Edward R. Wilson
The following announcement appeared in several local papers:
"EDWARD WILSON, FIRST DEFIANCE BOY KILLED IN FRANCE
In the announcement of the American casualty list from France appears the name of Edward Wilson, Defiance, Ohio. This is the first Defiance County man to meet death in France in the battle for worldwide liberty and democracy.
The Crescent News today received the following telegram: Meredith, N.H. - April 12, Edward Wilson, Defiance, O., killed in France.
It was impossible to find any information concerning the young man. His name is not contained on the county registration list, nor is it on the list of men to go through the local recruiting station."
But now the mystery is solved as to why his name appears on the Defiance County World War I memorial...he was BORN in Defiance, and he was killed in action.
A small article in the Defiance Crescent-News, April 15, 1918, cleared up the mystery:
"GRANDMOTHER OF EDWARD R. WILSON LIVES IN DEFIANCE
Edward R. Wilson, the Defiance boy who was killed in France, as stated on the casualty list in the Crescent-News Friday was born in Defiance and is the son of Mrs. O.A. Wilson of Summerville, Mass, who will be remembered in Defiance as Nellie Rieker.
The young man enlisted in the service at Summerville. He was born here at the home of his grandmother, Mrs. Esther Rieker, 623 Sessions street, North Defiance.
His grandmother is grieved over the loss of her grandson, who has given his life that the cause of worldwide liberty might be successful."
Edward Rieker Wilson was the only child of Ellen Elizabeth Rieker and Otis A. Wilson. Edward was born in Defiance on July 21, 1894, but by 1900 the family had settled in at 26 Laurel Street, Somerville, Massachusetts. In the Federal Census of 1900 in that place, Otis, age 42, was a railroad clerk, and he and Ellen, 32, had been married seven years. Litle Edward had already started school at age 5.
So, it makes sense that Edward registered for the draft there on June 5, 1917. He was 22 years old, and he was in the Engineering Department of the Boston and Maine Railroad. He had recent military experience in the 1st Massachusetts Engineers of the National Guard for a four-week stint in May, 1917. He was tall and of medium build with gray eyes and light brown hair.
He waa put into the military, Company E, 101st Engineers, 26th Division and traveled overseas on September 26, 1917. The 26th Division was known as the "Yankee Division" because it was mostly young men from the New England states. Edward was killed near Bouconville, France and buried in France for a while before his remains were sent home in June, 1921.
The Defiance Crescent-News reported back home on April 23, 1918, what the events were in Somerville, reporting back from the Massachusetts newspaper:
"GIVES ACCOUNT OF SACRIFICE OF EDWARD R. WILSON
The Sommerset, Mass. Journal contains the following account of the death of Private Edward R. Wilson, who met death in France, and who was born in Defiance and has relatives here:
'The parents of Private Edward R. Wilson of Company E, 101st Engineers were notified that he had been killed in action in France. He was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Otis A. Wilson of 11 Willoughby Street.
The young man was born in Defiance, Ohio and was 24 years of age. He came to Sommerville in 1898 and attended the Sommerville schools, and afterwards attended Sommerville High School, and later Mt. Hermon school. He then entered the engineering department of the Boston & Maine Railroad. He enlisted in Company E. He was a member of the Winter Hill Baptist church and had many friends.
His relatives at Sommerville wrote the following to his grandmother, Mrs. Esther Rieker of this city:
'A letter has come from the War Department confirming the telegram and giving assurance that Edward would be buried with all proper religious ceremonies and military honors. The letter also said that the grave would be marked and that the bodies of the soldiers are to be returned to this country after the war.'
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| Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts |
The Boston Evening Globe of June 20, 1921, reported the burial of Edward in the United States:
"SOMERVILLE
The funeral of Edward R. Wilson, the first Somerville soldier killed in action in France, will be held at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Otis A. Wilson, 11 Willoughby Street. He was born in Defiance, O., July 21, 1894, and was educated in the public schools of this city.
He served with Co. C, 101st United States Engineers and was killed in action on April 8, 1918. What was formerly Oak Square, this city, was renamed Edward Wilson Sq. in his honor by the City Government."
The 26th Division was fighting near Belleau church during the part of the war when Edward was killed; in fact, the American artillery destroyed the church even prior to the final assault by their division.
"General Edwards told villagers that he would ensure the church was rebuilt. Money was raised by the Division's veterans and on Oct. 10, 1926, the (new) church was dedicated... Within are commemorations, plaques and stained class windows honoring those, including Edward R. Wilson, who died in France. It is the only memorial to this division."
In Memoriam
Edward R. Wilson
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