hegnauer.family
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· A life in the study

Tulla Daniel Wilson

Born at McDonald County in 1906 and died at San Mateo County in 1977.

born 9 Oct 1906 at McDonald County, Missouri died 20 Mar 1977 at San Mateo County, California

Also written Tulla D. Willson, Tulla Daniel Willson

Boyhood in Missouri and Oklahoma

Tulla Daniel Wilson was born on 9 October 1906 in McDonald County, Missouri, probably in Elk River Township, the second son of James Israel Wilson and Lucy M. Harris.1–3 His unusual first name appears in the census of 1910 just as the family knew it, "Tulla", and the census of 1920 adds his middle initial, D. The family tree gives the middle name as Daniel, which was also his grandfather Elijah Daniel Wilson's.

In April 1910 Tulla, three, was living on his father's mortgaged farm in Elk River Township with his older brother Cyril, his sister Helen and the baby, Floyd.2 A few years later the family crossed the state line into Delaware County, Oklahoma, and in January 1920 Tulla, thirteen, was the second of nine children on the family's farm in the Bernice precinct.3

Service and marriage

By 1930 his parents had moved to Grays Harbor County, Washington, and Tulla, then about twenty-three, was no longer living with them.4 He served in the armed forces: when he died he was a master sergeant of the U.S. Air Force, and the government's record of his grave credits him with service in both the Second World War and the Korean War.5

He married Emelia E. Arsenault, who according to the index of her obituary was born at Yakima, Washington, about 1914. Two family photographs of the couple are dated to the 1940s, one of them to 1944–1947.6–7 According to the old family tree they had three sons (living).

Death

Tulla died on 20 March 1977 in San Mateo County, California, at the age of seventy.1, 5 Eight days later, on 28 March, he was buried in Willamette National Cemetery at Portland, Oregon, Section A, Site 4330.5 Emelia died at Gladstone, near Portland, on 3 June 1991, according to the same index.7

What we know

Proven

  • Death at San Mateo County, 1977
  • Burial at Willamette National Cemetery, 1977
  • Military service
  • 2 homes, from the census and other records

Probable

  • Birth at McDonald County, 1906

What's still open

  • Name. The spelling Willson is the 1920 census's, and the Ancestry tree follows it; he was Wilson at his death, as his father was in every other record.
  • Wife. Emelia E. Arsenault is named in the titles of two photographs attached to him in the Ancestry tree, whose contributor calls him her husband, and the old family tree attaches the index of her obituary (The Spokesman-Review, 5 Jun 1991), which gives her birth about 1914 at Yakima, her death on 3 Jun 1991 at Gladstone, Oregon, and her spouse Tulla Wilson; the index and the page have not been re-read here.
  • Sources. His census facts come from the index entries attached to him in the Ancestry tree; the 1920 image was read in the survey of his brother Woodrow's records, and the 1910 image has not been viewed.

Sources

Sources 1–3

1 California, U.S., Death Index, 1906

"California, U.S., Death Index, 1940–1997," database, Ancestry.com, Tulla D Wilson, male, born 9 October 1906, Missouri; died 20 March 1977, San Mateo [County], California (index read 27 September 2026; no mother's maiden name or father's surname is indexed on this line).

2 1910 U.S. Federal Census, Elk River Township

1910 U.S. Federal Census, Elk River Township, McDonald County, Missouri, E.D. 110, sheet 3B: "Jim F." [so indexed; also "Jim J."] Wilson (head, 27, married six years, born Arkansas, father born Arkansas, mother born Missouri; farmer, home farm, working on his own account; owns his farm, mortgaged; can read and write), with Lucy (wife, 25, married six years, mother of four children, all living, born Arkansas) and their children Searel [Cyril] (5), Tulla (3), Artella [Helen Artlea] (2) and Floyd (under 1); NARA T624, roll 797; FHL microfilm 1374810; database with images, Ancestry.com (index read; image not viewed).

3 1920 U.S. Federal Census, Township 5

1920 U.S. Federal Census, Township 5 (Bernice precinct), Delaware County, Oklahoma, E.D. 22, sheet 10A, lines 17–27, enumerated 29–30 January 1920, "Elza W Willson" (son, 2, born Missouri) in the household of James I. Willson (head, 37, born Arkansas; farm), with Lucy M. (wife, 35, born Missouri) and their children Cyril (15), Tulla D. (13), Hellen A. (12), Floyd P. (10), Odis A. (6), Ruth E. (4), Jewel L. (3), Elza W. (2) and Millie M. (under one year), all born Missouri; NARA T625, roll 1458; image 4385099_00298; database with images, Ancestry.com.

Source 4

4 1930 U.S. Federal Census, Junction

1930 U.S. Federal Census, Junction, Grays Harbor County, Washington, E.D. 45, sheet 2A, dwelling 31, family 34, "Elzie W Wilson" (son, 13, born Oklahoma, attending school) in the household of James I. Wilson (head, 48), with Lucy M. (wife, 45) and their children Floyd P. (19), Odis A. (16), Ruth E. (14), Elzie W. (13), Millie M. (10) and Roy K. (9); FHL microfilm 2342222; database with images, Ancestry.com (index read).

Source 5

5 U.S., Veterans' Gravesites, ca. 1775–2019, 1906

"U.S., Veterans' Gravesites, ca. 1775–2019," database, Ancestry.com, Tulla D Wilson, M/Sgt, U.S. Air Force, World War II, Korea; born 9 October 1906; died 20 March 1977, aged 70; interred 28 March 1977, Willamette National Cemetery, 11800 SE Mt. Scott Blvd., Portland, Oregon, Section A, Site 4330; service dates given as 9 November 1960 – 30 September 1961 (index read 27 September 2026).

Sources 6–7

6 Two photographs attached to Tulla Daniel Willson, 2013

Two photographs attached to Tulla Daniel Willson (tree person 102706533364) in the Hegnauer/Putt family tree, Ancestry.com, titled "Emilia Arsenault Wilson and Tulla Wilson 1940s" and "Emilia Arsenault Wilson and Tulla Wilson 1944-1947"; the contributor of the first, a portrait copied in 2013 from another Ancestry member's tree, describes it as "Emelia Arsenault Wilson and husband Tulla Wilson"; titles and descriptions as the contributors gave them, from the tree export of June 2026 (the images have not been viewed in this study).

7 U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s–current, 1914

"U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s–current," database, Ancestry.com, index entries for Emelia E. Wilson [née Arsenault], born about 1914, Yakima, Washington, died 3 June 1991, Gladstone, Clackamas County, Oregon, and for her spouse Tulla Wilson; obituary, The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Washington), 5 June 1991 (Newspapers.com image 573608447); as attached to both of them in the old Hegnauer family tree on Ancestry (the index entries and the page have not been re-read in this study).

Life in time

9 Oct 1906

Birth , McDonald County, Missouri, United States

probable Sources 1, 2, 3, 5

How we know

Probably in Elk River Township, where the family was farming in 1910; the family tree gives Elk River. The day is from the California death index and the veterans' gravesite index.

The California Death Index gives Tulla D. Wilson, born 9 Oct 1906 in Missouri, and the veterans' gravesite index gives the same birth date and death date. The rare given name, the year and the state fit the boy of the censuses: 3 in April 1910 and 13 in January 1920, born in Missouri. His parents lived in Elk River Township, McDonald County, from their marriage in 1903 until at least 1910, so the county is very probably right; the town is the family tree's.

  1. 1906 Birth 9 Oct 1906 · McDonald County, Missouri · probable

    Probably in Elk River Township, where the family was farming in 1910; the family tree gives Elk River. The day is from the California death index and the veterans' gravesite index.

    The California Death Index gives Tulla D. Wilson, born 9 Oct 1906 in Missouri, and the veterans' gravesite index gives the same birth date and death date. The rare given name, the year and the state fit the boy of the censuses: 3 in April 1910 and 13 in January 1920, born in Missouri. His parents lived in Elk River Township, McDonald County, from their marriage in 1903 until at least 1910, so the county is very probably right; the town is the family tree's.

    Sources 1, 2, 3, 5

  2. 1910 Residence Elk River Township, McDonald · proven

    E.D. 110, sheet 3B. Son "Tulla", 3, in the household of his parents, James ("Jim F." in the index) and Lucy Wilson, with his brother Searel [Cyril], his sister Artella [Helen Artlea] and the baby, Floyd.

    His parents and brothers and sister, and his age, identify him. Index entry attached to him in the family tree; image not re-read.

    Source 2

  3. 1920 Residence Delaware County, Oklahoma · proven

    Township 5 (Bernice precinct), E.D. 22, sheet 10A; a farm family, enumerated 29–30 Jan 1920. Son "Tulla D.", 13, born Missouri, in the household of James I. and Lucy M. Willson, with eight brothers and sisters.

    His parents and the brothers and sisters of the 1910 household, with five born since, identify him. The 1920 image was read in the survey of his brother Woodrow's records.

    Source 3

  4. 1977 Death 20 Mar 1977 · San Mateo County, California · proven

    Aged 70. The index gives the county only; the family tree's Redwood City (the county seat) is not in the records seen.

    The California Death Index gives Tulla D. Wilson, born 9 Oct 1906 in Missouri, died 20 Mar 1977 in San Mateo County, and the veterans' gravesite index gives the same birth and death dates. The index line names no parent, so the usual check of the mother's maiden name (Harris) could not be made; the identification rests on the rare name and the exact fit of the birth year and state (strong probable).

    Sources 1, 5

  5. 1977 Burial 28 Mar 1977 · Willamette National Cemetery, Portland · proven

    Section A, Site 4330; 11800 SE Mt. Scott Blvd., Portland.

    The U.S. Veterans' Gravesites index gives his interment on 28 Mar 1977 in Willamette National Cemetery, with his birth and death dates.

    Source 5

  • proven
  • probable

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Places in this life

5 places, in order
1 2 3 4 5
  1. 1 McDonald County, Missouri Birth 9 Oct 1906
  2. 2 Elk River Township, McDonald County Residence 1910
  3. 3 Delaware County, Oklahoma Residence 1920
  4. 4 San Mateo County, California Death 20 Mar 1977
  5. 5 Willamette National Cemetery, Portland Burial 28 Mar 1977

Hollow markers are placed approximately, at the town, county or region.

Family

Father James Israel Wilson 1882–1941 Mother Lucy M. Harris 1883–1940
This page Tulla Daniel Wilson 1906–1977
Wife Emelia E. Arsenault c. 1914–1991
Child Living Wilson living Child Living Wilson living Child Living Wilson living
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Records

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Deaths and burials 1 record · 1991
  • 5 Jun 1991 probable Obituary of wife Emelia “Tulla D. Wilson”, husband Spokane, Spokane County Newspapers.com · O06327
The evidence 6 facts with their grades, 8 sources, and the research notes

Facts

Fact Date Place Grade Sources
Birth 9 Oct 1906 McDonald County, Missouri, United States probable 1 , 2 , 3 , 5
Residence 1910 Elk River Township, McDonald, Missouri, United States proven 2
Residence 1920 Delaware County, Oklahoma, United States proven 3
Death 20 Mar 1977 San Mateo County, California, United States proven 1 , 5
Burial 28 Mar 1977 Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, United States proven 5
Military service proven 5

Research notes

  • Identity: "Tulla", 3, in 1910 and "Tulla D.", 13, in 1920 are the same boy: the second son of James and Lucy Wilson in both households, with the same brothers and sisters.2, 3 The California Death Index and the veterans' gravesite index give Tulla D. Wilson, born 9 Oct 1906 in Missouri, died 20 Mar 1977.1, 5 Neither names his parents: the California index line carries no mother's maiden name, so the planned check against "Harris" could not be made. The identification rests on the very rare given name and the fit of the birth year and state with the census boy; it is a strong probable. His Social Security record or military personnel file would name his parents.
  • Name: The spelling Willson is the 1920 census's, and the Ancestry tree follows it; he was Wilson at his death, as his father was in every other record.3, 1 The middle name Daniel has not been found in a record read so far.
  • Birth: 9 Oct 1906 in the California death index and the veterans' gravesite index; it fits his census ages (born between about April 1906 and January 1907).1, 5, 2, 3 The family tree's Elk River is not in these records.
  • Death place: San Mateo County (the index gives the county only). The family tree's Redwood City fits but is not in any record seen.1
  • Military service: The gravesite index gives M/Sgt, U.S. Air Force, World War II and Korea, with service dates 9 Nov 1960 – 30 Sep 1961, which can only be his last period of service (he was 54 then). His enlistment records (WWII Army enlistment file) and his Air Force service have not been searched.5
  • Wife: Emelia E. Arsenault is named in the titles of two photographs attached to him in the Ancestry tree, whose contributor calls him her husband, and the old family tree attaches the index of her obituary (The Spokesman-Review, 5 Jun 1991), which gives her birth about 1914 at Yakima, her death on 3 Jun 1991 at Gladstone, Oregon, and her spouse Tulla Wilson; the index and the page have not been re-read here.6, 7 Their marriage record (Washington or elsewhere, before about 1947) has not been found.
  • Children: The old family tree gives three sons (living); they are not named here.
  • Absent from his family: He was not in his parents' household in April 1930, and he is not among the brothers and sisters named in his brother Woodrow's obituary in 1966, although he was then living.4, 8 He has not been searched for in the censuses of 1930 to 1950.
  • Sources: His census facts come from the index entries attached to him in the Ancestry tree; the 1920 image was read in the survey of his brother Woodrow's records, and the 1910 image has not been viewed. The California death index and the veterans' gravesite index were read on 27 Sep 2026. The photographs are known from the tree export only.

Working notes

  • AKA Willson; tree-only death (unsourced lead): 20 Mar 1977 Redwood City, San Mateo, California, USA
  • California Death Index + US Veterans' Gravesites: d. 20 Mar 1977 San Mateo Co.; M/Sgt US Air Force; bur. 28 Mar 1977 Willamette National Cemetery, Portland; CA index gives no mother's maiden name

Sources

  1. 1

    "California, U.S., Death Index, 1940–1997," database, Ancestry.com, Tulla D Wilson, male, born 9 October 1906, Missouri; died 20 March 1977, San Mateo [County], California (index read 27 September 2026; no mother's maiden name or father's surname is indexed on this line).

    Ancestry

  2. 2

    1910 U.S. Federal Census, Elk River Township, McDonald County, Missouri, E.D. 110, sheet 3B: "Jim F." [so indexed; also "Jim J."] Wilson (head, 27, married six years, born Arkansas, father born Arkansas, mother born Missouri; farmer, home farm, working on his own account; owns his farm, mortgaged; can read and write), with Lucy (wife, 25, married six years, mother of four children, all living, born Arkansas) and their children Searel [Cyril] (5), Tulla (3), Artella [Helen Artlea] (2) and Floyd (under 1); NARA T624, roll 797; FHL microfilm 1374810; database with images, Ancestry.com (index read; image not viewed).

    Ancestry

  3. 3

    1920 U.S. Federal Census, Township 5 (Bernice precinct), Delaware County, Oklahoma, E.D. 22, sheet 10A, lines 17–27, enumerated 29–30 January 1920, "Elza W Willson" (son, 2, born Missouri) in the household of James I. Willson (head, 37, born Arkansas; farm), with Lucy M. (wife, 35, born Missouri) and their children Cyril (15), Tulla D. (13), Hellen A. (12), Floyd P. (10), Odis A. (6), Ruth E. (4), Jewel L. (3), Elza W. (2) and Millie M. (under one year), all born Missouri; NARA T625, roll 1458; image 4385099_00298; database with images, Ancestry.com.

    Ancestry

  4. 4

    1930 U.S. Federal Census, Junction, Grays Harbor County, Washington, E.D. 45, sheet 2A, dwelling 31, family 34, "Elzie W Wilson" (son, 13, born Oklahoma, attending school) in the household of James I. Wilson (head, 48), with Lucy M. (wife, 45) and their children Floyd P. (19), Odis A. (16), Ruth E. (14), Elzie W. (13), Millie M. (10) and Roy K. (9); FHL microfilm 2342222; database with images, Ancestry.com (index read).

  5. 5

    "U.S., Veterans' Gravesites, ca. 1775–2019," database, Ancestry.com, Tulla D Wilson, M/Sgt, U.S. Air Force, World War II, Korea; born 9 October 1906; died 20 March 1977, aged 70; interred 28 March 1977, Willamette National Cemetery, 11800 SE Mt. Scott Blvd., Portland, Oregon, Section A, Site 4330; service dates given as 9 November 1960 – 30 September 1961 (index read 27 September 2026).

    Ancestry

  6. 6

    Two photographs attached to Tulla Daniel Willson (tree person 102706533364) in the Hegnauer/Putt family tree, Ancestry.com, titled "Emilia Arsenault Wilson and Tulla Wilson 1940s" and "Emilia Arsenault Wilson and Tulla Wilson 1944-1947"; the contributor of the first, a portrait copied in 2013 from another Ancestry member's tree, describes it as "Emelia Arsenault Wilson and husband Tulla Wilson"; titles and descriptions as the contributors gave them, from the tree export of June 2026 (the images have not been viewed in this study).

  7. 7

    "U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s–current," database, Ancestry.com, index entries for Emelia E. Wilson [née Arsenault], born about 1914, Yakima, Washington, died 3 June 1991, Gladstone, Clackamas County, Oregon, and for her spouse Tulla Wilson; obituary, The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Washington), 5 June 1991 (Newspapers.com image 573608447); as attached to both of them in the old Hegnauer family tree on Ancestry (the index entries and the page have not been re-read in this study).

    Ancestry

  8. 8

    "Man Found Dead In His Auto," The News Tribune (Tacoma, Washington), 4 November 1966, p. 40 (C-14): Woodrow E. Wilson, 49, of Puyallup, who came to the area from Aberdeen in September, was found dead Thursday afternoon [3 November]; born in Oklahoma, he came to the Northwest as a boy; millworker for the Weyerhaeuser Company's White River mill at Enumclaw; Army veteran of World War II; survived by his wife, two sons and five daughters [names withheld: living], three sisters, Mrs. Clarence Fulbright and Mrs. Joe Pearson, both of Aberdeen, and Mrs. Ruth Martin, of Westport, a brother, Otis, of Aberdeen, and six grandchildren; services to be announced by the Powers Wrigley Clements Funeral Home, Puyallup; image, Newspapers.com (newspapers.com/image/734891548).