC 14 Feb 1940 - late spring line construction, REA/ Miller Baxter [3]
Polk, Sandy Creek Twp.,
Venango Co. PA 		1940 REA
or private power companies 		[3]
Cornelius, SC; Lexington & Madison, NC Oct 1940-1941 REA
or private power companies 		[3]
Ellwood City, Lawrence Co. PA late summer 1941 helped a cousin build a house [3]
Monks Corner, SC 1941-42 REA or private power companies;
leased Green Gables Cafe & gas station
for 10 wks, $1000 profit 		[3]
Green Gables Cafe, Monks Corner, SC, April 1942
Smyrna, NashvilleTN
Gallatin TN ("Green River Line"),
Scottsville TN;
Glasgow, Newport KY;
Kingsport TN (Nov 42- Mar 43)		 1942 Bought 1st trailer
worked for REA or private power companies,
Holston Defense in Kingsport; laid off in March 		[3]
Pittsburgh, PA Spring 1943 private employer, not recorded [3]
Military Training 14 Aug 1943, drafted [3]
Greensboro NC Aug 1943-? [3[]
Greenville SC by Christmas 1943- 1944 Furman Univ.; accelerated officers training;
entire class "washed out" 		[3]
Midland TX 1944, after Mar training as tail-gunner [3]
Alexandria LA 1944, including Dec training [3]
Lincoln, NB 1944, including Dec for shipment overseas [3]
Military Service, WWII 14 Aug 1943, drafted [3][4]
Camp Patrick Henry, VA 19 Jan 1945 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Patrick_Henry [4]
Gibraltar 5 Feb 1945 [4]
Algiers, N. Africa 8 Feb 1945 [4]
Naples, Italy 12 Feb 1945 [4]
Foggia, Italy 17 Feb 1945 base of operation,
483 Bombardment Group,
815 Squadron
Pilot, Harvey A. Mitchell		 [4]
Lenti, Hungary 14 Mar 1945 taken POW [4]
Bratislava 19 Mar 1945 POW [4]
Vienna, Austria 20 Mar 1945 POW [4]
Nurenberg, Ger. 22 Mar 1945 POW [4]
marching, location unrecorded 23 Mar 1945 POW [4]
Nurenberg, Ger. 25 Mar 1945 POW [4]
Moosburg, Ger. 20 Apr 1945 ;
Liberation 29 Apr 1945 		POW
(camp history website)
(Wikipedia's Stalag VII-A site),
(description of the events surround the liberation itself)
( 1 May 1945 NY Times Moosburg Prison Camp Liberation)		 [4]
Landshut, Ger. 4 May 1945 [4]
Reims, France 6 May 1945 [3][4]
St. Vallery, France 17 May 1945 [3][4]
Richland Twp., Venango Co. PA 1945-1948 Depression Era persisted;
worked in brother-in-law's garage in Emlenton;
lived with Beals in-laws,
then rented Joe Rose house, Mariasville 		[3][6]

The following chart serves as a record of the work career of John T. Wilson with TVA; an indication of school locations for his daughters; and a guide to dates/locations for some of the photographs. Locations in parentheses indicate additional work locations while in one residence location. In 1967 he was working with the Rubin R Rubinson/Robinson crew, TVA Western Division, per wedding card to daughter Elizabeth.

TVA Career Location Dates Landlords Sources
Russelville, AL 4-28 Feb, 1948 Edward Pace [3]
Wilson Dam, AL 28 Feb-8 Apr 1948 Dempsey Terry [3]
West Point, MS 8 Apr-12 Apr 1948 Goat's Texaco Sta. [3]
Mayfield KY 12 Apr - 9 May 1948 Richard Bagwell [3]
Paris TN 17 May-13 June 1948 Dave Oliver [3]
Mayfield KY 12 June-2 July 1948 Mrs. Cleve Sanderson [3]
Mountain City TN 3 July-20 Aug 1948 Alf McQueen [3]
Mt. Pleasant TN 21 Aug - 20 Sept 1948 Mrs. Ethel Simmons [3]
Murfreesboro TN 20 Sept - 23 Oct 1948 Otto Green [3]
Woodbury TN 23 Oct -11 Dec 1948 Joe Stephens [3]
McMinville TN 11 Dec - 17 Jan 1948/49 Roy Newby [3]
Nashville TN 17-21 Jan 1949 Pure Oil Sta. [3]
Chattanooga TN 21-24 Jan 1949 Farniers Trailer Pk , Cherokee Blvd. [3]
Knoxville TN 24 Jan - 2 Mar 1949 King's Grocery, Southerland Ave [3]
Lenoir City TN 2 Mar - 16 Ma6 1949 C. E. Brachett [3]
Elizabethton TN 16 May - 4 June 1949 Mrs. Bowen [3]
Nashville TN 4 June - 25 July 1949 E. G. Davenport [3]
Jackson TN 30 July - 19 Nov 1949 Mrs. W. B. Ranson [3]
Cadiz KY 19 Nov - 29 Jan 1949/50 White Eagle Cafe [3]
Memphis TN 29 Jan - 9 Feb 1950 Harbin's Cabins, Hwy 51 [3]
Tupelo MS 9 Feb - 11 Mar 1950 Rockway Inn, Hwy 45 [3]
West Point MS 11 Mar - 1 Apr 1950 Goat's Texaco St. [3]
Tupelo MS 1 Apr - 27 May 1950 Rockway Inn, Cecil Cafe [3]
Corinth MS 27 May - 3 July 1950 Randolph Yancy, 1411 Wick St. [3]
Jackson TN 3 July - 15 July 1950 Mrs. W. B. Ranson [3]
New Johnsonville/Camden TN 15 July - 18 July 1950 J'ville Trailer Pk [3]
Jackson TN 19 July - 24 July 1950 Mrs. W. B. Ranson [3]
Macon MS 24 July - 16 Dec 1950 Mrs. M. B. McLemore [3]
West Point MS 16 Dec - 15 Jan 1950/51 Goat's Texaco Sta. [3]
Somerville TN 15 Jan - 19 May 1951 H. G. Myers tourist home [3]
Memphis TN 19 May - 15 June 1951 J. C. Harbin's, Rt. 51 [3]
Jackson TN 15 June - 24 July 1951 Mrs. W. B. Ranson [3]
Lexington 24 July - 16 Aug 1951 [3]
Jackson TN 16 Aug-7 Sept 1951 Mrs. W. B. Ranson [3]
Benton KY 23 Sept - 23 Feb 1951/52 Herman Kanatzer [3]
Fulton KY
(McKenzie, Martin,) 		23 Feb - 31 May 1952 Star Cafe,
Hwy on state line 		[3]
Benton KY 31 May - 16 Oct 1952 Ben Hunt, Rt.3 (till 16 Sept)
Will Eggner, Mrs. Farmer 		[3]
Jackson TN
(Lexington, Union City) 		16 Oct- 6 June 1952/53 Mrs. W. B. Ranson [3]
Tupelo MS 6 June - 8 July 1953 Rockway Inn [3]
West Point MS 8 July - 1 Sept 1953 T.J. Earnest, Prairie Jct. [3]
Louisville MS 1 Sept - 14 Nov 1953 Millers Trailer Pk, Mrs. Elva Roberts [3]
Pontatoc MS 14 Nov - 2 Jan 1953/54 Houston & Jack ? (illegible),
across from Jerry's Drive In 		[3]
Corinth MS
(& Tiptonville) 		2 Jan - 30 May 1954 Horton Groc. [3]
Waverly TN 30 May - 21 Aug 1954 Wm. "Plunk" Gould [3]
Dickson TN 21 Aug - 27 Oct 1954 Ludy & Lorraine ___ [3]
Bolivar TN 27 Oct - 2 Jan 1954/55 foster Motel,
Elgie & Inez 		[3]
Russellville AL 2 Jan - 23 Feb 1955 Bendix Standard Sta. [3]
Holly Springs MS 23 Feb - 18 Mar 1955 LaFever Holly Courts [3]
Covington TN 18 Mar - 7/8 Apr 1955 Mrs Adams
(with Ruth & Dan Price) 		<[3]/sup>
Sheffield AL 9 Apr - 21 June 1955 Tri-Cities Trailer Ct. [3]
Huntsville AL 21 June - 2 July 1955 Whispering Pines [3]
Benton KY 2 July - 20 July 1955 Mrs. Eggner [3]
Huntsville AL 24 July - 7 Aug 1955 Mrs. Williams,
401 McKinley 		[3]
Russellville AL 7 Aug - 3 Dec 1955 M. H. McMurray Cafe [3]
Athens AL 3 Dec - 10 Mar 1955/56 Old Spinning Wheel Motel,
.Mitchell Wallace 		[3]
Sheffield AL 10 Mar - 21 July 1956 Walter Kelly, 1701 High St. [3]
Scottsboro, AL 22 July 1956 - retirement after Sept.1967-1970 Hwy 72 ponds & bait shop [3][6]
Scottsboro, AL after retirement; died 1985 built house on Hwy 72 [6]

Photo Gallery

1936 high school graduate
31 July 1936, age 19
31 July 1936
20 July 1937, age almost 20


John & Ella Wilson at Beals farm, 1940
John & Ella Wilson ~1940
1940 at New River, SC
1941



with daughter Betsy, possibly Kingsport TN
Fathers Day, June 1943
John with Betsy, 1943 at Bert & Clara Wilson farm, Nickleville, Venango Co. PA
14 Aug 1943, day of swearing-in; with dau. Betsy and nephews John & Jim Vergis

Oct 1943 Greensboro NC
3 June 1944, Greenville SC


John Wilson at right, back row, with crew of B-17 "Flying Fortress" bomber
(Click photo for names)
in training, 1944
John T Wilson in uniform.jpg


1944, 1st trailer, at Beals farm
~1945; lesson in "rub your tummy, pat your head"
at Bert Wilson farm, ~1946-47
1948, new trailer for trip south; l. to r. Ray Wilson, Ella and John Wilson


John T. Wilson in work khakis & TVA badge, ~late 1950's
Christmas ~1949-50
with beard grown for 1954 centennial, Corinth MS


weekly cookout, ~1959, at the minnow ponds, Scottsboro, AL
with Joubert, mid-1970's, log house in Scottsboro
Russ, John, Allene & Ruth, ~1984, during John's final illness


Sources

1 1920 United States Federal Census, Worth Township, Butler County, PA, Enumeration District 66, Page 7, lines 84-88 lists Bert W. Wilson, 28, married to Clara M. Wilson, 28. Their daughter, Ruth M. Wilson, 7, and two sons, Edwin D. Wilson, 4, and John T. Wilson, 2 years and one month, are listed as well. Bert is listed as having been born in PA. His profession is listed as "Laborer" on a rented farm. His census record is immediately followed by that of his father, James L. Wilson, suggesting that they lived on adjacent property. This census page is dated 23 and 24 January 1920.
1920 census pa butler worth d66 pg7.jpg
2 1930 United States Federal Census, Richland Township, Venango County, PA, Enumeration District 61-40, Page 6, lines 65-73 lists Birt W. Wilson, 39, married to Clara M. Wilson, 38. They live with six children and a live-in farm laborer: daughter Ruth M. Wilson, 17; son Edwin D., 15; son John T. Wilson, 12; son Russel W. Wilson, 9; son Ray B. Wilson, 6; daughter Allene N. Wilson, 3 years and 10 months; and laborer Lester Lawrence, 43. When Birt W. Wilson and Clara M. Wilson got married, he was 20 and she was 19. All of the children except Allene attended school within the census year. Everyone but Allene can read, write, and speak English. Everyone and their parents were born in PA. Birt W. Wilson's occupation is listed as "Farmer." This census page is dated April 15th, 1930.
1930 census pa venango richland d61-40 pg6b.jpg
3 Memoirs of Ella May Beals (Wilson) ,wife of John T. Wilson, including the WWII training locations, and listing of TVA locations & landlords.
N/A
4 Research manuscript of John T. Wilson, family history compiled by 1985, from family interviews, family records, Slippery Rock borough centennial history & Butler County histories. This manuscript transferred to daughter Elizabeth Wilson Williams in 1984.
5 WWII war record written on souvenir wooden shoe by John T. Wilson, now in the collection of grandson Richard Brady Williams. The inscription (in graphite) includes dates & places stationed & imprisoned during his war service
6 Personal correspondence from Elizabeth Wilson Williams, daughter of John T. Wilson, including transcription of WWII service locations and dates from the wooden shoe, and family photographs. Personal recollection includes living on the Beals farm in Venango Co. PA, the TVA locations, and high school in Scottsboro AL. Her notes include John T. Wilson's war stories and his descriptions of his early life in Butler Co. PA.
N/A
7 National Archives World War II Prisoners of War Data File 12/7/1941 - 11/19/1946 has an entry dated 14 Mar 1945 for Sergeant John T Wilson, serial number 33682366 [unclear if this is the soldier's serial number or the record's serial number] of the Army Air Corps. He is listed as a member of Heavy Bomber unit 0483 in the European theater: Hungary. He is listed as "returned to military control, liberated, or repatriated" as of the "latest report date" of 17 Oct 1945. The detaining power was Germany. [1]
N/A


Conjecture

Regarding JTW's flight record during WWII, the wooden clog record lists arrival at Foggia on 17 Feb 1945 as a member of the 815th squadron, 483rd Bombardment Group (Heavy). By this time, the 483rd was operating out of Steparone Field, near the city of Foggia. The shoe's next entry lists "taken POW" on 14 Mar 1945 in Lenti, Hungary. There were 20 missions flown by the 483rd between 17 Feb and 14 Mar, mission numbers 161-180. Of these, only five missions involved the loss of aircraft, one aircraft for each of the five missions. Of these five missions, three were targeted at Austria, one at Germany, and one at Hungary. The mission to Hungary, #180, was on 14 Mar 1945, the day JTW lists as "taken POW" on the wooden clog. Furthermore, the city of Lenti is very near to the straight line connecting Foggia and the target of mission 180, the oil refinery at Almasfuzito, Hungary. It seems probable that it was on Mission #180 that JTW's aircraft was lost, the crew parachuted into enemy territory, and were taken prisoner the same day.

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