Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living
2. Living

Other Events:

• Occupation: Deputy Sheriff, Administrator of Boating for Arizona Dept of Fish and Game, retired
• _UID: 6AAD673421462D499B3472CA097D11F3247C

Notes:

Tom's Italian name was Alessandra, Parents changed their surname to Alexander. He is the son of Samuel John Alexander (Alessandra) born in Sicily, Italy, 30 Apr 1909 and died 22 Dec 1967 in Phoenix, Arizona. Tom's mother was Frances Antoinette DiMaria, born in Rochester, N.Y. 16 May 1912, and died May 1981. His parents were married 5 Sep 1931 in N.Y. Tom was an only child, born in Rochester and lived in Chicago, Illinois until moving to Phoenix, Arizona when he was 10 years old. He served with the U. S. Navy from 1951 until 1954 on a sea plane tender and a destroyer escort as a radar operator. He was married to Barbara Jean Collis 8 Mar 1952 in Reno, Nevada while he was still in the Navy. They lived for a time with Barbara's sister Laura and her husband in Berkeley where Charlie attended Law School. They then moved to Hawaii, Milpitas, Phoenix, Sacramento, Finally settling in Phoenix in 1959. Tom served as a deputy with Maricopa County Sheriffs Office 1962-1968. He then was Boating Administrator for the State of Arizona until his retirement.

Samuel married Barbara Jean COLLIS on 8 Mar 1952 in Reno, Washoe, Nevada, United States. Barbara (daughter of Ernest Russell COLLIS and Bertha Irene SHERMAN) was born on 20 Nov 1930 in Stockton, San Joaquin, California, United States; died on 26 Jun 2009 in Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Physical Description: 5'5" light brown hair
• FamilySearch Id: M75P-CTZ
• Occupation: retired from Honeywell Corp.
• _MARNM: Alexander
• _UID: 234B56F37C0B26498E273FBA19B74683F42B

Notes:

California Birth Index, 1905-1995 Record
Name: Barbara Jean Collis
Birth Date: 20 Nov 1930
Gender: Female
Mother's Maiden Name: Sherman
Birth County: San Joaquin

Barbara Jean Collis was the third child born to Russell and Bertha Collis. She was born November 20, 1930. Her parents were living in Brentwood at the time but went to Dammeron Hospital in Stockton for Barbara's birth. Perhaps Russell was influenced by his cousin, Langley Collis, who was a doctor in Stockton, and Stockton is only about 30 miles from Brentwood along the Sacramento River. They were listed in the California Voter Registration in 1926-28 in Stockton, 5th Ward, 8th Precinct at Horace Ave and Anderson. Russell is listed as a bench hand Russell had worked there before as a pipe fitter and was familiar with the area. When traveling the levee road between Brentwood and Stockton, Bertha had to lean her head out of the car window and tell Russell which way to turn. Bertha couldn't decide between the name of Betty and Barbara (after Betty Davis and Barbara Stanwyck). She decided on Barbara. However, the recorder must have become tired of waiting because it was discovered later when Barbara was 14 and tried to get her work permit, that the birth certificate gave the name as Betty. It was officially changed back to Barbara.

In 1932, when Barbara was eighteen months old, her family moved to the state of Washington to a little town named Thera. Bertha's parents lived close by in Diamond. The family moved into an old converted grain warehouse where Russell became manager and was responsible for loading the sacks of wheat onto the elevator that took them up into the waiting boxcars. Russell would often let the children hitch a ride on top of the sacks of wheat as they ascended up to the boxcars. Barbara remembers rollerskating the length of that warehouse. This was an especially useful vehicle when needing to use the bathroom at the far end of the warehouse. For her 4th birthday her mother bought a doll and tied a string to it. Her mother gave Barbara the other end of the string. She had to follow that string which wandered back and forth through the warehouse, until she came to the doll.

Barbara remembers that sometime during her childhood she could not sleep on her left side or the pigs would bite her ears. Why? She's not sure.

Her mother told the story of the gypsies that traveled through the area. They tried to buy Barbara. Thank goodness the folks weren't that desperate for money. There is also the story that someone gave her the runt lamb of the flock., which she cared for and loved.

Barbara started the first grade in Endicott, near Thera. They lived in Thera about five years then moved to Colfax, Washington, where she finished first grade and continued through 5th grade. Barbara walked with her brother, Roy, and sister, Laura, about 3 miles down the road to school in Colfax. Sometimes unbeknownst to their mother, they walked the shortcut over the railroad trestle. When Barbara asked Roy what they would do if a train came, He replied, "We would drop down and hang below by our hands". Scary thought! After the first year a bus picked them up. When it snowed, Mom would have to go push them up the hill to the road where the bus was waiting. Barbara spent most of her young years on the farm in Colfax, then moved to Sacramento when she was 10 years old.

One day on her way to Rancho Market Barbara found $50 in the empty lot. Mom had always instilled in her children complete honesty and the idea to never keep anything that didn't belong to them. Barbara took the money to the Market and told them where she had found it. Later a sailor claimed it. It was his mustering out pay. He was so relieved to get it back, he gave her a $5 reward. That was a lot of money to a young kid at that time. and $50 was a lot of money to an adult.

As a teenager Barbara was active in the youth group of the Nazarene church. She attended a church youth camp by Santa Cruz when she was about 16. During her high school years, she had the responsibility to care for her younger brother and two sisters after school as her mother was working. She never minded that responsibility as it just seemed her contribution as a family member. She worked at the Carnation Ice Cream Company restaurant on Stockton Boulevard, just up the street from our home. She told me a story about one time when she was waitressing and cooking. A man came in and ordered his meal. When he finished eating, she asked him what he would like for dessert. He said, "you". She said she wasn't dessert, she was the main course. He laughed and left her a $5 tip. Who but Barb could think that fast.

She graduated from Sacramento High School in 1948. Barbara worked for the Federal Veteran's Administration for a year after graduation from High School. She then attended Sacramento Jr. College, graduating with a AA degree in Social Science. After graduation she worked for the California Highway Patrol coding accident reports.

Barbara met Tom Alexander in March 1951 on a blind date. He came to Sacramento with her girlfriend's boyfriend. They went to the boy's house and he asked if he could mix her a drink. When she said, "No. Thank you," he said, "the only other thing we have is milk." She replied that she would have a glass of milk. They then went on a beerbust on the banks of the Sacramento river under a bridge.Tom was an eighteen year old sailor in the U S Navy.. The others at the party seemed to disperse here and there, so Barb and Tom lay on a blanket under the railroad trestle and talked. Tom was a complete gentleman. He did not make any passes and this appealed to Barbara. They courted through the mail as Tom was sent to sea near Japan and Korea shortly after they met. They married in March 1952. Right after the wedding, Tom was shipped over seas and Barbara worked and lived with her parents. Her mother didn't know that Tom was Catholic and was disappointed to find that out. It's hard to figure this out, since Mom at one time had attended Catholic school. Bertha loved Tom, however, and had a good relationship with him throughout the years.

When Tom's ship sailed back to California, Barbara went to Berkeley to meet him in November of 1952. Barbara was about 8 1/2 months pregnant. They drove back to Barbara's sister's house, (Laura and Charlie Just), and then Barbara's water broke. They had to turn around and go back to Oaknoll Hospital in Oakland, where their first child, Karen, was born. They found an army barrack at Mare Island to live in and stayed there for 3 months while the ship was in dry dock. They then lived in government housing in Berkeley for a while. Tom was shipped out so Barbara and the baby returned to Sacramento where Barbara lived in a cement block house with Laura and Charlie.

When Tom's ship came back into port, They moved into a beautiful stately old home in Alameda with Laura and Charlie. The home had been made into 2 apartments. Charlie was attending Law School at UC Berkeley. During the daytime, Barb would stay home with Karen and the two Just children, Charlie attended law school, Laura would go to work at the Bank, and Tom would usually be at sea. Laura worked at the bank. At night time Barbara would go to work, Chrlie would go to work, Laura would stay home with the children, and if Tom was not at sea, he would also be at home. The downstairs neighbors had difficulty keeping track of who was married to whom.

Tom was soon transferred to Hawaii, so Barb and Tom then moved to Hawaii. Hawaii was an expensive place to live and Barbara was pregnant with Kathy most of the time they were there. Hawaii is not a fun place to live while pregnant and poor. It seemed that whenever she hung the wash on the line to dry, it would rain. After rushing out to take it down a few times, Barbara learned to just leave it there to dry eventually. Their second child, Kathleen, was born in September of 1954 in Hawaii.

When Tom got out of the navy, they lived for a time in Sacramento on 24th Street and then moved to Phoenix because his father was sick. Linda, their third child was born there in December of 1955. They bought a house and then rented it out and moved back to Sacramento because Barbara was homesick and Tom was frustrated with his job. Karen attended first grade at a Catholic school on Y Street. They lived in Sacramento 6 months before moving to Milpitis because they had friends there who thought they could help Tom find a job that he would be happy in. They could not qualify financially for housing and so lived with their friends, Gene and Bernita, for 6 months. Tom worked for the city of Milpitis water department. Barbara babysat in exchange for rent.

Tom's dad developed a heart condition and because Tom was an only child and felt he needed to be support for his mother, they moved back to Phoenix into the house they owned at 8121 North 29th Drive. In 1955 Barbara worked at Goodyear Aerospace as a "girl Friday" for 28 engineers. She answered phones, typed, and filed. The company made blimps and componants for airplanes. She worked days for about nine months but with Tom working nights, it made life difficult, so she quit. She only made $50 per week and paid her babysitter $25 per week. Figure the math.

Michael Thomas, "Tommy", was born in Phoenix at Phoenix General Hospital in August 1960. Dr. Hatch was Barbara's doctor, but he didn't make it to the delivery. Dr. Hatch was a cowboy and Tom painted a picture of his two horses to pay the doctor bill.

Barbara was a stay at home mom until Tommy went to school then went to work for GE in 1967. Honeywell bought out GE and Barbara worked as an insurance adjuster with Honeywell information Systems in Phoenix until she retired in June of 1986.

In early 2005 Barbara and Tom were both diagnosed with aortic aneurisms. Tom's was in the groin area and was repaired with surgery in February. Barbara's was a little more complicated as she had a weak heart and they discovered the lump in her neck was a tangle of veins, which may have been congenital from birth. Barb underwent a heart catheterizaton test the 24th of Novemberat the test request of the med staff in Houston, the experts in this field, who wanted a look at her heart/aorta from the inside. Turns out Barb experienced a mini-stroke after the procedure and had to spend 4 days in the hospital. She shed all stroke symptoms and was feeling better every day, but with little energy. They went to Houston around mid NOV for consultation with Dr. Coselli, the leading expert in surgical procedures involving the aorta. Local surgeons would not touch the descending aorta where it is involved with the spine, hence, Houston comes into play as they have the trained and experienced teams and facilities readily available.
She recovered from the TIA very well, but they found that her left carotid artery iwas 50% blocked and she had a weak heart that pumped only 35% of the blood that it should. Barbara and Tom went to the specialist in Texas who said he could not operate as the risk was too great because her heart was weak and there was a great chance she could have a stroke or heart attack during surgery. Barbara's heart seemed to improve and she said she was feeling good and could do most everything that she wanted to do.

Barbara died on Friday, 26 June 2009. Even though we knew it a very real possibility with her many health problems, it still comes as a shock. She had been having a nagging pain in her back and Tom had questioned her thouroughly to see if she was all right. She did not want to go to the doctor and said she would be fine. Tom was gone to pick up some printing from the printers just a short time. When he returned home, he found her on the floor by his chair seemingly reaching for the phone. He was devastated that he was not there with her. Perhaps she picked her time. She seemed to have been preparing in retrospect. She had spent a most satisfying day with her family on Mother's Day. On Thursday, the day before she died, she called me (Marilyn) and we had a nice long talk. She asked me if I knew what glass eggs were. I told her all I could think of was the Ukranian painted eggs. She said she thought she should call and share this with me. When she was young, Mom would soft boil eggs, break them in a glass, (we supposed she didn't have any small bowls), add lemon juice and salt and pepper. They would then dip their toast in the egg. I remember the soft boiled egg with lemon juice but not in a glass. Perhaps by then Mom had small bowls. I still love them that way. Barbara wanted me to know that information. Looking back on our conversation, it seems a little ironic. She then called Darlyne and they had a nice talk.There were many little things that seemed to indicate her preparation. Basically, though, she had been preparing since the day she found out the dire circumstances of her health. She accepted it and lived every day the best she could. She didn't have a lot of strength and endurance, so she would clean a little and then rest a little. She was happy. She loved the way Tom took care of her. He would hold her hand when she walked anywhere to make sure she wouldn't fall. She and Tom gave each other a meaningful hug and kiss each morning; grateful for each day they could spend together. She was happy and upbeat her whole life.

The day before Barbara died, she told Tom that she had called each one of her sisters and daughters. I'm sure she knew that her time was close. She had had a pain behind her shoulder blade for the last week. It was getting stronger. Tom was concerned and asked her several time if she would go see the doctor. She insisted that she would not go to the doctor. They both knew the inevitable, that the annuerism in her aorta could give out at any time. Tom went to pick up some flyers from the printer and said he would only be gone for half an hour. When he returned home, he found her on her knees by his chair reaching for the phone. Although he knew it was in vain, he started CPR. That only pumped more blood out. The paramedics came and continued the CPR for a short time. The autopsy showed it was indeed the aortic annuerism that had given out. Barbara was 78 years old



28 JUL 2k5 Dear Marilyn & Ron....We just got back from the frozen north country and have finally warmed up a bit. 'Twas nice seeing the family in Puget Sound, SLO, Roseville and Cool. All seems well so far even tho Laura is still struggling, she does seem to be coping OK. The rest o' the mob is still the same and were glad of that. Also glad to hear things are going well on your mssion. Very nice that your weather is cooperating at this point and we wish you a successful completion and safe return home. Angus Augustus Menish, the boy angel, was perfect except that his internal organs were all jammed in his chest allowing no room for his lungs to expand. His situation was too severe for the med team at U of Washington to handle. He was taken off life support a day and half after birth permitting his reentry into heaven, his mission on earth accomplished. He came at a time of serious family strife and estrangement and the discovery of his affliction, while still in the womb, brought Linda's little family back together again, as it should be. He came. He did his job. He went back. And he went back with a load of earthly love from all his family. Linda is prepping a garden in her back yard in his memory and Barb and I bought a cherub statue for the garden. His parents will decide on his ashes in the future. We know you will be anxious to get home, but if you can swing it, be sure to drop in on us Desert Rats for a little visit. 'Twould be fun, again....Love....Barb 'n' Tom

Other Events:

• Also Known As: Samuel John Alexander
• _UID: 2ADE1B017F3FFC46A3B0AAA78A0768AE6F02

Notes:

Hey Marilyn....My grandfather, Angelo Alessandra, was born in Terra d'Falco, Sicily around 1867, Died in Rochester, NY around 1959 /60.

My father, Salvatore Augustino Alessandra was also born in d'Falco in 1909. They arived via Ellis Island 1912 with dad's sister Consetta (?) Caico a teen in 1912 and grandad's wife Maria Caico.

Uncle Barbaro Caico emigrated with brother Jim (Italian 1st name unk) Caico - Ellis Island around the turn of the 20th century. They sponsored my father and his father and mother and sister in 1912.

My mother's side - Father: Antonio DiMaria (or DeMaria) born in Sicily arrived Ellis Island sometime prior to 1912.
Mother: Frances Antoinette DiMaria (or De) 16 May 1912, Rochester NY. ;Younger sibs are sister Mary; brother Andy and one other bro whose name gets away from me because I only knew him as uncle Skinny.

My folks never told me very much about my forebears so I have very little info to provide you with. ... Tomborn as Salvatore Alessandra, in Terra di'falco or Terradifales, Sicily, Italy. He came to America about Dec 1912. residence 2830 W. Griswold, Phoenix, AZ. SS# 326 09 7580. His name was changed to Samuel John Alexander before his marriage.

Social Security Death Index
Name: Samuel Alexander
SSN: 326-09-7580
Born: 30 Apr 1909
Died: Dec 1967
State (Year) SSN issued: Illinois (Before 1951 )

Salvatore married Frances Paula Antoinette DIMARIA or DEMARIA on 5 Sep 1931 in Rochester, Monroe, New York, United States. Frances (daughter of Antonio DIMARIA or DEMARIA and Maria) was born on 16 May 1912 in Rochester, Monroe, New York, United States; died on 23 Feb 1981 in Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 4441E895769C794D9E03048A1988D15CD7C4

Notes:

residence 8245 N. 27th Ave. SS# 337 01 1929

Social Security Death Index
Name: Frances Alexander
SSN: 337-01-1929
Last Residence: 85021 Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona, United States of America
Born: 16 May 1912
Died: Feb 1981
State (Year) SSN issued: Illinois (Before 1951 )

Other Events:

• Physical Description: 5'8", dark hair, hazel eyes, med build
• FamilySearch Id: 5 foot 10, dark brown hair
• FamilySearch Id: KFFK-QHZ
• Occupation: farmer in early life, laborer, Construction worker
• Reference Number: *
• _UID: 361DD35EF91ECF438BF212FECAC4F00FC785
• Census: 1900,1910,1920,1930

Notes:

from Contra Costa Gazette prior 1900
COLLIS male 31 Dec 1896 Brentwood Walter Collis 9 Jan 1897

things to do:
1. when did Russell retire? Bertha?
2. newspapers in Brentwood & Colfax (marriages; Hazel, Gladyce, Russell, births, + news of the area
3.Social Security registration?

Timeline for Ernest Russell Collis

1896 Dec 31, Russell born Brentwood, Contra Costa, CA
1900 US Census: Contra Costa, CA age 3
1906 April 18, lived in Brentwood behind Blacksmith shop during SF earthquake/fire according to his recollection.
1910 moved with parents to Diamond, Whitman, Washington
1910 US Census: Diamond, Whitman, WA age 13
1915 met Bertha Sherman at the Whitman County Fair.
1917 WWI draft registration; Diamond, Whitman, Washington age 21
1920 US Census: Diamond, Whitman, Washington age 22 living with sister, Gladyce & Pete Ping and brother
Winner
1923 Oct 14, marriage certificate: Russell Collis & Bertha Sherman at Colfax, Whitman, Washington
1924 Sep 27, son, Walter, born in Brentwood, California
1926-28 Polk Stockton directory, Russel & Bertha at Horace and Anderson
1926 Aug 10, daughter, Laura born in Yuba City, Yuba, CA
1930 US Census: age 32, Township 9, Contra Costa, California
1930 Nov 20, daughter, Barbara born in Stockton, San Juaquin, CA
1931 lived on Collis Ranch in Brentwood Ca with mother
1933 After ranch was taken over by bank in 1932, moved to Gobel, OR, built cabin there
1934 Move to Thera, WA
1935 Feb 2, son, Stan, born in Thera, WA
1936 Polk Stockton City Directory at 1435 E Park, iron worker-Kyle & Co. (probably carried over from ealier
1937 Apr 18, daughter, Marilyn born in Colfax,
1939 Jul 7, daughter, Darlyne, born in Colfax.
1940 US Census: South Colfax, Whitman, Washington, age 44
1941 May 4, moved with family to Sacramento, Sacramento, CA
1942 WWII draft registration: 2486 41st St, employed- Lyon Darwin Hardware, Oak Park, Sacramento
1943 Sacramento City Directory: Collis, E Russell (Bertha I) driver h2486 41st St.
1970 Death: June 30 Bertha died in Traverse City, Michigan while visiting with newly found brothers and sister.
1976 Death: June 26, Russell died in bed in Sacramento while living with son, Roy. Cause of death:
Arteriosclerotic Heart desease


Ernest Russell Collis’ Story
Brentwood, California
Gladyce, Arthur, Russell, Hazel, Winner
Ernest Russell Collis was born in Brentwood, California on the 31st of December, 1896. He was the second child of six born to Walter Winner and Laura Susan (Grigsby) Collis. The oldest child, Hazel Crystal, was born in 1894; then Ernest Russell. Next were: Gladyce Esther, born 1898; Winner Winwood, born 1900; Arthur, born 1902 (he died in 1907 just 12 days before their last child, Edgar Dawain, was born on the 19th of September of 1907. His father, Walter was a blacksmith and had a shop in Brentwood.

Russell, as we called him, remembered living in a 2 story house behind the blacksmith shop during the great San Francisco earthquake and fire on the morning of April 18, 1906. He was 10 years old. During the earthquake Russell's bed rolled across his upstairs bedroom floor. He jumped out of bed and with the entire family hurried out of the house and into the yard. Water was sloshing over the top of the huge water tank near the house. The ground under foot was rolling and undulating like waves on the ocean. The fire in the city across the bay gave an eerie red glow to the sky. Perhaps thoughts of Armageddon went through their minds. News wasn't instantaneous as it is today. Some time later, Russell went to Market Street with his Uncle Byron Grigsby, to observe firsthand the damage and devastation. They later heard that Walter's sister, Florence Gates, watched the fire and destruction all around her from a doorway in San Francisco. Aunt Florence is said to have rushed into the house to save the oil painting of her mother, Ann Randall Collis, as a child, by cutting it out of the large heavy frame. Florence was living in San Francisco at the time with her husband, Merville Gates. Her father, William Collis, had died 6 years previous and her mother, Anne Collis, was living in Brentwood with 2 of her daughters. Florence had married in 1903 at age 29, and never had any children. Prior to her marriage, Florence was living on her own and was a portrait artist in San Francisco.

Russell’s brother, Winner, wrote the following story about Russell and how Winner broke his arm: “I must have been about 7 or 8 years old. It was during the summer. We lived just a short half block from the old blacksmith shop in Brentwood. Russ, your dad, and I were playing on an old hitching rack which was a 1 ½ or 2 inch pipe run through the branches of three locust or pepper trees. It was about 3 or 4 feet above the ground, but seemed higher to me then. I was standing on the pipe. Russ was up in the tree above me. He said he was coming down and would step on my fingers if I did not get out of the way. I let loose of the tree, turned on the pipe and started walking on the pipe to the adjoining tree. I suppose I was barefooted. Anyway, I slipped and fell to the ground with my right arm under my body and broke so many bones in my elbow, that old Dr. Cool just put it in a towel and tied the towel around my neck so I could be as comfortable as possible with all the broken bones in a mess.” (Later he told me that the doctor told him to carry a bucket of sand around with that arm to straighten it out.) “In 1954 I looked at the bones in a fluoroscope in Portland, Oregon, and saw all the mess of odd shaped bones with one piece of bone floating all by itself in the middle of the elbow. The Doctor said, 'that is the kind of break we like to turn over to our competitor'.”

As the automobile became more affordable and thus more popular, the need for blacksmiths became less necessary. In 1908 Ford Motor Company mass produced more than 10,000 Model T's. About 1907, Russell's father was working for Holt Harvester Company as a salesman and demonstrator of combine harvesters. He was away in Washington State when his 5th child Arthur died and the family had the baby's body lie in the home on the kitchen table, waiting for the father's return before culminating the funeral arrangements. What a sad time for all. It must have been a traumatic time for the family, with father traveling so far away and travel being slower in those days. Did they have a car, or did he travel by train? Train travel was quite expensive at the time.

Uncle Winner sent me a letter with the following information about Russell: “Before we moved to Diamond, Washington, your dad must have been about 12 or 13; he had been somewhere and seen one of the old time roller coasters. So in back of the house at Brentwood, he built one; must have been 30 or 40 feet long, with humps and dips. The high point was possibly 6-7 feet high, with smooth 2 or 3 inch boards as the track, which he greased with soap. We had a good many short rides on it. Don’t know where he got the lumber for all the post and scaffolding, plus braces.”

Berkeley, California

Shortly after the death of Arthur, the family moved to Berkeley so they could be close to Laura's parents, Elmira and Erasmus, (called Dorwin) Grigsby. Walter was still traveling quite frequently with his sales job. Laura's parents lived on Grant Street at that time. Laura, Russell’s mother, played the piano and organ quite well and Grandma Grigsby, wanted the same for her grandchildren. Russell had other ideas though, so when he was supposed to be practicing the piano, Uncle Byron would sneak him out the back door and off they would go to the baseball game in Emeryville. Grandma Grigsby was also concerned about the children's need for spiritual training. She insisted that the children read the Bible and thus Russell developed strong moral ethics and became quite familiar with the scriptures even though in later years he seldom attended church with his family.

Grandpa Grigsby had a little barn along side the house in Berkeley in which he kept a little roan mare, “Kitty”. He would take the kids for a ride in a one horse buggy or surrey with the fringe on top down Shattuck Avenue.
Grandpa & Grandma Grigsby with mare Kitty
Winner also wrote: “I don’t know how old he was when your dad sold candy strings in Oakland. Grandma Grigsby got him the job. But I remember the round candy strung on strings. Before or after that, he had a paper route in Oakland. I got up one morning to help him. I know and remember it was 4 o’clock in the morning; too early for a little kid.

State of Washington

In March 1910 Walter moved his family with 5 growing children to the Colfax area in the southeastern part of the state of Washington. Russell was 13 at the time. Perhaps Walter was drawn to the area while there selling harvesters. The area had vast rolling hills planted in wheat. Walter again took up blacksmithing in a small blacksmith shop near Diamond, Washington. At the time the wheat harvesters were using an eight or twelve mule team, so there was a need for shoeing. There was a big flood that year.

Hazel was the oldest daughter of the family, and married shortly after their arrival in Washington; she was just seventeen at the time and married Fred Kasdorf, whose family had moved to Colfax, Washington about 1890. His parents were born in Germany.

Russell quit school during his eighth grade year. Did the move to a new school in Washington make it too hard for him to adjust? But, then he never did like the containment of the classroom. He would sit on the schoolyard fence, spit tobacco and taunt the kids in school, according to his sister, Gladyce, who was 2 years younger than Russell. He never went back to school after that. Gladyce would occasionally work for May Lamb, helping in the house. May and Roy Lamb were the parents of Bertha Sherman. Bertha was living with her maternal grandmother, Elizabeth, called "Libby", Smith, and step grandfather in Eureka, Montana, at the time, but Bertha would occasionally visit her mother and stepfather in Diamond. (How did she get there? Train? Car? I doubt it. Horse and buggy?)

Russell's youngest brother, Edgar, was 7 years younger than Winner, and 11 years younger than Russell. I have no information of his involvement with the older children. He later married Alma and lived in Salt Lake City, Utah. He had no children

In about 1915, Russell met Bertha Sherman for the first time at a county fair during one of her visits to her mother's house. She was only twelve years old at the time. Russell was a handsome young man of sixteen. There must have been some attraction, as it was a remembered event throughout their lives. Bertha went back to Montana to continue living with her grandmother. Bertha's grandmother suffered from breast cancer, and during Libby's illness, Bertha nursed her and administered morphine shots to her to ease the pain. Libby died when Bertha was sixteen, so she came back to live with her mother in Diamond, Washington.

According to Winner Winwood, "After Dad and Mom (Laura and Walter Collis) moved back to California from Diamond, Washington, Russ and I rented a house in Diamond and batched. Russell was acting as one of the sparring partners to help train Ernest Ping, Uncle of Pete Ping, to fight a local boy who had done some fighting while in the navy. One evening Russell was sparring with Ernest, when Ern hit Russell square on the `button' or nerve center on the chin. Russell got a funny look on his face and simply wilted in a heap on the floor, much to the consternation of everyone. He `came to' very soon, however."

Russ’ sister Gladyce married Pete Ping in November of 1917 in Dayton, Washington. Pete was born in 1896 in Washington. Pete was living with his family in Diamond, Washington. He worked for Roy Lamb at the time. In the 1920 Census, Russell and Winner were living with Pete and Gladyce in Diamond, Washington. Pete and Winner were working for the railroad. Russell was working as a farm laborer.

Since Southeastern Washington is wheat country, most of the jobs were involved with planting and harvesting the wheat. In the early times an eight-mule team was used to pull the harvester and involved lots of hand work. Russell often talked about how many rattlesnakes he would find on his pitchfork as he hoisted hay into the wagons. The men traveled from field to field harvesting each crop as it was ready. It was a cooperative effort. They generally worked in the field from dawn to dusk, eating at a big trailer with benches down both sides, and slept on a bed roll in the wheat fields at night. (With the rattlesnakes?) .

Because Diamond was such a small community, Bertha and Russell were both at many local social events. Both were attending a box social and grange dance where each lady prepared a box lunch for two and each man was to bid on the lunch of his choice (or the lady of his choice.) The young man bidding on Bertha's lunch was someone she didn't want to be with. She asked Russell to bid on her lunch and he did. They began going together from then on. Bertha was about 18 at that time.

In 1917 All young men had to register for the draft during WWI and Russell was no exception. Stan said he was told by Roy that Russell was sent to New York, but he got the flu and by the time he was well, the war was over. The war ended 28 June 1919, when the Treaty of Versailles was signed in France, so he must have been in New York at that time. I could find no record of his service. There were 1,500,000 people who died from influenza in the United States during 1918 and 1919.

After they became engaged, Russell decided to go back to Brentwood for a while. He said, "I probably got mad at her". While in Brentwood, Russell had quite an experience. Winner wrote, "Russell, a friend named Fred Orr, and I decided to join the Merchant Marines in San Francisco. ( They had all just registered with the draft board for WWI. Perhaps that had something to do with their decision.) We had signed up, had one physical and passed, had gone to the base in San Francisco for a final exam and to be sworn in. We were standing around waiting, when a merchant seaman asked if we were joining up. We said, `yes'. Then he said, `Don't do it! You will regret it.' We talked it over and sneaked out of there, ran like crazy, got a street car to the ferry and went into Oakland and caught a train for Brentwood: all the time looking over our shoulders for a couple of MPs to come and take us back. The MPs never showed up." We were much relieved.

During this time, Bertha was attending Catholic school. She sent Russell his diamond ring and told him she was going to become a nun. (And she didn't even like Catholic school.) Fortunately for us this did not happen. Perhaps spurred by his Merchant Marine experience, Russell forgot he was mad at her. He took the ring and went to Washington to find out what was going on. They reconciled and were married October 14, 1923.

After Russell and Bertha were married, they boarded at a farmhouse in Mount Hope, Washington, near Spokane, while Bertha taught at Harp School and Russell helped out on the farm. Since they were married in October after the wheat was harvested, Russell went off to look for work. He stayed in a Hotel and this is one of the few times they spent a night apart during their entire married life. Mostly, Russell worked in the wheat fields, sometimes using an eight-horse team. At one time he was a grain receiver in the warehouse and did general farming work. Bertha quit her teaching job at the end of the year and never taught school again.

(Much of the foregoing was told to me by Russell in January 1976. Some parts were quoted from a letter dated July 13, 1976, to Marilyn Parker from Uncle Winner Winwood Collis. Some of the information also came from Bertha and some from the children of Bertha and Russell.)

Brentwood, California Again

In 1924 Russell and Bertha Collis moved back to the Grigsby/Collis ranch in Brentwood where Walter Collis, had built a small one room house with a little screened porch for them. Laura had inherited property in Brentwood, from her mother Elmira Grigsby, who died in 1923. Russ' sister, Hazel, lived with her husband and three children in another little house on the property. Walter and Laura lived in their house behind the others

Shortly after moving back to Brentwood, Walter Leroy, called Roy by the family, was born in September of 1924, in Mrs. Pemberton's Nursing Home with Dr. Cook attending. The same doctor had delivered Russell. Roy was named after Russell’s father, Walter, and Bertha’s step-father, James Leroy Lamb.

Russell needed work, so they left the ranch in late 1924 and moved to Stockton for a time where Russell worked for a box factory, He also worked as a steam pipe fitter's helper in building the river boats, the Delta King and the Delta Queen. He also worked on the Carquinez bridge. He then went to work for Holt Harvester Company.

When Holt Harvester Company closed down, Russell and Bertha moved to Yuba City with their baby, Roy. There he worked for farmers picking peaches and later for a cement contractor until he became ill and had to have an emergency appendectomy. In August of 1926, Laura was born in a small private hospital in Yuba City, with Dr. Johnson delivering her. The hospital was so small that the doctor carried his patients from the delivery room to their rooms. Times were hard for the average family during this time before the great depression. Russell and Bertha were no exception and had no money and couldn't pay the doctor. Dr. Johnson, who had delivered Laura, said, "Well, I can't just let him die." He was a great big man and carried Russell to the operating table. He performed the surgery with the bill owing.
After the surgery, Russell, Bertha, and the two children returned to the ranch in Brentwood for Russell to recuperate. Russell was not able to work for a while. This compounded the financial situation. They were living on the ranch in Brentwood in 1930 when Russell's father, Walter, died from Carcinoma of the bladder at the hospital in San Francisco. He had been doctoring for some time. Barbara was born in November of that same year. Their old Brentwood doctor had died by that time and so Bertha went to Stockton to have Barbara at Dammeron Hospital. Perhaps Russell was influenced by his cousin, Langley Collis, who was a doctor in Stockton. Stockton was only about 30 miles from Stockton along the Sacramento River. Russell had worked there before and was familiar with the area.

Due to the expense of Dad’s illness and an untimely hailstorm causing the crops to fail, Russell's mother, Laura, mortgaged the property and all the tools and equipment to the Bank of America. Walter was gone and Russell was trying to keep the ranch going. There was no money and the ranch and all the farm equipment were taken over by the Bank of America in 1932, for a debt of $3000. Three years later it sold for $30,000. Russell was angry. He didn't think the bank should be taking the tools and equipment along with the ranch. However, they, to, were listed in the mortgage. Russell took all the household belongings that the bank hadn't taken and which they would not be able to take with them, and put them on the burn pile. This included a large organ that had belonged to his mother. (This was according to Aunt Gladyce. She was frustrated with him.) Russell often reacted to situations with anger rather than thinking things through rationally.

Russell's mother, Laura, went to live with her daughter, Gladyce, and her husband, Pete Ping, on 76th Avenue in Oakland. Pete’s parents also were living with them at the time. It seemed Gladyce and Pete were often to have relatives living with them. They had no children of their own.

They now had three small children and times were still hard. The price of bread was 7 cents a loaf, milk 43 cents a gallon, gas 18 cents a gallon and a stamp cost 3 cents. The cost of a car was $540, a house $6,514 and the average income was $1,431 a year. Two of the top songs were: April in Paris and Willow Weep for Me. Perhaps the Willow was to weep because finding the 7 cents for a loaf of bread was hard.

What to do now?

Russell and Bertha decided it was time to move. They went to Gobel, Oregon. Russell's brother, Winner, was living in Oregon at the time. Roy helped Russell build a log cabin in Gobel, but they were only there a few months, before heading back to Washington. Russell was a mover. Bertha’s stepfather’s mother, Emma Lamb, had died in 1931 and their house was available for rent from the estate.

Back to Washington

Since Bertha's mother still lived in Diamond, Washington and that is where she and Russell had met, they moved back to Washington. Bertha wrote, "By this time the depression was in full swing and Russell worked at any job he could get. Summers he worked in a warehouse receiving the grain harvest. In winter he worked shipping the grain out when a farmer sold his crop. He also helped the farmers butcher. He sometimes would work all day and get in return a couple of hog's heads, feet and a liver for his day's work. Not too much when a dressed carcass could be bought for 5 cents a pound. Anyway, head cheese and pickled pig's feet are pretty good, and I still like liver."

The family lived in a warehouse near the train tracks in Thera. Thera was a little town near Diamond and is no longer there. It was probably just a little railroad stop. There was a small apartment built into a wheat warehouse. Daughter, Laura, remembers the bathroom was at the far end of the warehouse and the children would put on roller skates to go to the bathroom.

Bertha and Russell were involved in community plays while living in Thera. It seems strange to me that they were involved in any social events as the only social involvement they had in Sacramento was mostly visiting with relatives according to my recollection. We would often visit at Gladyce and Pete’s. Sometimes we would visit with Hazel and her family, but the children were older than most of us.

Stanley Richard was born at home on Feb 2 1935 while they lived in the warehouse in Thera. He was the 4th child of Bertha and Russell Collis. When Stan was 14 months old, they moved to a small ranch 3 miles west of Colfax. The ranch was owned by Bertha's stepfather, Roy Lamb, and his sister, Melba. They had inherited the ranch from their mother who died in 1931. Barbara remembers holding hands and touching the electric fence surrounding the pig pen. A shocking experience! Bertha stated, "It was pretty small. Russell clerked in the hardware store in Colfax during the day and worked the ranch in his off hours. We had six cows, some pigs, and grew wheat on the few acres rich enough to support a crop. With the garden, my chickens, milk, cream, and eggs we managed pretty well.

The effects of the depression were evident everywhere. Bertha and Russell were hard workers and took advantage of every opportunity to earn wages and care for their family. Russell would take whatever odd job he could find and Bertha would help in whatever way she could. While living in the home near Colfax, Bertha would prepare meals and feed the road crews working on the highway. The crew would sit at long tables in the yard for their meals.

Bertha and Russell attended many dances where he often called the square dances. The coats would be piled in a corner where the babies and small children were put to sleep on the piles of coats. Roy said he did not like being at the dances, so he would sneak out and find his friends.

Russell was good at "witching" water with a green stick. He could tell how far down to drill and how much water could be found. He located many wells for friends in Washington, Oregon, and Brentwood. He never liked to boast about it and often worried that his predictions would not prove out. It was definitely a gift that he had and he was pretty much "right on".

Marilyn Louise was born April 18, 1937 in Colfax in Mrs. Marbell's Nursing Home, with Mrs. Dimich, a nurse, attending. Marilyn was the 5th child of Bertha and Russell.

Gladyce Darlyne was born on 7 July 1939 in the same Nursing home. She was the 6th child of Bertha and Russell. Bertha said she was a happy baby.

May Lamb, Bertha’s mother loved to fish for catfish in the stream near her house. She would snag whoever she could to go fishing with her. Laura and Roy each remember fishing with her. Laura said the fish tasted like mud. Norman Kuntz, a neighbor boy also was a fishing companion of hers after her grandchildren no longer lived close by. Roy Lamb gave Norman May’s fishing pole after she died. Norman subsequently gave it to Scott, Marilyn's son, when they visited him in Diamond. May also loved her little rock garden in the front of her house and was often found there weeding and caring for the plants. Stan and Barbara remember her often serving cut up oranges with powdered sugar when they were there for breakfast.

In 1941 Melba, Roy Lamb's sister, wanted or needed her money out of the house and so the house that Russell and Bertha were living in was sold. Bertha said, “When the ranch sold, we packed all our belongings in a home made trailer, stashed our kids and the dog in an old 1927 Buick and started back to California." Away they went pulling the trailer behind. Where to go now was the question. Pete Ping, Gladyce's husband, was working at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento. They started back to California on May 29th of 1941. What a tearful time for May to lose her daughter and all of her grandchildren again. Do you suppose her thoughts were that she probably would never see them again, but hoped to go visit? I can’t imagine stuffing that car full of 2 parents and 6 children from ages 16 down to 2 years, along with all the stuff to get by on that long of a trip.

Sacramento, California

Russell's sister, Gladyce, and her husband Pete Ping lived in Sacramento at 4964 13th Avenue. Gladyce's brother Edgar was living there for a time in 1941. Pete worked as an electrical engineer at the Sacramento Air Depot, according to the 1942 Sacramento City directory. Russell and his family stopped by to visit Gladyce and Pete and ended up staying with them. Russell found a job clerking at Lyon Darwin Hardware store in the Oak Park section of Sacramento. While they looked for a house, all eight members of the family moved in with Pete and Gladyce. Their home was a one bedroom house with a little room off the kitchen that served as a dining room, and a small living room. That made 10 people in about 600 square feet. Fortunately it was summer time. What an interesting time that must have been. Some slept in the screened porch and others slept on the floor in the small living room.

Few people would rent to a family with six children and a dog. Finally a house for rent was found at 2486 41st Street in Sacramento. When it came up for sale, Bertha and Russell bought it. The house was on the corner of 41st and Y Streets. It originally sat on a lot in the middle of what is now Y Street, but had been moved when the street was cut through.

The house was a two bedroom 1 bathroom house with a wall bed in the living room and a small screened room in the back southwest corner. Stan and Roy slept in the screened porch area, the girls in the middle bedroom. (Where did Laura and Barbara Sleep? Wall bed?) Mom and Dad slept in the bedroom off the kitchen. The sleeping arrangements would changeoften as the need appeared. When Laura and Charlie were married, They moved into the bedroom off the kitchen and Mom and Dad slept in the middle bedroom and the three younger children slept in the screened porch. Roy was in the army. The 1942 Sacramento City Directory lists E. R. Collis at that address as a clerk with Lyon Darwin Hardware.

Roy tells the story of Dad losing his temper with someone as he was driving truck for the Lyon Darwin. Someone cut him off and said something obscene. Russell stopped the truck, got out, grabbed the tire iron out of the back and went after the guy. Roy stopped him, thankfully. Russ did lack patience at times in his early years. If he became upset with his employer, he would quit his job.

Roy was the first child to leave home as he went into the army in 1943 during World War II. He had not graduated from high school yet, but the draft registration was being invoked, so he decided to enlist. He became part of the 705th Tank Destroyer battalion and was one of those who were cut off and surrounded in the Battle of Bastone. Mom stated, "It was sure good to have a job at that time, for I had to keep my mind on my work. On the days when I was home and the kids were coming home from school, I'd listen for his steps on the porch even though I knew he was far away. When he came home after the war, I thought I'd go mad before he settled down and quit pacing the floor. I guess it's pretty horrible what they have to go through" In 1946 Roy was home and Dad made a bedroom in the basement for him. I remember hearing Roy's radio playing "Intersanctum" or " The Shadow". I remember the sound of the squeaking door that began one of the programs.

Moving days were finally over for the family. Russell had an "itchy foot". He liked change. When he talked about moving again, Mother told him, "If you move again, you will go without me and the children!" She had had enough moving. They lived in the house on 41st Street until they both retired. Perhaps Dad’s “itchy foot” was one reason we went for rides so often on Sunday afternoons. We visited and camped at most of the historic spots in Northern California: Yosemite, Wright's Lake, Lake Tahoe, Big Trees, Caverns, Volcano, The Mystery Spot, The Winchester House, San Francisco, and many more.
They lived in that house for the next 23 years and Russell held a variety of jobs. He worked for a short time at McClellan Air Force base repairing carburetors. He also picked fruit at several of the farms in the area. We would go glean pears after the regular picking and Mom would can them at home. He was a mechanic at the Wonder Bread bakery in Oak Park in 1945. I still remember the smell of the bread cooking as I walked by. He worked for a short time as a janitor at Stanford Junior High School. He was very offended by the language the kids wrote on the walls of the restrooms. He quit that job fairly quickly. By 1949 he was working as a Construction worker.
.
In the 1950's Russell remodeled the house, changing the whole configuration of it. He added an upstairs bedroom, extended the back of the house to accommodate a bedroom where the screened porch used to be, and added another bathroom and laundry room on the back. This was a difficult time as money was tight and Dad was working double time; a paying job during the day when weather permitted, and working on the house nights and weekends. He was burning his candle at both ends. There was a time when he was on the roof with an electric skill saw. He missed the board and cut through his thigh. It was a bad cut. He was alone so he had to climb down and get himself to the emergency room at the county hospital on Stockton Boulevard. Fortunately, it was only two blocks away.

After those initial years, Russell worked most of his years in Sacramento for Construction Companies on different houses and buildings. He drove a truck for Robinson's Construction Company during the tearing down of the old Buffalo Brewery and construction of the Sacramento Bee building on the site on Q Street. In the 50's he worked on a $100,000 home near the American River. We were all flabbergasted at that outrageous price for building a home was rare at that time.

The holidays were always special times at the Collis house. Aunt Gladyce and Uncle Pete were always there along with friends, Lois and Carl Carlson. We had barbequed hamburgers on the 4th of July with Mom's special barbeque sauce, watermelon, and lemonade made with real lemons. Dad had built a brick barbeque on the site of the old garage turned into a grape arbor. It was frightening when that old garage caught fire and burned to the ground. On summer nights we would sleep in the back yard as the house was too warm. Beds would be moved into the back yard and covered with tarps to protect them from occasional summer rains.

On Thanksgiving morning Mom would get up about 3:00 A.M. to start the turkey cooking. Aunt Gladyce would also cook a turkey. We always had lemon jello with pineapple, shredded carrots, and chopped celery in it. There was always the special chopped cabbage and shrimp salad, stuffing, cranberry, mashed potatoes and gravy. Mom's homemade mince meat pie from an old English recipe which came from Dad's grandmother, Ann Collis, and pumpkin pie were the traditional desserts. The teenagers always went to the Sacramento/ McClatchy high school football game in the morning, and then come home to hopefully help put the finishing touches on dinner. There was a long table that went from the dining room into the kitchen. Turkey sandwiches with cranberry, mayonnaise, and lettuce, were absolutely necessary in the evening.

Our house was about 3 to 4 blocks from the old California State Fair Grounds on Stockton Boulevard and Broadway. Kids could get in free so we were there quite often. In the evenings we would sometimes go to the fair to watch the horse show as Dad's cousin was driving the Budweiser wagon there. Dad liked the harness races and we would attend those also. Maybe we would get an original orange freeze at Merlino's across the street from the fairgrounds.

A favorite thing to do was to sit on the front porch in the early evening and watch the fireworks high in the night sky. Fairgoers would park on all the streets for many blocks around the fairgrounds. We would put sawhorses in front of the house to save a place to park our car. The state fair was a big part of our lives when it ran during the summer.

Each summer we would go on a week long camping trip. At times we would go to Yosemite, or more often we went to Wright's Lake to stay at Fred Held's camp near the Dark Lake Road. Fred Held was a friend of Uncle Pete. He camped at the lake every summer from the time it opened until it closed in the fall. Uncle Pete, Aunt Gladyce, Lois and Carl and our family would join him for a week. Stan usually brought a friend, Frank Marchi, as Barbara had Dixie, Lois Carlson's daughter. Darlyne and I had each other. Laura and Charlie were married by that time. There was a lot of stuff to take for that many people. Dad was a genius when it came to packing the trunk of the car. He had built a special cabinet for the kitchen stuff and knew just where everything went in the trunk so it would all fit. We would hike up to Twin Lakes or some of the other lakes in the high country.

Darlyne wrote, "I still remember the trips there in the old Ford (I think). Daddy always said, 'She’s a boilin.' I thought camping was fun because Mom did all the work." We always carried a canvas water bag over the hood ornament in case the car boiled. We would stop by the side of the road. Let the car cool for a while and then add water from the water bag to the radiator. Then off we would go again. We could use the water for drinking as long as we didn't use too much. We forded Lyon Creek when we got to the top of the hill and would refill the water bag and all take a drink of the fresh Mountain water from the creek. When we got to Wright's Lake, we hung blankets from tree to tree to give us privacy and to separate our camp from the others. We probably looked like a bunch of “okies”, but we had fun.

Russell liked to listen to the baseball game on the radio. At times we would attend the Sacramento Solons baseball game at the ball field on Broadway. I loved going with Dad and Uncle Pete. It wouldn't be a ball game without a hot dog. His main interests were ball games and reading the newspaper. Dad was a hard worker. He often worked late into the night to keep the car running. No computers in cars in those days.

Since Russell worked in construction, and thus he showered in the evening, he would cook breakfast for the family while mother got ready for work. He loved pancakes and we would often eat pancakes with syrup. When it rained and he didn't work, he would clean house. He liked to have everything clean and orderly. When we would come home from school, the house would be shiny and clean and the floors waxed. He was a hard worker. We loved it when it rained. We weren't really cognizant of the loss of his income, we only thought of him picking us up from school so we didn't have to walk the 12 blocks in the rain. We didn't laugh a lot together, but I remember our childhood as peaceful and wonderful. We had supportive, kind parents and we were the most important things in their lives. He didn’t spank us often, but when he did, we knew we had been spanked.

Russell retired in about 1963, three years before Bertha retired in December 1966. After retirement, they sold their house and bought an Airstream trailer. One of Bertha's greatest wishes was to see New England in the fall. They traveled for a year across the northern states to New England, then down the east coast to Florida. Bertha had heart problems in Florida and they remained there for a time while she convalesced. They then traveled back west across the southern states. They parked their trailer in a small trailer park on Stockton Blvd. near Florin Road in Sacramento. To me it was a small confined and dark place, but I never heard them complain.

After Bertha's death in 1970, Russell continued to live in the trailer with his little long haired Chihuahua, Chi-chi. Life did not hold the interest it had when his life long partner was alive and with him. One day he ran a red light and he couldn't get the idea out of his head that he might have hit someone; a car, a kid on a bicycle or a pedestrian. He gave up driving. He also had a slight stroke and it seemed unwise for him to be alone. He moved in with his oldest son, Roy, on Middleberry Street in Sacramento and he lived there until he died in his sleep of a stroke on the 24th of June in 1976, at the age of 79. He was buried beside Bertha in Eastlawn Southgate on Highway 99 near Florin Road in South Sacramento.

Addendum:
1. Some of Russell's favorite sayings were:

· "Children should be seen and not heard."

"It's just as cheap to run the car on the top half of the tank as on the bottom."

· Regarding wearing lipstick: - "Any old barn looks better painted."

· Regarding accumulating worldly goods: "I've never seen a hearse pulling a trailer!"

· "Life is backwards; when the children are young and you need the money and the big house and
you don't have them. When you no longer need them, you have them."

Whenever he teased me, I would cry, and Dad would say, "Your eyes are too close to your bladder." It made me sad, because I didn't want to cry, but couldn't help it.

2. Interview with Barbara on the phone in 2007.
She remembers going to the Grange dances and the kids would sleep on the pile of coats on the floor. When they lived in the warehouse in Thera, Dad would load the wheat sacks into the boxcars. He would let the kids ride up the conveyer. The Colfax house they lived in was about 3 miles on the left from Colfax, going toward Diamond. They would skate in the living room. The school was in Colfax and the kids would return home from school walking on the railroad track. The school was a dance studio last time Barb visited. She remembers dad talking on the old crank phone when receiving a call that his mother had died. Dad had a white suit which he ruined when he threw up after drinking wine. She also remembers driving down the streets of San Francisco and the chinamen all went running into the buildings with their pigtails flying.

3. Letter from Jim Just
March 26, 2008
Dear Aunt Marilyn,
I've just finished reading your short history of Russell and Bertha Collis. I found it fascinating. Thanks so much for doing this. Memories and lives are so fragile and fleeting, it's important to preserve what we can.
I don't have much to add. I do remember the wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. The whole family would always gather at the 41ST Street house for Christmas Eve, and exchange gifts. The really precious things weren't the trinkets, but the warmth of the family and the precious memories of being together.
We kids practically lived at that house during the - what was it, 10 or 14 day run? - of the state fair. Bertha must have been a saint to put up with us, always welcoming and never a complaint.
I remember Russell as very kind and having a wicked sense of humor. I loved working with him and the other men of the family, and learned carpentry and construction skills that still serve me well today.
In my junior year -1 believe, I was suspended for a week for flipping off my gym coach (do kids still have to take P.E. these days)? As "punishment," I was assigned by my folks to work with Russell building a garage in our back yard at the Elvas Avenue house. While shingling the roof, I stepped off the edge, hit the top of a fence on the way down, flipped over, and landed on the back of my head, knocking myself silly. Russell came over, looked down at me over the edge of the roof, and said, "Lazy kid. You're the hardest kid to keep working I've ever seen."
But he gave me the rest of the day off.
Love, Jim Just

4. The Delta King is an authentic 285-foot riverboat. The King and her identical twin, the Delta Queen, were christened on May 20, 1927, and began their daily river voyages between San Francisco and Sacramento in June of that year. At 6:00 p.m. each evening, the grand ladies of the Delta left their docks for the 10 hour trip that included prohibition era drinking, jazz bands, gambling and fine dining. A stateroom was $3.50, but for a dollar and "’your own blanket" the night could be spent on the Cargo Deck.
The King and Queen reigned on the Sacramento River until the late 1930's when an increase in the number of roads, bridges and automobiles made riverboating a less efficient means of transportation. Depression and World War II signaled the end of the sternwheel era and both the King and Queen were drafted into the U. S. Navy to serve on San Francisco Bay as net tenders, floating barracks, troop transports and hospital ships. At the conclusion of the War, the Delta Queen was purchased and taken via the Panama Canal to the Mississippi River where she still serves. The engines of the Delta King were taken for spare parts. The King was shuttled between Canada and California as a derelict with hopes of becoming a floating Ghiradelli Square or Chinese Restaurant dashed at each turn by sinkings and litigations. In 1984, after being sunk for 18 months in San Francisco Bay, the Delta King was towed to Old Sacramento, where it underwent a complete renovation. Five pain-staking years later the Delta King reopened to reign, once again, as the heralded monarch of the Sacramento River.


1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Walter Collis
Home in 1900: Supervisors District 5, Contra Costa, California
Age: 33 Occupation: farmer
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1867
BirthPlace: California
Relationship to head-of-house: Head
Spouses's Name: Laura
Race: White
Household Members: Name Age
Walter Collis 33
Laura Collis 33
Hazel Collis 5
Russel Collis 3
Gladys Collis 2

1910 United States Federal Census
Name: Russel Collis
Age in 1910: 13
Estimated birth year: abt 1897
Birthplace: California
Relation to Head of House: Son
Father's name: Walter L
Father's Birth Place: California
Mother's name: Lora
Mother's Birth Place: California
Home in 1910: Diamond, Whitman, Washington
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Gender: Male
Household Members: Name Age
Walter L Collis 42
Lora Collis 44
Hazel Collis 15
Russel Collis 13
Gladys Collis 11
Wynner Collis 9
Edgar Colli 2

*World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Record
Name: Ernest Russell Collis
City: Diamond
County: Whitman
State: Washington
Birthplace: California;United States of America
Birth Date: 31 Dec 1896 age 21
Roll: 1992258
DraftBoard: 0
Employer: self Nearest Relative: Walter Height med Build:med Color of Eyes brown Hair dark brown:

*1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Russel Collis
Home in 1920: Diamond, Whitman, Washington
Age: 22 years
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1898
BirthPlace: California
Relation to Head of House: Brother-in-law
Father's Birth Place: California
Mother's Birth Place: California
Marital status: Single occupation: farm labor
Race: White
Sex: Male
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Image: 889
Household Members:Name Age
Elmer F Ping 28 railroad labor
Gladys E Ping 21
Russel Collis 22 farm labor
Winnie Collis 19 railroad labor

Marriage Cert in posession of Darlyne Frost; Family Bible.

California Voter Registration, 1926-28 Stockton, 5th Ward, 8th Precinct
line 22 Collis, Ernest R , benchand, Horace Ave. and Anderson Dem
line 23 Collis, Mrs Bertha I, housewife Horace Ave. and Anderson Dem

*1930 United States Federal Census
Name: E Russel Callis
Home in 1930: Township 9, Contra Costa, California
Age: 32
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1898
BirthPlace: California
Relation to Head of House: Head occupation: farmer
Spouses's Name: Bertha I
Race: White
Household Members: Name Age
E Russel Callis 32
Bertha I Callis 27
Walter L Callis 5 1/12
Laura M Callis 3 6/12
Allen E Morrison 25 roomer - farm hand

1940 United States Federal Census
Name: E Russell Collis
Age: 44
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1896
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: California
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1940: South Colfax, Whitman, Washington
Farm: Yes
Inferred Residence in 1935: South Colfax, Whitman, Washington
Residence in 1935: Same Place
Sheet Number: 3A
Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 46
Occupation: Clerk
House Owned or Rented: Rented
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 10
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 7th grade
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 48
Class of Worker: $720 Wage or salary worker in private work
Weeks Worked in 1939: 52
Income: 780
Income Other Sources: Yes
Neighbors: Ted Ackerman
Household Members: Name Age
E Russell Collis 44
Bertha L Collis 37
Walter Leroy 15
Lora Mary 13
Barbara Jean 9
Stanley R Collis 5
Marilyn Collis 2
Gladyce D Collis 8/12

U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 about Ernest Russell Collis
Name: Ernest Russell Collis
Birth Date: 31 Dec 1896
Birth Place: Brentwood
Residence: Sacto, California
Race: White
Roll: WWII_1734613

1939 Sacramento City Directory: Collis or Ping not found
1940 Sacramento City Directory: Ping, Elmer F (Gladyce E) h4964 13th av
Ping, Frank (Mary E) h5018 14th av
1940 Sacramento City Directory: Collis, Edgar, D, gdnr, PG&E co, h4964 13th av
1941 Sacramento City Directory: Ping, Elmer F (Gladyce E) h4964 13th av
Ping, Frank (Mary E) h5018 14th av
Ping, Peter r 4964 13th av
1943 Sacramento City Directory: Ping, Elmer F (Gladyce E) Elec eng SAD h 4964 13th av
Ping, Frank (Mary E) h5018 1/2 14th av
Ping, Gladyc E clk DMV r 4964 13th av
1943 Sacramento City Directory: Collis, E Russell (Bertha I) driver h2486 41st St.

*California Death Index, 1940-1997 Record about ERNEST R COLLIS
Name: COLLIS, ERNEST R
Social Security #: 542034134
Sex: MALE
Birth Date: 31 Dec 1896
Birthplace: CALIFORNIA
Death Date: 26 Jun 1976
Death Place: SACRAMENTO

Died in his bed at his son, Walter LeRoy Collis', home on Middleberry St., Sacramento from a stroke.

*Social Security Death Index Record
Name: Ernest Collis
SSN: 542-03-4134
Last Residence: 95815 Sacramento, Sacramento, California, United States of America
Born: 31 Dec 1896 California
Died: Jun 1976
State (Year) SSN issued: Oregon (Before 1951 )

Ernest married Bertha Irene SHERMAN on 14 Oct 1923 in Spokane, Spokane, Washington, United States. Bertha (daughter of Milton Kellum SHERMAN and Addie Mae SLY) was born on 2 Mar 1903 in Kalispell, Flathead, Montana, United States; died on 30 Jun 1970 in Traverse City, Grand Traverse, Michigan, United States; was buried in Eastlawn Southgate, Sacramento, California, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Physical Description: 5'2", light brown hair, hazel brown eyes, heavy set
• FamilySearch Id: 5 foot 3, light brown hair, med build,
• FamilySearch Id: KFFK-QHG
• Occupation: Supervisor- Drivers Lisc Dept of Motor Vehicles for CA
• Reference Number: *
• Religion: Nazarene, Sacramento, Sacramento, California, United States
• _MARNM: Collis
• _UID: CC42A326D290344E91B6EDDD17737D9467E8

Notes:

BERTHA IRENE SHERMAN

Bertha was born in Kalispell, Montana, on 2 March, 1903. Her mother, Addie May Sly, and father, Milton K. Sherman, had met in Michigan where May was a waitress in the restaurant of the Elliot House Hotel. Milton and his brothers were loggers. Milton's sister, Matilda, wrote, "May Sly was a very beautiful girl. She had most of the young men in a whirl for sure. However, Milton won her. I recall that her parents worked for the Elliots also." May and Milton married February 17, 1902 in Oscoda, Michigan. The marriage was registered in Tawas City, the county seat. Matilda (or Tillie as she was called) continues, "When May's parents decided to move to Montana, May insisted on going too. Milton, being so mad about her, gave in and went along. Milton was always a very calm, quiet man. He would never argue or quarrel with any one."

May's parents spoken of here are her mother, Elizabeth, and step father, Richard Smith. Elizabeth Close had married Loren Sly in Michigan in 1877. Addie May was the second of their three children. Loren left for the Gold fields about 1888 during a recession. The family received a few letters then heard no more from him. Elizabeth took in roomers to make ends meet after her husband disappeared. Richard Smith was one of those roomers. He was a logger and said he liked to take a room with a widow to help her out. Although Elizabeth was not officially a widow, she was raising her three children by herself. Richard Smith and Elizabeth were married in Michigan about 1900.

Elizabeth (Libby) and Richard Smith moved to Montana in 1902 and took up a homestead near Eureka. May and Milton went with them and also filed for homestead land. They lived in what was called the "Love Cottage". Bertha's father, Milton, left when Bertha was about 2 years old, and according to Bertha, she never heard from nor saw him again. Maye Alverson, a step cousin to Bertha, wrote that someone had taken a shot at Milton while he sat in his home. The suspected person was Richard Smith, who supposedly did not care for Milton. Richard Smith was often upset with one or another of the neighbors and eventually lost much of his land through unsuccessful law suits.

In the book: "The Story of the Tobacco Plains Country, the Autobiography of a Community," Page 164 in a chapter on "Fortine Area Homesteads." It says, "Among many other Michiganders who homesteaded in this vicinity were Dick Smith and his wife, and Mrs. Smith's son and daughter, Ernest and May Sly. For years Dick Smith was the community "radical"--always fighting the capitalist lumber companies and writing accusing letters to his Congressmen: "Just sore at everybody in the world," as Harry Weydemeyer puts it. Mrs. Smith died and her son and daughter went west, but Dick stayed on, living alone at his homestead, and died there at a ripe old age, still kicking."

Milton decided he could not stay any longer. It is said that when Milton left, he asked May to come with him, but she refused. I later learned that Milton had returned to his parent's home in Michigan. His sister, my Aunt Tillie, wrote," What happened between May and Milton I never heard. I do know he loved May and Bertha very much. When he came home, I was only about 6 or 7 years of age, but I remember he had a picture of Bertha at about 1 and a half or 2 years of age. He had that picture enlarged and it hung in our parlor. Several times I have gone into the parlor and found him standing there before that picture with tears running down his face." Maye Alverson wrote that Milton had sent money and gifts to Bertha which never reached her. Perhaps her step-father, Richard (Dick), had intercepted them. Bertha said that Grandpa Dick was never anything but kind to her and she loved him.

After Milton and May separated, May went to Spokane, Washington to look for work. She worked as a waitress in one or another hotel there. She left Bertha in the care of her grandparents, Libby and Dick Smith. Bertha had fond memories of her time with her Grandmother. She remembered playing on the kitchen floor with an egg beater and a bowl, beating imaginary eggs while her grandmother prepared a meal. Bertha had diphtheria when she was four years old and lived in a little house in Eureka Montana. It's not clear whether she was living with her mother or grandmother at that time. When Bertha's mother, May, married James Leroy Lamb in 1908, they wanted Bertha to come live with them in Diamond, Washington, but Grandmother Libby felt she couldn't part with her, so Bertha continued living with her grandmother. Periodically she would visit her mother and step father. Roy had graduated from college with a business degree. He was a bookkeeper when he married May, but he didn't like it. He later became a road overseer. Later he managed the warehouse near the railroad.

Bertha attended Therriault (pronounced Tarry-o) School in Eureka, Montana The school was held in a log cabin close the 'Love Cabin' previously belonging to her father. The school and 'Love Cabin' were about 3 miles from the Smith's homestead. As the Smith homestead was several miles from school and any neighbors, Bertha would often ride her horse to school. At times she would be the only child at school. I'm sure she was a lonely child, but perhaps didn't know any different. She did have her animals for friends and playmates.

It was a hard life in the far Northwestern corner of Montana. Richard was never a good provider. Libby was a hard worker.and had a strawberry patch and vegetable garden. She would sell eggs and vegetables to the neighbors to make ends meet. She would even hire out as a cook.

Hunting was a necessity to provide food for the winter. There would be a deer hanging in the shed all winter. It was so cold that the deer would freeze, and a saw would be used to cut off a chunk of meat for dinner. Bertha learned to can the deer meet in the oven. She also learned to shoot a gun at a young age and was a good shot. There wasn't much opportunity to shoot a gun when she lived in Sacramento and in fact there were no guns in the home, but she liked to target practice when she would visit her daughter and son in law, Barbara and Tom Alexander, in Arizona.

In 1917 Bertha started Lincoln High School in Eureka, Montana. She lived with her Grandma in a rented house next door to her Aunt Carrie Fletcher and her family. The Fletchers lived in a house they built on a lot owned by Bertha's mother. Bertha was a regular Tom boy, according to her, and she played "Follow the Leader" with the Fletcher boys all over the mill pond and the lumber yard. Uncle Fred Fletcher was the tender at the dam but never stopped them even though it was a danger as the logs bobbed and rolled as they jumped from one to another. What fun they had. At one time Uncle Fred was a diver repairing boats on Flathead Lake and as a child, Bertha would go visit them where they lived in Somers, Montana. At that time so many children bothered her, so Aunt Carrie let her go into the cellar and kept the other kids away. She stated, "I guess I had spent to much time alone that I couldn't stand the commotion." It seems she outgrew that by the time she was in high school.

Bertha's Grandmother, Libby, had breast cancer, and said to have been caused from falling down a well. Libby went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, New York, but they could not cure the cancer and prescribed morphine for the pain. Libby was there during the flue epidemic of 1918 and Bertha had the flu and was alone in the house in Eureka. In the spring of 1919, Libby's illness and the resulting pain became very bad, and she kept asking for Bertha. Bertha quit school to tend to her. A couple of times May came to care for Libby, but when she wasn't there, Bertha nursed her and administered morphine shots to ease the pain. At times Ernest Fletcher would give Bertha a break and he would care for Libby. She died the 8th of July in 1919 when Bertha was just sixteen.

After her grandmother's death, Bertha went to live with her mother and stepfather in Diamond, Washington. They had no children of their own. Bertha told me that she didn't know why, but she assumed that her parent's wouldn't want her to live with them. Perhaps she felt rejected as she had visited but had not really lived with her mother since the age of two. In retrospect Bertha stated that her stepfather, Roy Lamb, "was very tolerant and understanding of what must have been a very bratty and spoiled sixteen year old. Anyway, I have only pleasant and affectionate memories of him." Roy was very good to her and they developed a very close relationship. Bertha and her mother also became very close after she moved back home. Bertha was still an only child and longed for brothers and sisters.

For whatever reason, Bertha decided she wanted to go to catholic school. She attended St. John's Academy, a Catholic girl's boarding school for a year and a half. She had met Russell by then and Barbara said that Russell told Bertha she needed to give up Catholic School or him. She moved back with Roy and May.
Bertha was a good student and she loved learning. She took Latin in school which served her well throughout her life, as she had a good vocabulary and a good understanding of words. She loved working crossword puzzles. She attended Colfax High School, where she graduated 23 May 1922. She was an officer and treasurer in the Campfire Girls-Tenega. Campfire girls were first organized in 1910 as the first non sectarian organization for girl in the the United States.

Bertha attended State Normal School at Cheney, Washington, in 1923. She started teaching in September 1923 at Harp School in Mount Hope, just out of Spokane, Washington. She had met Russell Collis at a fair when she was 15. They were married 14 Oct 1923. Bertha quit teaching at the end of that school year as she was pregnant with Roy. She never went back to teaching again. She would have been a wonderful teacher. She was smart and patient and loving.

When Bertha and Russell moved to Sacramento in May 1941, Bertha worked at the Libby McNeil Cannery on Stockton Boulevard, canning apricots, and peaches. The next summer she worked at Bercut Richards canning tomatoes. It was tiring hard work, but she was used to hard work. She had been a stay at home, but work at home mom throughout the early years of marriage; she had cooked for road crews in Colfax while they were living there. She had helped roof a house when 8 months pregnant with Barbara.

Bertha was an active member of the Nazarene church on 21st and S Streets. It was a strict religion which discouraged dancing, makeup, jewelry, and movies. She wrote many poems embracing religious themes. She was Sunday school superintendent and at one time printed the Sunday bulletin on the mimeograph machine; a messy job. She took her children to church by herself as Russell only attended on Easter and Christmas. He would often cook dinner while we were at church and after dinner, we would take a ride. There were many such trips around the area. One by one her children quit attending as they reached their teenage years. Eventually Bertha quit attending.

Bertha began working for the State of California, Department of Motor Vehicles on 15 Dec 1942 and remained there until she retired in April 1965 as a Supervisor in the Division of Drivers License. She was 62 years old. She was a finger print specialist in analyzing and comparing finger prints. She was well liked and well thought of in the department. As she got older, she seldom drove the car as Russell took her where she wanted to go. They even went grocery shopping together. They were compatible and excepting of their differences and strengths.

Bertha was quick to figure things out. She was always ready to fix things. I can remember her taking apart the toaster or iron and putting them back together again and they worked. That was in the days when you fixed what you had rather than throwing it out and buying a new one. We had an old electric curling iron as I remember. You had to be really careful not to get it too hot or you would burn your hair and it would break off. She was always working on some kind of hand work; knitting, crocheting, tatting, and sewing. She made most of our clothing when we were young and taught us to sew at a very young age. She could create any garment you could show her. Every Easter we would have a new homemade out fit to wear to church. She knitted many Barbie doll sweaters for her first grandchildren. As she aged, she developed arthritis in her hands and no longer did handwork. She wrote lots of poetry, much of it of a religious nature, but some with a bit humor also. She was a lady of many talents. My most vivid memories of her were of the times I would have a bad dream in the night. I would creep into my parent's room and stand or kneel beside her bed. She would wake up and take me into bed with her until I was ready to go back to my own bed. When I was young, Stan, Darlyne and I slept in the same room. One night I woke up and saw Stan standing beside my bed; and yet when I looked over at his bed, he was fast asleep in it. The person standing beside my bed disappeared into my parent's closet in the nest room. I was scared out of my whits. My parents got up and searched all through their closet and even into the attic opening in the ceiling of their closet. No one could be found. I was sure that someone was there. They were so patient with me even in the middle of the night, knowing it was a bad dream.

One cold night in January of 1953 Bertha received a telephone call during the night. Her mother had been in an automobile accident and was killed instantly from a ruptured aorta and spleen. The car she was riding in and another car had collided in a snowstorm just south of Spokane, Washington. She had been shopping with other women from her home town area. (See addendum 6).It was a terrible shock. I woke up to Bertha's screaming. Roy had always promised to bring May down to Sacramento to see her daughter and grandchildren. Now that was no longer an option and Roy was devastated. Bertha and Russell drove up to be with Roy. It was a sad reunion. Roy, May's husband, came to visit us in Sacramento with a neighbor boy, Norman Kuntz after her death. Norman was about 16 at the time and probably helped with the driving. Roy was so lonely. Roy died July 31, 1955. Bertha and Russell took a trip to Diamond to settle his affairs.

When Bertha retired, she and Russell fulfilled one of her lifelong dreams of seeing New England in the fall with all of the beautiful colors. They sold their home, bought an Airstream trailer and traveled across the United States. While they were gone, I found some of her treasures that she had stored at Darlyne and Bill's house. Among her papers, I found May Sly and Milton Sherman's marriage certificate stating they were married in Bay County Michigan. I called the operator and told her I was looking for Milton Sherman and explained the reason. She gave me the names and phone numbers for all of the Shermans in that area. One of the persons I called gave me the name and number of Tillie Sherman Chambers who was a sister to Milton. Milton had died in 1953 of a heart attack. That was the same year but about a month after May's death. Aunt Tillie told me that Milton had come home and married Zoë Sharrow in 1908. Milton and Zoë had four children; 3 boys and a girl.

Another of Bertha's desires was fulfilled even though she hadn't known it. The family discussed whether Bertha should be informed of the news of her new family since she had a serious heart condition. Stan said that we had no choice. She needed to be told. When Bertha and Russell returned from their year long trip across the States, I broke the news to her that she had 3 half brothers and a half sister. She was so excited! She could hardly wait to talk to them on the telephone. She had a conversation with Joe, the oldest brother and wrote to the cousin who was involved in researching the genealogy of the family. She decided to fly back to Michigan to meet them. We knew it was risky due to her heart condition. She had had a heart attack in Florida and was confined to the trailer for quite some time. Russell did not wish to go as he was not comfortable meeting so many new people. We talked about the risk, but they decided she should go and the new family in Michigan was anxious to meet her.

When she got to Michigan, a cousin, Vernon Sherman, arranged for a large Sherman family reunion. Milton's sister, Tillie, his wife, Zoey, and all of Milton's children and their families attended. There were also many cousins. Bertha loved it all and had a wonderful visit. (See Addendum 18 - letter from Vernon Sherman).

After a couple of days in Michigan, Bertha felt lots of pain in her legs and back. She knew something was not right. She ended up in the hospital in Traverse City, Michigan. Russell, accompanied by his oldest son, Roy, flew back to Michigan to be with her. Despite his reticence, he met all the Sherman family. They were very good to him and he liked them. Bertha was in the hospital for about a week. Surgery was performed to remove the embolism, but it was too late. She died in the hospital June 30, 1970. Her body was shipped back to Sacramento for burial at Eastlawn South. (See addendum 7). Joe, her half brother, and his wife Lora came to visit us in Sacramento a while later. It was nice for the family to meet him. We met his daughter Norma and her husband, Bud, and their children also, but never met the rest of the family.

Some of Bertha's Legacies:

·She loved all nature, from the most delicate flower to the high majestic peaks.
·She was a conservationist before it was popular to be one. We could never throw even a bit of paper on the ground.
·She cared about all humans, from the intellectual to the down trodden.
·She had a deep spirituality.
·She loved a good joke.
·She was a good shot with a gun.
·She had a good command of the language with a large vocabulary. She felt the Latin she took in high school accounted
for this. She loved doing crossword puzzles.
·She knew and loved poetry. Just a word would prick her memory and she would recite a long loved poem. She wrote
poems both spiritual and humorous.
·One of her favorite sayings was; "Necessity is the mother of invention." Another regarding attitude was; "You can catch
more flies with honey than with vinegar."
·She insisted in honesty and truthfulness in all things minor and major. We could never bring anything home that wasn't
ours. She would say quietly and calmly, "It isn't yours, go put it back where you found it."
·She was an excellent seamstress and had always wanted to take dressmaking courses. She could look at a picture of a
dress or outfit and create one like it.
·Her hands were always busy with knitting, crocheting, tatting or other handwork.
·She was not an exceptional housekeeper. One of her favorite sayings was, "It will never be noticed on a galloping
horse."
·She always took a position against gossip, but was not concerned if she was the butt of the gossip. She would say, "If
they're talking about me, then they're not talking about someone else."
·She loved life and lived it.
·She had often stated that she only had three desires: "To live to see her family raised; to see New England in the fall;
and to have brothers and sisters." She fulfilled all three of them.


One of her sayings,"When they are little they step on your toes. When they are big they step on your heart!"

*1910 United States Federal Census
Name: Bertha I Hserman [Bertha I Sherman]
Age in 1910: 7
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1903
BirthPlace: Montana
Relation to Head of House: Granddaughter
Father's Birth Place: Austria
Mother's Birth Place: Michigan
Home in 1910: School District 10, Lincoln, Montana
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Gender: Female
Neighbors:
Household Members: Name Age
Richard Smith 44
Elizabeth Smith 31
Bertha I Hserman 7 ( Should be Sherman)

1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Bertha Sherman [Bertha Shorman]
Home in 1920: Diamond, Whitman, Washington
Age: 16 years
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1904
Birthplace: Montana [Washington]
Relation to Head of House: Stepdaughter
Father's Birth Place: Michigan
Mother's Name: Mae
Mother's Birth Place: Michigan
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Sex: Female
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Image: 887
Household Members: Name Age
Roy Lamb 35
Mae Lamb 36
Bertha Sherman 16

Notes:

Washington, Marriage Records, 1865-2004
Name: Russell Earnest Collis
Spouse: Bertha Irene Sherman
Marriage Date: 14 Oct 1923
Marriage Place: Spokane
Reference Number: easpmca33989

Other Events:

• _UID: DC1ECF90C122E4479B904667DDFC1E92C8B2

Notes:

Arrived in US Dec? 1912 SS# 126 01 3774. Naturalized 29 Nov 1921, Petition Volume 96, # 10225, Supreme Court of NY, Rochester

1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Angeles Alexander [Angelo Alexander]
Home in 1920: Rochester Ward 1, Monroe, New York 135 Front St.
Age: 50 years
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1870
Birthplace: Italy
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Grace
Father's Birth Place: Italy
Mother's Birth Place: Italy
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Rent
Year of Immigration: 1915 (I can't read date, may be 1912 or 1913)
Able to read: Yes (speaks Italian, can speak English)
Able to Write: Yes
Image: 623
Neighbors:
Household Members: Name Age
Angeles Alexander 50 labor railroad
Grace Alexander 53
Samuel Alexander 11

1930 United States Federal Census
Name: Angelo Alessandra
Home in 1930: Rochester, Monroe, New York 308 Fourth St. (Italian Neighborhood)
Age: 60
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1870
Birthplace: Italy
Relation to Head of House: Head
Race: White
Occupation: presser, clothing factory, speak Italian at home, can speak English, Military service: no, own home value: $3500, Age at first marriage: 28 Parents' birthplace: Italy, Italy
Household Members: Name Age
Angelo Alessandra 60 born Italy widow
Sam Alessandra 20 born Italy single labor steam railroad, unemployed #3-B-39

Angelo Alessandra (1869-1960) and Maria Grazia Augello (1867-abt 1922).
Using the Rochester City Directories for the years 1915 through 1930 this is what I found.

1915
No Angelo Alessandra
Michael Alessandra, woodworker, 98 Brown's race. Home: 42 Marrieta. ( Is this a relative? His widow, Concetta, is later listed at this home address stateing he died Oct 31, 1919. In 1915 there is also a Mario Alessandra, finisher, listed at the Marrieta address)

1921
Angelo Alessandra and wife, Grace, are listed at home, 308 Fourth, Angelo is a laborer. Concetta Alessandra, widow of Michael, is also listed at the Marrieta address along with Mario Alessandra.

1925
Angelo Alessandra and wife, Grace, are still at 308 Fourth. Angelo is a tailor.
Concetta and Mario are still at the Marrieta address, but now Mario has a wife, Josephine

1930
Angelo Alessandra, tailor and wife, Grace, still at 308 Fourth, but now Salvatore Alessandra is listed at that address. Concetta, Mario and Josephine are still at Marrieta address, with Mario listed as a bench hand.

Angelo married Maria Grazia AUGELLO in Sicily, Italy. Maria was born on 20 Jan 1867 in Serradi'falco, Sicily, Italy; died about 1922 in Rochester, Monroe, New York, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 4D273ADB9FDC8B4C8B7715266CA6C3321F95

Notes:

residence 308 Fourth St, Rochester, New York.

Other Events:

• _UID: 2D518E567DA76F45B9839E271447D5E85308

Notes:

Antonio DeMaria or DiMaria (abt 1884- ) and Marie (abt 1887)

Using the Rochester City Directories for the years 1920 through 1929, this is what I found.

1920
Anthony DeMaria and wife, Mary, home at 303 Fourth. He is listed as a laborer. There was also a Tony and Mary Demaria and a Antonio and Marin DeMaria, but they were both at a different address and I felt that Anthony and Mary were the right ones as it matched the 1910 census that listed the correct children.
1925
Anthony DeMaria and wife, Mary, at 303 Fourth. He is listed as a teamster. On the 1920 census he is listed as a driver
1929
Anthony DeMaria and wife, Mary, again listed at 303 Fourth, with him again listed as teamster.

1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Anthony Maria
Home in 1920: Rochester Ward 18, Monroe, New York 303 Fourth Street
Age: 36 years
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1884
Birthplace: Italy
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Marie
Father's Birth Place: Italy
Mother's Birth Place: Italy
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Own
Year of Immigration: 1891
Able to read: No
Able to Write: No
Image: 1060
Household Members: Name Age
Anthony Maria 36 born Italy driver for the city
Marie Maria 39 born Italy tailor in a shop
Batrina Maria 14 born NY
Andrew Maria 11 born NY
Sam Maria 9 born NY
Francis Maria 7 born Ny
Mary Maria 6 born Ny

Antonio married Maria. Maria was born about 1881 in Italy. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 02FC189FFCDF4A4D9A8C2EB650CCF462A379

Notes:

Came to the United States about 1904. Naturalized

Other Events:

• Occupation: Blacksmith, farmer, house builder
• Reference Number: *
• _UID: 142FDE5B63C1224EB7529AE60363D684593A
• Census: 1870, 1880, 1910, 1920

Notes:

Things to do:
1. Look in Brentwood CA newspapers 1880-1910, for articles and wedding, birth, death of Arthur, etc.
2. Look in Colfax WA newspapers 1910-1918 for articles.
3. Look in Winner's letters for info
4. Do I have a will and death cert? for both Laura and Walter?

Timeline:
1868 Walter born Berry Street, San Francisco, CA
1870 Census, Walter age 2, living with parents San Francisco, CA
1880 Census, Walter age 11, living with parents Contra Costa County, CA
1892 Oct listed in California voter registration, age 24, farmer in Briones Valley residence, Brentwood
post office, 5 foot 10 in tall, fair complexion, hazel eyes, dark hair, left leg shorter,
1893 Marriage Certificate -Walter and Laura in Brentwood, Contra Costa, CA
1894 daughter, Hazel, born, Brentwood, CA
1896 June California voter registration, farmer in Brentwood
1896 son, Ernest Russell, born Brentwood, CA
1898 daughter, Gladyce, born, Brentwood, CA
1900 Census, Walter age 33 Contra Costa County, CA; living with wife, Laura, and three children,
Hazel, Russell, & Gladyce,.
1900 Oct; son, Winner, born, Brentwood, CA
1901 & 1902, he is listed as a blacksmith living at 4164 17th Street, San Francisco. He shoed horses for
the San Francisco Streetcars.
1902 Aug; son, Arthur, born, Brentwood, CA
1907 Sep, 5; son, Arthur, died in Brentwood while Walter was on business selling farm equip. in
Washington.
1907 Sep 19; son, Edgar, born Brentwood, CA
1910 Census, Walter, age 42, Diamond, Whitman, Washington; living with wife, Laura, and five
children, Hazel, Russell, Gladyce, Winner, & Edgar
1912 daughter, Hazel married in Whitman County, Washington
1917 daughter, Gladyce married in Dayton, Washington.
1918 Walter, Laura, and son Edgar moved back to Brentwood, CA to farm left him by his mother
1920 Census, Walter, age 51, House Construction; Oak St., Brentwood, Contra Costa County, CA; living
with wife, Laura, and Edgar and 2 boarders in construction.
1923 Walter fell off ladder while picking apples in Wenatchee, WA.
1930 Jan 22, Walter died of bladder cancer in San Francisco.
1930 Census, Laura living in Oakland, Alameda, CA with daughter, Gladyce and husband Pete Ping
1940 Census, Laura living in Sacramento, CA with daughter, Gladyce and husband Pete Ping
1940 Aug 7, Laura died of old age. She had been with her son, Winner in Oregon and Gladyce had gone
to Oregon to bring her home to live with her and her husband Pete Ping. Laura was in a rest home
at the time of her death at age 74.

Walter Winner Collis and Laura Susan Grigsby were married 4 Oct 1893 in Brentwood, Contra Costa County, California. They met in Brentwood where their parents had adjoining farms. Her wedding veil was adorned with live orange blossoms. They were the parents of 6 children; Hazel, Ernest (known as Russell), Gladyce, Winner, Arthur, and Edgar. Five of the children lived to adulthood. Arthur died as a young child. They lived in Brentwood behind Walter's blacksmith shop later moving to Colfax, Washington, then back again to Brentwood.

Laura was born 2 Jul 1866 in Napa County where her parents had met and married. She was the oldest of 4 children, all of which attended school in Brentwood, California. Her father was a successful farmer there. Her mother was often ill, and many times Laura stayed home from school to care for her mother. She was an accomplished piano and organ player. When her husband died, Laura moved to Oregon to be with her son, Winner, but was soon retrieved by her daughter, Gladyce, who brought her to live her last days in Sacramento. Laura died in 1940 at the age of 74 from heart disease.

Walter Winner Collis was born 14 Sept 1868 at 130 Berry Street, San Francisco, California, Walter was the 8th of 10 children born to William and Ann (Randall) Collis of England. William Collis, is listed in the 1868-1874 San Francisco directory as having a saloon and residence at that address. It is reputed to have been nice real estate at that time. In the 1888 San Francisco directory, Walter was listed as a lamplighter and trimmer for The Cal Electric Light Co. in San Francisco, living at 1517 Vallejo Street. (is this our Walter Collis?) Before the turn of the century he was a grain farmer in Brentwood, Contra Costa County, California. My father, Russell Collis, said that farming was never his best occupation. In 1902, he is listed as a blacksmith living at 4164 17th Street in San Francisco. He shod horses for the San Francisco Streetcars. In 1906, during the earthquake, he and his family were living behind the blacksmith shop in Brentwood, California. He later worked for the Holt Harvestor Company as a traveling salesman, demonstrating and selling equipment. His family was living in Berkeley during that time. He was sent to Washington State and was there in 1907, when his son, Arthur, choked to death. Aunt Gladyce remembers the body lying in the living room for about one week while they waited for Dad to return for the funeral. Two weeks after Arthur's death, Laura gave birth to her sixth child, Edgar. The family moved to Diamond, Washington and in the 1910 census he is listed again as a blacksmith in his own shop.

The following information was told to me by Russell Collis in January of 1976.
"In 1910 the family (Walter Winner's family) moved to Diamond, Washington. Walter worked in a blacksmith shop there. In 1918, Walter inherited $700 from his mother. He took Laura, Edgar, a cow and the furniture on a freight train back to Brentwood to 40 acres of property left to Laura by her father, Erasmus Grigsby. Walter nearly died of the flu. Gladyce and Hazel had both married in Washington. Russell and Winner both stayed to work."
"In 1923 Walter, Laura and Edgar returned to Washington for Bertha and Russell's wedding and then went on to Wenatchee, Washington, to pick apples. Walter fell off the ladder onto his back. He later developed kidney and bladder problems attributed to the fall. They called it cancer. It was hardening of the bladder. The bladder was like granite inside and they would chip it off in chips. Walter was never really well after that. Doctor Regen and Doctor Reynolds at the University hospital in San Francisco wanted to operate. The cost of $150, Walter felt was too high and the county owed him something after all these years. He went to the County Hospital in Martinez. It didn't help and when he went back to University Hospital, it was too late. He died there in 1930 at age 61.

He left the farm in debt and it was taken over by the bank shortly after his death. Farming was not his best interest." "Walter played the coronet well and he played any kind of brass instrument. He played in the band in Diamond for a while. He also played the mouth organ well. He had a short leg and walked with a limp, but he was a very strong, husky man. He could pick up a one hundred-fifty pound anvil by the horn and hold it straight out at arm's length. He also was an expert swimmer and at one time made a wager he could swim the river from Brentwood to San Francisco Bay. No one took him up on it so he didn't swim it."

MEMORIES OF Walter Winner Collis by Grandson, WALTER LEROY COLLIS
(as told to Marilyn Parker, June 4, 1988)

I remember little of the ranch in Brentwood; just going through the orchard between Grandma Collis' and our little shack, Grandpa sitting in the rocking chair on the porch with tears rolling down his cheeks because he hurt so bad. Yet Grandpa always had time to play with me. Whenever I'd come, he'd hold me on his lap.

I can remember Grandma chasing him around, telling him, "Walter! do this." Boy! He'd move. She was just a little tiny squirt. We used to gather around the piano and sing the old traditional stuff on Christmas Eve. Money was tight so we would go out and cut down a tree whether it was pine or whatever, and decorate it with homemade decorations. I remember stringing popcorn, making chains and paper decorations.

Grandpa Collis was a big man, religious, a blacksmith, 6 feet 1 inch on one foot and 6 feet 2 inches on the other; A big man with big arms. He wouldn't hurt a fly. He fell across a ladder picking fruit and developed cancer of the bladder.


!BIRTH: Berry Street, 10 pm (William Collis family bible in possession of Marilyn Parker)
!MARRIAGE: Marriage Cert. in possession of Laura Mae Just. (I have a copy)

1870 United States Federal Census
Name: Walter W Collis
Age in 1870: 2
Birth Year: abt 1868
Birthplace: California
Home in 1870: San Francisco Ward 9, San Francisco, California
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: San Francisco
Value of real estate:
Household Members: Name Age
Wm Collis 43 (male citizen of US)
Annie E Collis 41
Ada A Collis 16
Wm A Collis 15
Austin W Collis 6
Rachel Collis 4
Walter W Collis 2

*1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Walter W. Collis
Home in 1880: Township 5, Contra Costa, California
Age: 11
Estimated birth year: abt 1869
Birthplace: California
Relation to head-of-household: Son
Father's name: William
Father's birthplace: Eng
Mother's name: Esther A.
Mother's birthplace: Eng
Occupation: Going To School
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Gender: Male
Household Members: Name Age
William Collis 54
Esther A. Collis 51
William A. Collis 24
Austin W. Collis 15
Rachael Collis 12
Walter W. Collis 11
Florence E. Collis 10
Lillian E. Collis 8

1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Walter Collis
Age: 33
Birth Date: Sep 1866
Birthplace: California
Home in 1900: Supervisors District 5, Contra Costa, California
Race: White
Gender: Male
elation to Head of House:
pouse's Name: Laura Collis
Marriage Year: 1893
Years Married: 7
Father's Birthplace: England
Mother's Birthplace: England
Occupation: Farmer rented farm
Household Members: Name Age
Walter Collis 33 farmer
Laura Collis 33
Hazel Collis 5
Russel Collis 3
Gladys Collis 2

*1910 United States Federal Census
Name: Walter L Collis
Age in 1910: 42
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1868
BirthPlace: California
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: England
Mother's Birth Place: England
Spouses's Name: Lora
Home in 1910: Diamond, Whitman, Washington
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Blacksmith, own shop (own it free, house)
Race: White
Gender: Male
Household Members: Name Age
Walter L 42
Lora Collis 44
Hazel Collis 15
Russel Collis 13
Gladys Collis 11
Wynner Collis 9
Edgar Collis 2

1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Walter W Callis
Home in 1920: Brentwood, Contra Costa, California, Oak Street
Age: 51 years
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1869
Birthplace: California
Relation to Head of House: Head
Occupation: Construction, House builder, for wages
Spouse's Name: Laura E
Father's Birth Place: England
Mother's Birth Place: England
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Own farm
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Image: 492
Household Members: Name Age
Walter W Callis 51
Laura E Callis 53
Edgar D Callis 12
Samuel S Logan 37 boarder, builder, house builder
Roy C Motter 21 boarder, painter, house builder

1930 United States Federal Census
Name: Laura S Collis
Birth Year: abt 1867
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: California
Marital Status: Widowed
Relation to Head of House: Mother-in-law
Home in 1930: Oakland, Alameda, California
Map of Home: View Map
Street address: 76th Ave
Block: 3099
House Number in Cities or Towns: 1446
Dwelling Number: 255
Family Number: 262
Age at First Marriage: 27
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Missouri
Mother's Birthplace: Missouri
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
Elmer F Ping 32
Gladys E Ping 30
Frank E Ping 57
Mary E Ping 52
Laura S Collis 63

1940 United States Federal Census
Name: Laura Collis
Age: 73
Estimated birth year: abt 1867
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: California
Marital Status: Widowed
Relation to Head of House: Mother-in-law
Home in 1940: Sacramento, Sacramento, California
Map of Home in 1940: View Map
Street: 13 Avenue
House Number: 4964
Inferred Residence in 1935: Sacramento, Sacramento, California
Residence in 1935: Same Place
Sheet Number: 10A
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 5th grade
Weeks Worked in 1939: 0
Income: 0
Income Other Sources: No
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Elmer Ping 44
Gladyce Ping 41
Laura Collis 73
Edgar Collis 32

!DEATH: died age 62, State file #5389 vol. 10 page 1322, buried:Brentwood Union Cemetary

findagrave.com
Walter W. Collis..
Birth: 1864
Death: 1930
Burial:
Union Cemetery
Brentwood
Contra Costa County
California, USA

From the dawn of the Iron Age through the 19th century, the blacksmith trade grew in demand and became increasingly specialized in the process. America would not even exist were it not for the smithy. Indeed, civilization itself is indebted to the blacksmith for virtually all material innovation up to the advent of the factory floor. The importance of the blacksmith cannot be overstated. But then, something happened: machines.
The smithy trade began to decline in the mid-19th century, as machines began to produce items that were formerly made by the blacksmith. At first it was the simple things: nails, hooks, fence rods. In time, more complex products were machine-crafted, such as hinges and barbed wire. The smithy simply couldn't compete with the economics of machine-crafted implements, a phenomenon that soon gave rise to a virtuous cycle of machine-dominance in the production of most material goods. What the machines didn't take from the smithy was soon eaten by other competitive innovations and historical events:
Ransom E. Olds' re-introduction of the assembly line (circa 1901) to meet demand for the new "horseless carriage" meant the smithy's skill in shaping iron rims for wheelwrights was rendered superfluous to transportation needs.
Soon thereafter, the extensive adoption of large open-geared tractors negatively impacted demand for simply farm tools, horse shoes, and other finely crafted items previously considered agricultural necessities.
The Great Depression killed a last bastion of the blacksmith market niche when architectural ironwork became a symbol of a luxury-laden bygone age. In a matter of less than 100 years after Longfellow's poem was published, the vital trade of smithy was all but dead.

. research Holt Harvester Co during 1910-1930:
History Of Holt Harvester Co
1883 The Stockton Wheel Company was established by Benjamin and Charles Holt.
1886 The first Holt "link belt" combined harvester was sold, replacing unreliable mechanical
geared harvesters.
1890 Benjamin Holt unveiled his version of the steam traction engine with new, patented steering
clutches.
1892 The Stockton Wheel Company was incorporated as The Holt Manufacturing Company.
1904 Benjamin Holt tested a steam powered machine that moved on self-laying tracks instead of
wheels. He named this invention the "Caterpillar".
1931 Marysville Tractor & Equipment Co. was formed by Daniel W. Beatie to cover Marysville,CA
1935 Roseville facility in Placer County was opened.
1939 Holt Bros. was formed by Parker M. Holt and Harry D. Holt to cover Santa Maria, California.

Walter married Laura Susan GRIGSBY on 4 Oct 1893 in Brentwood, Contra Costa, California, United States. Laura (daughter of Erasmus Dorwin GRIGSBY and Elmira MILLER) was born on 2 Jul 1866 in , Napa, California, United States; died on 7 Aug 1940 in Sacramento, Sacramento, California, United States; was buried in Union Cemetery, Brentwood, Contra Costa, California, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: *
• _MARNM: Collis
• _UID: DD783B4B9C73BE4FB84E64B8055DDF78D288
• Census: 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930

Notes:

NDGW # 69-004

1870 United States Federal Census
Name: Laura S Grigsby
Age in 1870: 4
Birth Year: abt 1866
Birthplace: California
Home in 1870: Yount, Napa, California
Race: White
Gender: Female
Post Office: Napa City
Value of real estate:
Household Members: Name Age
E D Grigsby 29
Almira Grigsby 21
Laura S Grigsby 4
Warren M Grigsby 3
Infant Grigsby 3/12

1880 United States Federal Census about Laura S. Grigsby
Name: Laura S. Grigsby
Age: 13
Birth Year: abt 1867
Birthplace: California
Home in 1880: Township 5, Contra Costa, California
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Marital Status: Single
Father's Name: Erasmus D. Grigsby
Father's Birthplace: Missouri
Mother's Name: Elmira Grigsby
Mother's Birthplace: Illinois
Neighbors:
Occupation: Going To School
Cannot read/write: Blind: Deaf and dumb: Otherwise disabled: Idiotic or insane:
Household Members: Name Age
Erasmus D. Grigsby 39
Elmira Grigsby 30
Laura S. Grigsby 13
Warren M. Grigsby 13
Lillie J. Grigsby 10
Byron L. Grigsby 8
Mary J. Miller 53
Tillie M. Huey 5m
Jack Ellsworth 50
Jim 17
Thomas Murphy 27
Edward Ferguson 33
William O Brien 30

*1930 United States Federal Census Laura S Collis
Name: Laura S Collis
Home in 1930: Oakland, Alameda, California
Age: 63
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1867
BirthPlace: California
Relation to Head of House: Mother-in-law
Race: White
Household Members: Name Age
Elmer F Ping 32 head
Gladys E Ping 30 wife
Frank E Ping 57 father
Mary E Ping 52 mother
Laura S Collis 63 mother in law

1940 United States Federal Census about Laura Collis
Name: Laura Collis
Age: 73
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1867
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: California
Marital Status: Widowed
Relation to Head of House: Mother-in-law
Home in 1940: Sacramento, Sacramento, California
Street: 13 Avenue
House Number: 4964
Inferred Residence in 1935: Sacramento, Sacramento, California
Residence in 1935: Same Place
Sheet Number: 10A
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 5th grade
Weeks Worked in 1939: 0
Income: 0
Income Other Sources: No
Neighbors:
Household Members: Name Age
Elmer Ping 44 city recreation
Gladyce Ping 41 telephone operator
Laura Collis 73
Edgar Collis 32 service station, gasoline

Laura was an accomplished organist. As a young girl she often stayed home from school to care for her sick mother and thus had much oportunity to practice. It was told to me by aunt Gladyce that dad, Russell, was so angry when the bank took the ranch, that he built a big bonfire and burned most of the furniture, including the organ, and anything else that he couldn't take with him to Washington.
1893 Married at age 27
1930 After losing the ranch, Laura Susie Collis went to Portland, Oregon, to live with her son, Winner Collis. Her daughter Gladyce Ping went to get her mother and brought her back to Sacramento to live with her.
1930 Census, Alameda, Oakland 76th St. Laura living with Gladyce and Pete Ping along with Pete's parents.
1940 Laura died in Sacramento. Gladyce had gone to Oregon to bring her back to Sacramento to live with her and Pete. She had been living with Gladyce and Pete but was in a rest home at the time of her death.She was buried in Brentwood Union Cemetary (I have a copy of her death Certificate).

California death records CALLES LAURA SUSIE 07/02/1866 FARIES GRIGSBY F CALIFORNIA SACRAMENTO 08/07/1940 74 yrs

Notes:

Contra Costa County records vol 4 pg 358

Other Events:

• Reference Number: *
• Religion: Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
• _UID: 61748A19D8CBF84C988BA1DA2F4AD2276FDC

Notes:

MiThings to do:
1. Check out the 1901 census as there are 3 entries for Milton Sherman
2. read letters from Milton's sister, Matilda, for info, also other letters.
3. find Milton's children and locations.
4. location relationships of counties:
5. border crossings?
6. Oscoda, Iosco, MI newspapers
The Sherman books at genealogybooklinks.com have been updated and now lists more than 30 books.

Timeline for Milton Sherman:

1880 Nov 26, Milton Kellum Sherman born in Kingsmill, Ontario, Canada
1883 immigrated to the US with family
1901 Census, listed in the Houghton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
1902 Feb 17, married Addie May Sly in Tawas City, Iosco, Michigan
1902. Feb 17th, Milton K born 1881 laundryman of Tawas City MI Iosco Co, was married to Miss Addie May/Mae Sly
born May 5 1881 in MI, of Tawas City MI. His parents Jas M Sherman and Martha Smith, her parents Jno Sly and
unknown (Addie's DR; IOS/MR 3-104; Tawas Herald Feb 28 1902 p1c5; marriage certificate, Rev D I Barry Baptist
Minister).
1902. Milton of Oscoda is the new proprietor of the Tawas City Laundry. He comes well recommended as a good
workman (Tawas Herald Jan 3 1902 p5c1).
1903 Mar 2, first child, Bertha Irene born in Kalispell, Montana
1905 left family and returned to Michigan
1908 Aug 18, married Zoey Elizabeth Sharrow in Harrisviille, Alcona, Michigan
1909 Feb 5 daughter, Alma Elizabeth born in Oscoda, Iosco, Michigan
1910 Census, in Mikado, Alcona, Michigan with wife and daughter
1912 Nov 8, son James Joseph born in Oscoda
1915 Feb 13, son, Daniel Clayton born in Oscoda
1916 moved with family to Detroit, Michigan
1917 May 15, son, Basil B born in Detroit
1920 Census, in Detroit Ward 21, Wayne, Michigan (Station Ave.) with wife and four children
1930 Census in Shelby, Macomb, Michigan, (Auburn Rd.) with wife and 3 sons
1930's moved to Manton, Michigan
1940 Census, Caldwell, Missaukee, Michigan Zoe and son, Clayton
1953 Feb 25, died in Manton, Wexford, Michigan at age 72 from heart disease.


Milton Kellum Sherman and Addie Mae Sly married 17 February 1902 in Oscoda near Tawas City, Michigan. They had met when Mae, as she was called, worked as a waitress at the Elliot House Hotel. Milton and other loggers were patrons there. The two fell in love and planned to marry. Mae's parents were moving to Montana and wanted her to go with them and Milton to follow. They could then be married out west. Instead Mae and Milton married in Michigan. She then went west with her family and Milton followed. They lived in a little cabin on Mae's parents homestead.They had one child, Bertha Irene Sherman. They separated and he went back to Michigan about 1905. Bertha was about 2 years old. Bertha knew nothing more about her father"

Milton Sherman was born 26 Nov 1880 in Kingsmill, Ontario, Canada. He immigrated to the US in 1884 with his family. He was the 1st of 13 children born to James and Martha Sherman. His youngest sister, Matilda, said about him, "I have never known Milton to be anything but kind and gentle to everyone. He was always a very calm, quiet man. He would never argue or quarrel with any one. As a young man, he worked as a lumberman." Milton also logged after moving to Montana with Mae. It is said someone shot just above his head while he was in their cabin and he decided he had to leave. He asked Mae and Bertha to go with him. Mae refused.Mae's sister, Carrie, said that he sent letters and money for support, but Bertha never knew about it.. I was told that Addie's step father was ornery and did not like Milton. Milton returned to Michigan. Matilda stated, "What happened between Mae and Milton I never heard. I do know he loved her and Bertha very much. When he came home I was only about 7 years of age, but I remember he had a picture of Bertha at about age 2. He had that picture enlarged and it hung in our parlor. Several times I have gone into the parlor and found him standing before that picture with tears running down his face." In 1908, he married Zoey Sharrow and they had four children. In 1916, he moved to Detroit and worked in an auto factory. His WWI draft registration in 1917 lists him as medium height, slender with blue eyes. After WWI, he moved to Auburn, Michigan, a farming community, and became a farmer. He moved to the farm in Manton, Michigan sometime in the 30's, staying there until his death." Milton died in Michigan in 1953 at age 73 from heart problems.

Addie Mae Sly was born 3 May 1881 in Oscoda, Michigan, the 2nd of 3 children of Loren and Libby Sly. Mae's father left in the 1890's for the gold fields. He did not return. Her mother later married Richard Smith. The following was written by Milton Sherman's sister, Matilta: "As a young girl, Mae Sly worked as a waitress at the Elliot House Hotel. It included a restaurant and bar. I seem to remember that her parents worked for the Elliots also. Mae Sly was a very beautiful girl. She had most of the young men in a whirl for sure. However, Milton won her. When her parents decided to move to Montana, Mae insisted on going too. Milton, being so mad about her, gave in and went along. After Milton left Mae, she went with her aunt, Carrie Fletcher, to Port Angeles, Washington to seek work as a waitress. She left Bertha with Grandma Libby and Dick Smith. She worked in Washington, Montana, and perhaps Alaska until her marriage to Roy Lamb.
.Mae married James Leroy Lamb in Lacrosse, Washington, 23 Dec 1908. They lived in Lacrosse, Washington until Oct., 1911, when they moved to a farm on a hill back from the mercantile on the main road that goes to Endicott, one mile East of Diamond, Washington. In 1919, Libby Smith died, so Bertha came to live with her mother and step-father (she considered him her father as she knew no other.) Mae loved working in her garden and fishing in the creek nearby. Scott has her fishing pole. Mae died in an automobile accident 16 January 1953 in Spokane, Washington from a ruptured Aorta and spleen. The car she was in slid on the ice. She was 72 years old when she died.

Milton Kallinn Sherman
Ontario Births, 1869-1912
Name Milton Kallinn Sherman
Event Type Birth
Event Date 26 Nov 1880
Event Place Malahide, Elgin, Ontario, Canada
Registration Date 1880
Gender Male
Father's Name James Milton Sherman
Mother's Name Martha Metora Smith
Certificate Number 004965

English Canada Came to US in 1884 with father

!SOURCE: Marriage certificate in posession of Marilyn Parker.
!NOTE:Milton Sherman was a farmer, trapper and logger in Michigan and Montana in his early manhood. He married Addie Mae Sly and went to Montana to homestead. They had one child, Bertha Irene Sherman. They separated and he went back to Michigan about 1904 or 1905. He sold his releasement of the homestead to Dan Alverson, father of Fred Alverson about 1906. He married Zoey Sharrow and they had four children. Milton worked at the auto plants in Detroit, Michigan during his middle years. In his later years he was a farmer in Arlene, Michigan. He was known as a gentle man.

1901 Census of Canada
Name: Milton K Sherman
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Single
Age: 20
Birth Day & Month: 26 Nov
Birth Year: 1880
Birthplace: Ontario
Relation to Head of House: Son
Father's Name: Milton Sherman
Mother's Name: Martha M Sherman
Racial or Tribal Origin: English
Nationality: Canadain
Religion: Methodist
Province: Ontario
District: Norfolk (South/Sud)
District Number: 94
Sub-District: Houghton
Sub-District Number: B-2
Household Members:
Name Age
Milton Sherman 44
Martha M Sherman 40
Milton K Sherman 20
Alma R Sherman 18
Arther L Sherman 17
Claryton Sherman 16
Mary E Sherman 14
Frank W Sherman 12
Clarance C Sherman 3
Matilda S Sherman 2

*1910 United States Federal Census
Name: Milton Sherman
Age in 1910: 28
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1882
Birthplace: Canada
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: Canada
Mother's Birth Place: Canada
Spouse's name: Zvae
Home in 1910: Mikado, Alcona, Michigan
Marital Status: Married occupation: labor odd jobs
Race: White
Gender: Male
Year of Immigration: 1900
Household Members: Name Age
Milton Sherman 28
Zvae Sherman 20 (Zoe)
Elizabeth Sherman 1

*World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
Name: Milton Kellum Sherman
City: Not Stated
County: Wayne
State: Michigan
Birth Date: 26 Nov 1880
Race: White
Roll: 1683036
DraftBoard: 2
Age: Occupation: Nearest Relative:wife-Zoey Height-med/Build:slender; Color of Eyes: Blue /Hair:

*1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Milton K Sherman
Home in 1920: Detroit Ward 21, Wayne, Michigan (Station Ave.)
Age: 39 years
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1881
Birthplace: Canada
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's name: Zsey E
Father's Birth Place: Canada
Mother's Birth Place: Canada
Marital Status: Married (occupation: woodworker, auto bodies)
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Own
Year of Immigration: un
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Image: 734
Household Members: Name Age
Milton K Sherman 39
Zoey E Sherman 29
Alma E Sherman 10
Joseph Sherman 8
Clayton Sherman 4 10/12
Bazil Sherman 2 6/12

*1930 United States Federal Census
Name: Milton K Sherman
Home in 1930: Shelby, Macomb, Michigan (Auburn Rd.)
Age: 49
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1881
Birthplace: Canada Immigrated 1883, naturalized
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's name: James M
Spouse's name: Zoey
Race: White
Occupation: Automobile trimmer; Military Service: no; owns /home value: 2000; Age at first marriage: 21; Parents' birthplace: both Canada
Household Members: Name Age
Milton K Sherman 49
Zoey Sherman 39 born Michigan
Joseph Sherman 17 son, born Michigan
Henry C Sherman 14 son, born Michigan
Basil B Sherman 12 son, born Michigan
James M Sherman 73 ( father) born Canada

1940 United States Federal Census
Name: Milton Sherman
Respondent: Yes
Age: 59
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1881
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Canada English
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1940: Caldwell, Missaukee, Michigan
Farm: Yes
Inferred Residence in 1935: Caldwell, Missaukee, Michigan
Residence in 1935: Same House
Citizenship: Naturalized
Sheet Number: 4B
Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 74
Father's Birthplace: Canada English
Mother's Birthplace: Canada English
Occupation: Farmer
House Owned or Rented: Owned
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 300
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 8th grade
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 50
Class of Worker: Working on own account
Weeks Worked in 1939: 52
Income: 0
Income Other Sources: Yes
Native Language: English
Veteran: No
Veteran Father Dead: No
Social Security Number: No
Usual Occupation: Farmer
Usual Industry: Farm
Usual Class of Worker: Working on own account
Neighbors:
Household Members: Name Age
Milton Sherman 59
Zoey Sherman 49
Clayton Sherman

http://www.sherman-roots.com/sherman/pioneers/sp'ott.doc
1. Milton Kellum9 Sherman born 1881 in Norfolk Co Canada (his MIS/DR); or born Nov 26 1880 at Kingsmill Ontario (mc/mp).
1902. Feb 17th, Milton K born 1881 laundryman of Tawas City MI Iosco Co, was married to Miss Addie May/Mae Sly born May 5 1881 in MI, of Tawas City MI. His parents Jas M Sherman and Martha Smith, her parents Jno Sly and unknown (Addie's DR; IOS/MR 3-104; Tawas Herald Feb 28 1902 p1c5; marriage certificate, Rev D I Barry Baptist Minister).
1902. Milton of Oscoda is the new proprietor of the Tawas City Laundry. He comes well recommended as a good workman (Tawas Herald Jan 3 1902 p5c1).
1902/04. Milton and Addie Sherman homesteaded in Montana, Milton returned to MI and Addie stayed in MT. Milton and Addie separated, and later divorced.
1908. Aug 18th, Milton K of Greenbush MI Alcona Co a farmer, married Elizabeth "Lizzie" Zoe Sharrow born 1881, his 2nd and her first marriage, his parents J M Sherman & Martha Smith (ALC/MR 2-54). Zoe born in Algonac MI StClair Co (Mary Elizabeth's BR).
1910. Census of Alcona Co indicated: Milton age 28; Zoe Sherman age 20, born 1890 in MI; child Elizabeth (Soundex e3/f50).
1915. Milton lived in Detroit (GVWS) p7).
1920. Census of Detroit MI Wayne Co indicated: Milton K age 39, naturalized; Zoey E Sherman age 29; children Alma E, Joseph, Clayton, Basil (Soundex e658/p25).
1938. Oct 13th Milton wrote a letter from Manton MI to Vernon Wesley Sherman in Belleville NJ, included story about his father (mc/mks).
1950. Milton lived on farm near Manton MI (mc/mp).
1953. Jan 16th, Addie May Lamb, aka Addie May/Mae Sly (Sherman), aka Addie May/Mae Smith, died Spokane WA from auto accident on the same day. Her usual residence was Diamond WA Whitman Co; parents not given; buried in Colfax WA; informant Roy Lamb her husband (WA Certificate of Death file number 1692; mc/mp).
1953. Milton Sherman died Feb 25 1953 at Manton MI (mc/mp; mc/sp); Milton K age 72, farmer, spouse Zoey, no military service, buried in Caldwell Twp Cemetery Missaukee Co,Michigan. (MIS/DR A-16).
1977. Zoey Elizabeth Sherman, aka Zoey Elizabeth Sharrow, age 88 (sic) in MI, from Manton MI Wexford Co, died at Cadillac MI Wexford Co, widow, informant Mrs Mabel Sherman; buried in Caldwell Twp Cemetery Missaukee Co (WEX/DR). Also shown as died 1970 (mc/mp). 5 Children:

Milton married Addie Mae SLY on 17 Feb 1902 in Tawas City, Iosco, Michigan, United States. Addie (daughter of Alvannah Loren SLY and Elizabeth Close) was born on 3 May 1881 in Oscoda, Iosco, Michigan, United States; died on 16 Jan 1953 in Spokane, Spokane, Washington, United States; was buried in Colfax Cemetery, Colfax, Whitman, Washington, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Also Known As: May
• Reference Number: *
• _MARNM: Sherman, Lamb
• _UID: BC8E4DCBA85B074B8A6691067B6D96D08C16

Notes:

Time line for Adie Mae Sly Sherman Lamb
1881 3 May born Oscoda Iosco, MI
1897 8th grade graduate Pinconning, Bay, Michigan
1900 US Census Mae living with Aunt Torisa Close Pierce, Milton, Rock, WI
1902 17 Feb,Mae married Milton Kellum Sherman, Tawas City, Iosco, MI
1902 Mae & Milton Sherman moved with her parents to Eureka, Lincoln, Montana
1903 2 Mar daughter, Bertha Sherman born
1906 Milton left Mae and Bertha and returned to Michigan, Mae went with Aunt Carrie Fletcher to Port Angeles, then
waitressed in Davenport Hotel in Spokane WA
1908 23 Dec married James Leroy Lamb, lived in Lacrosse, Washington
1911 moved to farm 1 mile E of Diamond, WA, then moved into town of Diamond
1953 16 Jan Died in Auto Accident in Spokane, Spokane,Wash

*Washington Death Index, 1940-1996 Washington Death Index, 1940-1996
Name: Addia M Lamb
Place of Death: Spokane
Date of Death: 16 Jan 1953
Age: 71
Gender: F
Certificate: 1692

COLFAX GAZETTE, COLFAX, WASHINGTON, JANUARY 5, 1912.
Pg 3
LACROSSE.
Mr. and Mrs. Roy Lamb of Diamond
are visiting friends here since
last Thursday. Mr. Lamb returned
Saturday and Mrs. L. will remain
another week.


Note from Marge Collis:
I enjoyed reading this very much. I seem to remember Roy saying his grandmother worked in Nome, Alaska, as a phone operator? Was that somewhere in the story also? I know he loved his grandmother, and had fun times with her. She took him fishing - which she apparently loved doing? Perhaps, she just thought HE needed the experience, being the oldest, and needed some 1 on 1 attention, I don't know - whatever it was, he had wonderful memories of his Grandmother.

Grandma and Grandpa lamb lived in Diamond Washington on a hill back from the mercantile on the main road that goes to Endicott. Thera was just outside of Colfax 1.5 miles toward Endicott. The house there that Bertha and Russell lived in has been torn down.
Addie Sly (Slyh), graduated 7 June, 1897, from Pinconning School, Bay City, Bay County, Michigan.
!NOTE: The following was told to Marilyn Parker by Bertha Sherman Collis, 13 Jan 1970:
"Elizabeth Close married Loren (Lorian) Sly and probably lived at Fort Wayne, Indiana when her children were young. Lorian walked with a limp. He left during the panic of 1893 (or near that time), to go to the gold fields. He wrote 2 or 3 letters, but was not heard from again. It was not made clear whether his wife, Elizabeth, moved to Tawas City before or after he left. She took in roomers to make ends meet. Richard Smith was a logger and boarded with her as he felt widows needed the money. They later were married. Addie Mae met and married Milton K. Sherman against her mother, Elizabeth's will. Elizabeth and Grandpa Dick were moving to Montana and wanted Addie to go with them and Milton to follow. They could then be married out west. Instead Addie and Milton were married in Tawas City. She went west with her family and Milton followed. They lived in the little cabin close to Addie's parents. Milton left when Bertha was about 2 years old. Bertha knew nothing more about her father"
!NOTE: The following was taken from a letter dated New Year's 1970, to Marilyn Parker from Maye Alverson:
"I always thought if Dick Smith had been a different man, your grandparents (Mae and Milton Sherman) would have made a go of it. But you would have had to know Dick to understand. He sure never made Aunt Lib happy. But that is a long gone story now and so are all those connected with it." The following was taken from a letter dated 19 Feb, 1970, to Marilyn Parker from Maye Alverson. (72 year old step daughter of Jennie Close Butler who was a sister to Elizabeth Close Sly Smith.) "Mae and Milton might have got along but Dick never got along with anyone. One night he shot at Milton through the wall and put two shots above his head. Poor old Dick was always on the outs with his neighbors, wouldn't let them use his road and such. Roads were pretty hard come by in those days." "Dick always seemed to be good to Bertha. She must have been quite small when Mae left her with Aunt Lib. When Mae left here, she went with Carrie Fletcher to Port Angeles. From there I lost track." "When Milton and Mae separated, he sold his re-leasement to Dan Alverson, Fred's father (Maye Alverson's father-in-law). It has been in the Alverson name until about 10 years ago. When Mrs. Burr Alverson remarried to a man by the name of Anderson. It was known as Alverson and Anderson for several years. Yes, Fred did own Dick's (Richard Smith) old place until about 5 years ago. He sold to a friend and his brother-in-law. They in turn made the meadow into a lake. It's on Terriaul Creek. Made a nice lake, but the neighbors fish it out, so Henry don't get much use of that as they live out on the flats at Iowa Flats as it's called". "Both of the Andersons are dead now and that place is owned by a young couple by the name of Arle Burk. Jack A. got $19,000 for it. Times do change. Acreage has gone sky high since the Libby Dam Project has started. Fred sold his for $40 per acre and now could easily get $75. And over near the recreation zone on the Kootenai, the land is going as high as $125 per acre." "Ernest Sly built a place on Glen Lake and it still stands and people live in it. I wouldn't be surprised but what Dad built the chimney on it as he has built so many in this country, also fireplaces. You can't get into Glen Lake only on one lot that the county owns but was taken over by the Fish and Game commission. The Lake now is so much larger than your grandmother knew it as the water from Grave Creek-Terriault Creek runs in it and it's used all over the valley and is known as the Glen Lake Irrigation Ditch.
The following information was taken from a letter dated January 28, 1970, to Marilyn Parker from Mrs. M. O. Chambers, (Great Aunt Tillie, Milton Kellum Sherman's sister) " Mae Sly worked at the Elliot House Hotel. It included a restaurant and bar. She was a waitress. I seem to remember that her parents worked for the Elliots also. Milton Kellum Sherman and Mae Sly were married in Oscoda, Michigan. However, the marriage was registered in Tawas City, the county seat. Mae Sly was a very beautiful girl. She had most of the young men in a whirl for sure. However, Milton won her. When her parents decided to move to Montana, Mae insisted on going too. Milton, being so mad about her, gave in and went along. Milton was always a very calm, quiet man, would never argue or quarrel with any one. What happened between Mae and Milton I never heard. I do know he loved her and Bertha very much. When he came home, I was only about 6 or 7 years of age, but I remember he had a picture of Bertha at about age 1 or 2. He had that picture enlarged and it hung in our parlor. Several times I have gone into the parlor and found him standing there before that picture with tears running down his face. In all the years, I have never known Milton to be anything but kind and gentle to everyone. A real good man." "Now about his work and living. While he remained in the Oscoda area, he worked for the most part as a lumberman as did most of the other men in those days (unless they were in business). Later, about 1916, he moved to Detroit and he worked in a factory. After the War (1st WW), he moved out to Auburn, Michigan, a farming community not too far from Detroit, and became a farmer. He moved to the farm in Manton, Michigan area sometime in the 30's, I think, staying there until his death in July, 1953."
Extract from a letter dated March 6, 1970 to Bertha Sherman Collis from Bacil B. Sherman, (youngest child of Milton Kellum Sherman). "When I was younger, I used to travel quite a little. Dad asked me to try to locate you, but I had no success in any way."
When Milton went to Michigan about 1905, it is said that he wanted Mae to go with him, but she wouldn't. She went to town to find work as a waitress and left Bertha with Grandma Libby and Dick Smith, Addie Mae`s mother and step-father. She worked in Montana, Washington and perhaps Alaska. When she married "Roy" Lamb, she hated to take Bertha from her home with the Smiths.
"Mae" and Roy lived in Lacrosse, Washington until Oct., 1911, when they moved to a farm one mile East of Diamond, Washington, where they lived twenty-nine years until her death. In 1919, Libby Smith died, so Bertha came to live with her mother and step-father (she considered him her father as she knew no other.)

(the following note accompanied each framed piece of quilt that I sent to each of my children, grandchildren and sisters and brother, stan)
This piece of quilt is from a "Grandmother's Flower Garden" quilt top made in the 1940's by my grandmother, Addie Mae (Sly) Sherman Lamb. She is the mother of my mother, Bertha (Sherman) Collis. Mae, as she was called, was born 3 May 1881 in Michigan. She moved as a newly wed with her husband, Milton Sherman, to Kalispell, Montana, where my mother was born. Milton left Montana and returned to Michigan when Bertha was about 2 years old. He asked for Mae and Bertha to accompany him, but to no avail. She left Montana to look for work in Alaska and Washington. She later married James Leroy Lamb and moved to Diamond, Washington, where she lived out her life. She was killed in a car accident while on a shopping trip to Spokane, Washington on 16 January, 1953.
As I quilted this small piece of her quilt top, I couldn't help but think of her loving fingers making the small delicate stitches. How appropriate that it should be called 'Grandmother's Flower Garden' as she loved her garden. Perhaps some of the fabrics were from her dresses. She also loved fishing in the stream near her home in Diamond. When Scott was living in Moscow, Idaho, just across the Washington border from Diamond, we took a drive over there. We looked around and found the spot where her house used to be. We met a man about my age named Norman Kuntze, who used to go fishing with Grandma. He just happened to have her fishing pole and retrieved it from his garage and gave it to us. Scott now has it as he too was doing some fishing at that time. I hope you enjoy this small piece in memory of her. I wish I had known her.
Love, Marilyn Parker

PS. I remember with fondness the 1 dollar bill she would send to each of us on our birthday. One time a large box arrived at our house. It was full of fancy dress up clothes. My did Darlyne and I have fun with those.

(email from Stan after I sent him a framed piece of Addie Mae's quilt)Thanks for the quilt. Roy and I were the last of the family to see grandma. We went to wash in 1949 or 50. I remember as a little boy she would fix sliced oranges for breakfast. Guess what she served when Roy and I visited. She sure looked good for her age. It was a shock to me when she was killed.

Memories from Barbara about Grandma Lamb: Barbara felt she was special to Grandma. Grandma would put leftover bacon on the butter dish. She also remembered the sliced oranges with powdered sugar. She had a back room with many windows but not heat. She would warm bricks and wrap them in a towel for their beds. She was always doing handwork; Tatting, crocheting, knitting. She worked in her rock garden and had mostly flowers. Barb remembers going to the general store with Dad and Grandpa. The school was a dance studio last time she visited. Grandma wanted to come visit when we moved to California, but Grandpa said, "wait until I retire." For whatever reason, they never came.

bother, "Earnest Slyh" living in Rutland, Dane, WI as servant?
1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Addie M Sley
Home in 1900: Milton, Rock, Wisconsin
Age: 19
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1881
Birthplace: Michigan
Relationship to head-of-house: Niece
Race: White
Occupation:
Neighbors:
Household Members: Name Age
David A Peirce 45 Harness born in Germany came to USA 1862
Torisa Peirce 35 married 10 years (had 4 children, 2 are living)
Bertha A Peirce 13 born Kansas
Rosa N Peirce 9 born Colorado
Addie M Sley 19

1910 United States Federal Census
Name: Addie M Lamb
Age in 1910: 29
Birth Year: abt 1881
Birthplace: Michigan
Home in 1910: La Crosse, Whitman, Washington
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: James L Lamb
Father's Birthplace: United States [United States of America]
Mother's Birthplace: United States [United States of America]
Neighbors:
Household Members: Name Age
James L Lamb 25
Addie M Lamb 29

1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Mae Lamb [Mae Titcomb]
Age: 36
Birth Year: abt 1884
Birthplace: Michigan
Home in 1920: Diamond, Whitman, Washington
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Roy Lamb
Father's Birthplace: Indiana
Mother's Birthplace: Indiana
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Neighbors:
Household Members: Name Age
Roy Lamb 35
Mae Lamb 36
Bertha Sherman 16


1930 United States Federal Census
Name: Addie M Lamb [Addie N Lamb]
Gender: Female
Birth Year: abt 1883
Birthplace: Michigan
Race: White
Home in 1930: Diamond, Whitman, Washington View Map
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Spouse's Name: James L Lamb
Father's Birthplace: Indiana
Mother's Birthplace: Indiana
Occupation: Education: Military service: Rent/home value: Age at first marriage: Parents' birthplace:
Neighbors:
Household Members: Name Age
James L Lamb 43
Addie M Lamb 47

1940 United States Federal Census
Name: James L Lamb
Respondent: Yes
Age: 56
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1884
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Illinois
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1940: Diamond, Whitman, Washington i
Farm: No
Inferred Residence in 1935: Diamond, Whitman, Washington
Residence in 1935: Same House
Sheet Number: 3A
Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 47
Neighbors:
Household Members: Name Age
James L Lamb 56 caretaker wheat warehouse
Addie M Lamb 58