Bennett Birnie

Other Events and Attributes:

• _UID: 92A0A83E06264EE9BC02993657E7112178E3

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: "chor-bishop" in the Assyrian Church of the East.
• _UID: D4EFBE121EB74660AC007E734C80C777B538

Notes:

Occupation:
This church is historically from Persia/Iraq and dates from the time of the earliest apostles.

Michael + Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Elwood Dennison
• _UID: F0A02C0A4B75477E850339BF3560C4A3C776

Charles + Sylvia Helen Wilson. Sylvia (daughter of William Wallace Wilson and Clara Melinda Kowitz) was born on 19 Sep 1909 in , , Wisconsin, USA; died on 4 Jul 1975 in Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California, USA; was buried in Whittier, Los Angeles County, California, USA, Rose Hills Memorial Park. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• _UID: 29BF9ABBEBEB46B3B39EA0CE8AE58CC48A33

Notes:

Article in Winona, MN, Daily News dated 2-22-1955 indicates that she was an ex-communist. (Source: notes from Louis Wilson given to Larry Wilson refers to her as Helen Wood. Another place on note is the name, Helen Wood Birnie).

Larry Wilson Received the following on 11/3/01 in e-mail from Patrick Wilson:

As Helen Wood Birnie, Helen Wilson wrote the booklet "The Broken Wall" detailing her life as a Communist Party organizer in the 1930s and her subsequent abandonment of the Communist Party to become a civil rights activist and later a Christian activist. The book was published in July, 1954. Helen testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee to speak out against the Communist Party.

Helen used the name Helen DeMark in 1934 as an International Labor Defense Organizer for the Communist Party.

An excerpt from "The Broken Wall" (I added items in brackets):

I had polio when I was three years old. Now, obviously, I am not the only person in America who had polio, not the only person who suffered from it. It so happened, however, that I was the only individual in the village in Minnesota where I lived that had it at the time. And so I was marked as different. I felt the difference, and I did not appreciate it either. I did not like the idea that there were things that other children could do that I could not do. It made me unhappy because I could not romp up and down the hills with them or skate on the mill pond with them. I was always tagging way behind. These things began to stimulate bitterness and resentment in my heart. Of course, there were other reasons, too. We did not have a normal home life. My father [Wallace W. Wilson] was a man who suffered from bitterness because having married late in life and dearly loving my mother [Clara], he lost her when I was just three-and-a-half years old. I had two older sisters [Mildred and Melinda]. These girls, of course, were just as marked by this unfortunate circumstance as I ever was. But it shall be said that their reaction to it was different. We were scattered at the mercy of kindly neighbors and relatives who took us into their homes. My father remarried [Helen], but he was always a man who maintained a sober yet unhappy attitude. Everything that makes for a home was missing in the one in which I grew up. I do not say this because I want to cast reflection on anyone in my family or anyone in my community. But it is true that I did not have a positive understanding of Christian values as a child because they were not taught and presented to me in my home. Now it is easy for people to jump to a conclusion and say, "She's only making excuses." I can appreciate that, and I do not feel unkindly toward you if that is the way you feel. I am telling this story in the hope that people who are asking the question "Why do Americans take up with Communism?" will be honest enough to examine my life and see if, perhaps, it does not contain the answer.

My father died when I was twelve years old. I had the good fortune, however, of being reared close to a man who had a keen appreciation of human life [Clarence E. Wilson]. He was a country doctor, and my father's older brother. A fine and noble man as far as his convictions toward mankind were concerned, he was the kind of a country doctor that people were given to taking for granted, the kind you read about, the kind that folks would pay with pumpkins, rutabagas, cordwood and tomatoes in season and, not so often, money. My uncle was very near and dear to me because he was determined that I should not become one of those thwarted and unhappy individuals known as cripples. He did everything he could to make it possible for me to become a normal human being. He died a tragic death at his own hand when I was fifteen years old. This left an indelible mark upon my life. It caused me to be very bitter, because as I looked back across the years and remembered his faithfulness to his family, his community and to me in particular, I was made aware of the faithlessness of others to him in his hour of need. This led me to say in my heart: "I will not be as other women; I will not be a school-teacher; I will not be a nurse; I will not be a farmer's wife. I am going to be different, I am going to make my difference felt." I said something else in my heart, "You wait, I'll make you sorry you ever knew me. I'll make you hate me so you'll never mention my name." And that I did, for my name was one that was seldom ever spoken except in disrespect, for years and years in the lovely, beautiful community in Minnesota where I began my life.

Member:
John Birch Society

Member:
Communist Party

Other Events and Attributes:

• _UID: C1E3AB6D5E2643CC963547FBEB18CDE8143E
• Census: 15 Jun 1880, New Hartford Township, Winona County, Minnesota, USA; 1880 Federal
• Occupation: 1913, Homer Township, Winona County, Minnesota, USA, Pickwick; manager, Pickwick Co-Operation Creamery

Notes:

Obituary from the Winona Republican-Herald, 14 Apr 1922, p. 13:

Pickwick

Funeral services for William Wallace Wilson were held at the Methodist church at Dakota, Wednesday, April 12, at two o'clock under the direction of the Masonic Order. Rev. A.T. Wallace of Winona officiated and interment was made in the Dakota cemetery.

William Wallace Wilson was born at Dakota Aug. 27, 1864, in a family of thirteen children. He died at the hospital at La Crosse, April 9, 1922, after an illness of six months. Aug. 20, 1904, he was married to Miss Clara Kourtz at Meloma, Wis. To them were born three children, Mildred, Melinda, and Helen, who survive him. Mr. Wilson moved here about twelve years ago to operate the Pickwick Co-operative creamery, a position which he held for six years. His wife died here on Feb. 11, 1913. About a year after her death the family spent two years in St. Charles when they returned to the village and Mr. Wilson purchased the store of F.J. Willard at Winona. April 7, 1915, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Helen Albrecht of Nodine who survives him. During their residence of twelve years here the family made many friends who extend their sympathy to the widow and daughters in their sad bereavement.

Mr. Wilson is survived by two sisters, Mrs. George Gleason of Nortonville, North Dakota, and Mrs. Newton Grant of Tomah, Wis. and seven brothers, Dr. Clarence Wilson of Dakota, John of Minneiska, Judson of Cumberland, Wis., Delbert of Parker, S.D., and Willis of Edgerly, N. D., who has spent the winter with his brother.

In addition to the relatives who attended the funeral there were Mr. and Mrs. John Wilson and son, Stanley, Mrs. Newton Grant and Willis Wilson, also Erdman Kowitz of Sparta, Wis., Mrs. Ed Dangle and Gus Kowitz of Adams, Wis.

The following brother Masons of the Pickwick Lodge, A.F. and A.M., of which Mr. Wilson was a member, attended the funeral: J.M. Rutherford, Floyd Dykeman, Clyde Harvey, Dan Stedman, Howard Stedman, Stuart Harrington, James Sperbeck, and Ray Le May.

Helen Wilson returned to Adams, Wis., with her aunt, Mrs. Ed Dangle. Melinda Wilson accompanied her uncle, Erdman Kowitz, to Sparta, Wis. for an extended visit, and Mildred Wilson returned to Winona where she is engaged in work.

Census:

Household Members:
J. G. Wilson 47
Sarah Wilson 47
Wm. Wilson 18
Geo. A. Wilson 14
Judson Wilson 12
Sarah Wilson 10
Frances Wilson 7
John Wilson 6
Delbert Wilson 3
E. L. Wilson 71

Buried:
Buried Next To His Brother, Clarence, Dakota, Minnesota, Cemetery.

William married Clara Melinda Kowitz on 31 Aug 1904. Clara (daughter of Gustave Kowitz and Melinda Sheridan) was born on 1 Mar 1882 in Wells, Monroe County, Wisconsin, USA; died on 11 Feb 1913 in La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wisconsin, USA; was buried on 13 Feb 1913 in Sparta, Monroe County, Wisconsin, USA, Mt. Hope Cemetery. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• _UID: E34C07EF43E349CB81387C6E5F0C84170868
• Alt. Birth: 1 Mar 1881, , , Wisconsin, USA

Notes:

Obituary from the Winona Republican-Herald, 17 Feb 1913, p. 6:

Clara Melenda Hovitz was born March, 1882, in the town of Wells, Monroe county, Wisconsin, and there received her education and grew to womanhood. She was united in marriage August 31, 1904 to Wallace W. Wilson of Dakota, Minnesota, and for the next three years resided at Newry, Wisconsin. Following that they lived for two years at Marathon, Wisconsin and for the past three years they resided in Pickwick, Winona county. Mr. Wilson having charge of the Pickwick Co-operation creamery there. For the past seven weeks Mrs. Wilson had been seriously ill from an attack of gall stones and was finally removed to the La Crosse Hospital where she passed away on the morning of February 11. She leaves to mourn her unexpected passage her husband, Mr. Wallace W. Wilson, her paraents, Mr. and Mrs. Gustave Howitz of Sparta, three little girls, Mildred, aged seven, Melinda, aged six and Helen aged three, two brothers, E. G. Howitz of Sparta, Frank of Ekalaka, Montana, two sisters, Mrs. J. I. Menor of Sacramento, California and Miss Lottie Howitz also of Sparta. Mrs. Wilson was a member of the local chapter O.E.S. was also its treasurer and was highly esteemed by all who knew her. She was ever willing to do her part; was a kind and loving mother and a faithful wife and will be sadly missed in the community. The remains were taken to Sparta, Wis., where appropriate services were held Thursday, February the 13 at the home of the parents, with internment in Mount Hope cemetery, Rev. Harding R. Hogan of the congregational church officiating. Among those from Pickwick and vicinity attending the funeral were: Mrs. Clarence Wilson of Dakota, Mr. and Mrs. D. Griffin, Misses Jessie Dykeman and Rosie Pieger, Mrs. J.A. Johnston, J. M. Rutherford, and John Griffin and Mrs. S. L. Jamison of La Moille, Giles Brown and Loyd Wilson of Dakota.