Those wonderful Wilsons and Enkes!

I've been so fortunate in the last two summers, meeting Wilson family members. It wasn't very long ago that I really knew nothing about this family and didn't think I ever would...with "Wilson" being such a common name. I'm so glad that I'm meeting the very wise, enthusiastic "Wilson" clan. There are so many stories of courage in these adventurous histories regarding this family.

I'd like to review the Wilson family using Bonnie Cavenee Runge's wonderful book, Wilson-Enke Descendents. This particular page has information located by Gilbert Moller, grandson of Pearl Wilson. It is written by Bonnie Cavenee Runge.

"Joseph M. Wilson was married in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania to Annie White Wilson. They were the parents of three children; William White Wilson, Martha Wilson and Fletcher Wilson, all of which were born in Pennsylvania. Note: I have found one other son, since this writing...Joseph, who was killed in the Civil War, possibly in the company of John Fletcher Frank Wilson.

William W. Wilson was married to Lydia Enke Wilson. They were the parents of five children; William E., Rosetta (my ggrandmother), Rosella, Mary and Pearl. They also raised from infancy a niece, Mary (Mamie) Wilson - daughter of Fletcher Wilson.

John Enke was born in 1788 in Pennsylvania. He was married to Ann_____?. She was born in 1798 in New Jersey. They were married in Pennsylvania in 1861 or 1862. Note: I'm wondering what their marriage certificate might say about Ann's maiden name. They were the parents of five children: Elizabeth, born 1833 in Pennsylvania; Sarah, born 1837 in Ohio; Hiram, born 1839 in Ohio; Lydia A., born 1840in Ohio (my ggrandmother), and Mary, born 1843 in Ohio. Note: I have a listing of about 3 more children that John and Ann had.

John remarried in 1854 to Catherine Grove. John was 62 when he remarried. Ann was still alive in the 1850 Ohio Census and probably died shortly after that time. Lydia's sister, Mary, married Ed Peel and settled in the Memphis, Missouri area, which is not far from Knox County, Illinois where Lydia and William W. Wilson were married. Note: I have John and Catherine as parents of at least 7 more children.

Martha Wilson married Wesley Cavenee. He was born in Pennsylvania also. They had five chilren; Charles, Chester, William, Elizabeth, and John Franklin (Frank). They had five children: Charles, Chester, William, Elizabeth, and John Franklin (Frank). They were divorced in 1865 and the same year she married Robert Hobkirk. The 1880 Census of Knox County reads as follows: Those persons in the Robert Hobkirk household at that time:
Robert Hobkirk Age 42
Martha Hobkirk Age 40
Franklin Cavenee Age 16
James Hobkirk Age 14
Mary Jane Hobkirk Age 13
Walter Hobkirk Age 11
Annie Hobkirk Age 10
Pat Murphy Age 59 (farmhand)

We have not been able to find any information about Charles, Chester, William and Elizabeth, brothers and sister of Frank Cavenee. This is the reason I (Bonnie) went into the Wilson, Enke side of the family."

I'm hoping to continue a strong relationship with those of the Wilson and Enke heritage. There are many questions...especially those concerning the real lives of Martha, William White, and Fletcher.