Other Events:

• Reference Number: *
• _UID: C3772C69052B704D86AA2FFD44170353C99F

Notes:

To do list:
1. check church records for Daniel in Ancaster and Illinois2. What was going on in 1847 in Glen Ellyn, DuPage, Illinois that both Laura and her 2 yr old daughter died?
3. 1840 Census there was a Daniel Miller in Lee County, Iowa territory. age 20-30, 1 female age 20-30
Timeline for Daniel Miller:

What we know about Daniel Miller: Source

1810- May 10, Daniel Miller born Ancaster, Ontario, Canada tombstone
1834- Mar 12, Daniel Miller & Mary Book witnesses to marriage of Alem research by Ancaster Hist. Soc.
Kelly & Margaret Vansickle, Ancaster, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
(there was no marriage for Daniel in St. John Angelic church
records of Ancaster)
1844-1852, Daniel owned land in DuPage County, Illinois DuPage Co land records
1846 Mar 4, Daniel married Laura Crumb (bn New York) in DuPage Co. DuPage Co marriage rec.
1847 Daughter, Malica born, DuPage Co, IL findagrave
1849 Jan 17, Daniel & Laura sold 2 parcels of land DuPage Co. DuPage Co land rec.
1849 Jan 20, daughter Elmira born to Daniel & Laura in DuPage Illinois Elmira death rec.
1849 Feb 5, Daughter, Malica dies and is buried Forest Hill Cemetery tombstone, findagrave
1849 Laura Crumb Miller died in DuPage Co, IL, findagrave, Forest Hill, Cem, Glen Ellyn
1849 Mar 24, Daniel only sold land parcel in DuPage Co. DuPage Co land rec.
1850 Census list only Daniel, age 39, farmer bn Canada, Milton tnshp 1850 Census,DuPageCo,Il
1851 Traveled to Oregon or California?
1852 Jun 25, Daniel&Mary sold land in DuPage Co,from Wash Co,OR DuPage Co land rec.
1856 Jan 24, daughter, Matilda J., b in Oregon to Daniel &Mary 1860 Census, Napa Co, CA
and tombstone
1860 Jun 19, Census, Napa Co. Daniel, age 50, carpenter, bn Canada 1860 Census, NapaCo,CA
Mary J, wife, age 55, bn Ireland
Elmira, daughter, age 11, bn Ill.
Matilda J., daughter, age 5, bn Oregon
1864 Living in Napa as his daughter Matilda was in Liberty School Liberty School Exhibition
program presentation.
1870 Jul 14, Daniel age 60 farmer bn Canada living in Martinez 1870 Census CC Co, CA
Mary age 42 keeping house bn Canada
Matilda age 14 at home bn Oregon
1879 Feb 28, Daniel died, buried Brentwood, Contra Costa, CA tombstone
1880 4 Jan, daughter,Matilda, born to Matilda J &Isaac Huey Martinez Gazette news
article & tombstone
1880 Jan 24, Matilda J. Huey died, Contra Costa Co., CA tombstone
1880 Mary J Miller widow, wife’s mother living with Erasmus Grigsby 1800 U S Census
1900 Mary J. Miller,head,widow,age76,b Ireland 1900 Census CC Co. CA
Tilley Huey,granddaughter, single, age 20 bn CA
1901-Feb 12, Mary J. Miller died tombstone


Daniel Miller and Laura Crumb were married 4 March 1846 in DuPage County, Illinois. They were married nearly 3 years before their first child, Elmira, was born in 17 January 1849. Laura died shortly after the birth of their child. Laura had signed with Daniel to sell property in DuPage County just 3 days before giving birth.
Daniel Miller was born 10 May 1810 in Ancaster, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada. Nothing is known about his family. He shows up in DuPage County, Illinois in land records as early as May 1843. He is there in the 1850 Census but without Laura or Elmira. In 1852 he and Mary sell land in DuPage County through an attorney as he is in Washington County, Oregon. It is not known when he and Mary married, but they had a daughter, Matilda, who was born in Oregon in 1856. Matilda died giving birth to her first child the same year Daniel, her father, died. Mary was born in Ireland and came to America in 1851. The family story is that Daniel came to California in 1852 in a covered wagon. (Did he go to California and then return to Oregon?) Daniel and Mary are in Yount, Napa County, California in the 1860 census. By 1870 they were in Contra Costa County, where both Daniel and Mary Miller died. They are both buried in the Union cemetery in Brentwood, Contra Costa County, California. Daniel was 69 years old.
Laura Crumb was born about 1824 in New York. She was the 4th of 11th children born to William and Anna Lewis Crumb. William died in 1947 in DuPage County, Illinois. Anna then married Willard Dingman in 1947 and they moved to New York. Both the Crumb and Lewis ancestors were from Washington County, Rhode Island. It is interesting to note that Laura's sister Harriet, who married James Stanton, lived in Oakland, California very close to where Laura's daughter, Elmira, lived during that same time period. Did they know each other? Laura Died in February 1847 in DuPage County, Illinois, shortly after the birth of her only child. She was 25 years old. Where she is buried is not known. There is no known picture of her.

birth and death info from Tombstone Brentwood, Contra Costa, California, Union Cemetary

http://www.paper-trail.org (there is a Daniel mentioned. Is it our Daniel? did he go to Oregon and come back to Illinois?)
1848People named (matching Soundex) Daniel Miller between 1847 and 1856. (1 results)
Family Name First Name Year Age Gender Origin Individual Type Party
Miller Daniel 1848 M Emigrant
Document mentioning Daniel Miller in 1848
Title Author Type Document Code

1848 Across the Plains Lee Other 48LEE01



The family story is that Daniel came to California in 1852 in a covered wagon. ( Did he go to California and then return, as his daughter, Matilda was born in Oregon in 1856?)
I have been to the cemetary where he is buried along with his 2nd wife, Mary, their daughter, Matilda, and her husband and their daughter. His first daughter, Elmira and her husband, Erasmus Grigsby, are also buried there in Brentwood, California.

Possible?
1840 United States Federal Census
Name: Samuel Meller or Daniel Miller]
Home in 1840 (City, County, State): Township 68, Lee, Iowa Territory
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29: 1
Persons Employed in Agriculture: 1
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 2
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 2

1860 United States Federal Census Daniel Miller
Name: Daniel Miller
Age in 1860: 50
Birth Year: abt 1810
BirthPlace: Canada
Home in 1860: Yount, Napa, California
Gender: Male
Post Office: Sebastopol
Household Members:Name Age
Daniel Miller 50 Carpenter value of property $1200
Mary J Miller 35 (I read 33) born Ireland
Elmira Miller 11 born Illinois
Matilda J Miller 5 born Oregon

1870 United States Federal Census Daniel Miller
Name: Daniel Miller
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1810
Age in 1870: 60
BirthPlace: Canada
Home in 1870: Township 3, Contra Costa, California
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Martinez
Household: Daniel age 60 Canada
Mary 42 Canada
Matilda 14 Oregon

* (found 5/21/05 IL land record Daniel Miller Residence of Purchaser unknown,date of purchase-5/31/1843, 80 acres sec 10 T 39N R 10E Meridian 3 Aliquot or lot E2NW Dupage County, 1.25/acre $100 total price, type of land sale-FD, vol 686, page 56)
MILLER DANIEL purchaserNumber=0050248>SESW 03 39N 10E 3 08/01/1844 DUPAGE
MILLER DANIEL E2NW 10 39N 10E 3 05/31/1843 DUPAGE
MILLER DANIEL purchaserNumber=0050250>NWSE 10 39N 10E 3 03/28/1844 DUPAGE
MILLER DANIEL purchaserNumber=0050251>SESW 02 39N 10E 3 08/01/1844 DUPAGE
MILLER DANIEL purchaserNumber=0050252>NESW 10 39N 10E 3 03/28/1844 DUPAGE

Land in DuPage County, Illinois
Daniel Miller Grantee
Doc#1378 deed bk 3 pg 411 - 28 Oct 1844 80 acres +bldgs. $400 W1/2 NE1/4 sect 10 T39N R10E
3rd Prime Meridian
#4315 deed bk 10 pg 189 - 1 May 1845 (recorded Vol 25 p295 Gen Land office) certificate
#12398 public land sale 80 acres E1/2 SW1/4 sect 10 T39N R10E
#4316 deed bk 10 pg 190 - 1 Jun 1845 (patent recorded vol 30 pg 300 Gen Land office) cert #
15095 pub land sale - 80 acres NE1/4 SW1/4 + NW1/4 SE1/4
sect 10 T39N R10E
#4317 deed bk 10 pg 190 - 1 Sep 1845 (recorded Vol 32 pg 408 Gen Land office cert #16242
pub land sale- 40 acres SE1/4 SW1/4 sect 3 T39N R10E
#3504 deed bk 8 pg 407 - 7 May 1847 - 4.88 acres +bldgs. $11.67 part of W1/2 SE1/4 sect 3
T39N R10E
#3516 deed bk 8 pg 409 - 27 Sep 1848 - 67 acres + bldgs. $200, N1/2 of subdivision 8&9 sect
16 T40 R9E
Daniel Miller - Grantor
Doc #3841 deed bk 9 pg 262 - 17 Jan 1849 - 40 acres. $240, part of W1/2 NE1/4 sec 10 + part
of W1/2 SE1/4 sect 3 T39N R10E from Daniel and Laura
#3842 deed bk 9 pg 273 - 17 Jan 1849 - 80 acres. $150, W1/2 SE1/4 sect 10 T39N R10E
from Daniel and Laura
#5008 deed bk 11 pg 254 - 24 Mar 1849 - 37.25 acres $130, SE 1/4 SW1/4 sec 3 T39N
R10E from Daniel only
#5908 deed bk 12 pg 438 - 28 Jan 1852 - 67 acres, $800, N1/2 of subdivision 8&9 sect 16
T40 R9E from Daniel and Mary from Washington County, Oregon Terr.
#6350 deed bk 13 pg 200 - 3 July 1852 - about 257 acres, $1104, Daniel Miller by his
attorney in fact

*There seems to be about 230 more acres sold than acquired. Perhaps there was another parcel acquired previous to 1844.or perhaps there was another Daniel. was it a homestead?

Daniel married Laura CRUMB on 4 Mar 1846 in , DuPage, Illinois, United States. Laura (daughter of William Crumb and Anna LEWIS) was born about 1827 in New York, United States; died on 30 Jan 1849 in , DuPage, Illinois, United States; was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Glen Ellyn, DuPage, Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Daniel married Mary J about 1851 in possibly:DuPage Co., IL,or Washington Co. OR. Mary was born in Feb 1824 in Ireland; died on 12 Feb 1901 in , Contra Costa, California, United States; was buried in Union Cemetary, Brentwood, Contra Costa, California, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 83C897648D208F489B88B03817FE4398C594

Notes:

Malica Miller
Birth: unknown
Death: Feb. 5, 1849
Lot 27
Inscription:
Dau of Daniel and Laura, 2y
Burial:
Forest Hill Cemetery
Glen Ellyn
DuPage County
Illinois, USA
Created by: Michael Harrington
Record added: Jun 25, 2006
Find A Grave Memorial# 14721553

Other Events:

• _UID: 57F785DACB10E14B90A953D6FFC47B4498A3

Notes:

this grave is in the same lot as Laura? Was there a baby boy born to them who died?
Daniel Miller
Birth: unknown
Death: unknown
Burial:
Forest Hill Cemetery
Glen Ellyn
DuPage County
Illinois, USA
Plot: Lot 27
Created by: Michael Harrington
Record added: Jul 21, 2006
Find A Grave Memorial# 15000373

Other Events:

• Reference Number: *
• _MARNM: Grigsby
• _UID: 46FBBCD9CF24EF459D982CCD4069492C4977

Notes:

1860 United States Federal Census
Name: Elmira Miller
Age in 1860: 11
Birth Year: abt 1849
Birthplace: Illinois
Home in 1860: Yount, Napa, California
Gender: Female
Post Office: Sebastopol
Value of real estate:
Household Members: Name Age
Daniel Miller 50
Mary J Miller 35
Elmira Miller 11
Matilda J Miller 5



CA voter registration,
1912, Berkeley, Alameda County precinct 23
Grigsby, Elmira 2245 Grant Ave., housewife, fem Rep
1920 Oakland, Alameda County precinct # 84
Grigsby, Mrs. Elmira, 838 Arlington Ave. housewife, Rep

Brentwood Union Cemetary

!DEATH: age 73. state file #122 vol 3 pg 4257 (Have copy of death certificate.)
She came to California from Oregon by covered wagon with her father between 1856 and 1860.
NDGW # 69-001
In the 1914 Oakland Directory she was listed as wid of E.D with business at 1417 Myrtle.

Elmira married Erasmus Dorwin GRIGSBY on 28 Oct 1864 in , Napa, California, United States. Erasmus (son of Terrell Lindsey GRIGSBY and Cynthia FAIRES) was born on 2 Oct 1841 in , Wright, Missouri, United States; died on 18 Sep 1912 in Berkeley, Alameda, California, United States; was buried in Union Cemetary, Brentwood, Contra Costa, California, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: B49C5A7ACA2E0145A62DF4DE4E362DC078D8

Notes:

Died 3 weeks after the birth of her daughter of a fever

Matilda married Issac HUEY on 29 Jan 1878 in , Contra Costa, California, United States. Issac was born in Apr 1838 in Canada; died on 1 Apr 1903 in , Contra Costa, California, United States; was buried in Union Cemetary, 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

Laura married Walter Winner COLLIS on 4 Oct 1893 in Brentwood, Contra Costa, California, United States. Walter (son of William COLLIS and Anne Esther RANDALL) was born on 14 Sep 1868 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States; died on 22 Jan 1930 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States; was buried in Union Cemetery, Brentwood, Contra Costa, California, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: A78AA79E77C22A4791CFABEF592F4C766498

Notes:

1914 Oakland Directory lists Warren r 361 62nd Ave.

!Death: age 68 in SanDiego County, State file # 19115.
California Death Index
GRIGSBY WARREN M 03 20 1936 SAN DIEGO 1307912


1870 United States Federal Census
Name: Warren M Grigsby
Estimated birth year: abt 1867
Age in 1870: 3
Birthplace: California
Home in 1870: Yount, Napa, California
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Napa City

1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Warren M. Grigsby
Home in 1880: Township 5, Contra Costa, California
Age: 13
Estimated birth year: abt 1867
Birthplace: California
Relation to head-of-household: Son
Father's name: Erasmus D.
Father's birthplace: MO
Mother's name: Elmira
Mother's birthplace: IL
Occupation: Going To School
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Gender: Male
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

1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Warren M Grigsby
Home in 1900: Supervisors District 5, Contra Costa, California
Age: 32
Estimated birth year: abt 1868
Birthplace: California
Relationship to head-of-house: Son
Father's name: Erasmus H
Mother's name: Elmira
Race: White
Household Members: Name Age
Erasmus H Grigsby 58
Elmira Grigsby 51
Warren M Grigsby 32
Byron L Grigsby 28
Edward Elway 16

1910 United States Federal Census
Name: Magren M Grigsby [Warren M Grigsby]
Age in 1910: 40
Estimated birth year: abt 1870
Birthplace: California
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: Missouri
Mother's Birth Place: Missouri
Spouse's name: Jane
Home in 1910: Oakland Ward 3, Alameda, California
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Household Members: Name Age
Magren M Grigsby 40 (Warren)
Jane Grigsby 36
Marion Grigsby 3
Ernest Cabral 31 all here and below lodgers
Marie Cabral 24
Louie Larrea 13
Anna Larrea 20
Herbert E Craig 54
Jane Miller 35
Charles Hines 47

1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Warren M Grigsby
Home in 1920: Oakland, Alameda, California
Age: 48 years guard at ship yard
Estimated birth year: abt 1872
Birthplace: California
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's name: Jane
Father's Birth Place: Missouri
Mother's Birth Place: Vermont
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Own
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Image: 916
Household Members: Name Age
Warren M Grigsby 48
Jane Grigsby 42 born California, her father born England, Mother West Indies
Marian Grigsby 13

Warren married Jane or Jennie GARDNER on 9 Sep 1905 in Oakland, Alameda, California, USA. Jane was born on 7 Feb 1874 in California, USA; died on 26 Oct 1949 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 66F9F2FE4F528943B2EBF09BD384D13F4B65

Notes:

California Death Index
PALMER LILLIE JANE 1870 03 14 MILLER GRIGSBY FEMALE CA ALAMEDA

(news article from the Oakland Tribune, Wed July 22,1942)
'Charity' Will Brings Contest
Daughter Fights For Estate of Mrs. Lillie Palmer Opposition developed today -to a Piedmont widow's plans to leave
the bulk ol her estate to charity. Mrs. Lillie J. Palmer. 72, who gave one-third of her estate to the Shrine Hospital in San Francisco and the residue to its board of directors, was of "unsound mind" atathe time sffe wrote her will, a daughter asserted in a petition filed with County Clerk G. E. Wade.
The daughter. Mrs. Mildred Bernice Howell.' 932 14th Street, was cut off with $1000.
Pending trial of the estate contest Mrs. Howell has been named special administratrix. She was appointed by Superior, Judge Benjamin C. Jones of Lake County, temporarily assigned here. The court at the same time denied a similar petition filed by J. S.' Killam of Piedmont, who was chosen executor "in Mrs. Palmer's will of May, 1940. The daughter, who was represented by Atty. Myron Harris, posted $35.000 surety bond.
Mrs. Palmer, widow of O. B, Palmer, pioneer Californian,' and manager of the Oakland Wholesale Grocery Company when he died In 1934, left an estate exceeding $35,000. It includes stocks valuedat $24,500, cash, real' estate, a $4646. promissory note, jewelry and furniture. The real estate has a rental value of $2330.
In leaving the residue of the estate to the governors of the Shrine Hospital, she said' she was giving it.to them "without any trust', either express or implied.'as to its use."
The widow died June 29. She lived at 1006 Hose Avenue.

Lillie married Oscar Bern PALMER on 3 Aug 1892 in Oakland, Alameda, California, United States. Oscar (son of James PALMER and Julia /) was born about 1870 in California, United States; died on 15 Nov 1934 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: F270D7681091354F80E7B4E7C8F7E5B5211E

Notes:

Birth listed as Grayson, California in Historical book.
1914 Oakland directory lists Byron L. Grigsby clk r 838 Arlington Ave.

1900 United States Federal Census Byron L Grigsby
Name: Byron L Grigsby
Home in 1900: Supervisors District 5, Contra Costa, California
Age: 28
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1872
BirthPlace: California
Relationship to head-of-house: Son
Father's name: Erasmus H
Mother's name: Elmira
Race: White
Household Members: Name Age
Erasmus H Grigsby 58
Elmira Grigsby 51
Warren M Grigsby 32
Byron L Grigsby 28
Edward Elway 16 boarder

California Death Index, 1940-1997 Record
Name: GRIGSBY, BYRON LINDSEY
Social Security #: 566202591
Sex: MALE
Birth Date: 2 May 1872
BirthPlace: CALIFORNIA
Death Date: 11 Jun 1959
Death Place: SAN JOAQUIN
Mother's Maiden Name: MILLER
Father's Surname: GRIGSBY

Byron married Alice Rue EATON on 25 Aug 1905 in Methodist Church, Red Bluff, Tehama, California, United States. Alice (daughter of George Washington EATON and Louisa Matilda HOLLAND) was born on 10 Jan 1884 in Red Bluff, Tehama, California, United States; died on 12 Jun 1967 in Brentwood, Contra Costa, California, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 60F38DCBB12D524FB7513AC0CEA812590D30

Notes:

1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Tillie M. Huey
Age: 5m
Birth Year: abt 1879
Birthplace: California
Home in 1880: Township 5, Contra Costa, California
Race: White
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Single
Father's Birthplace: Canada
Mother's Birthplace: Oregon
Neighbors:
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
1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Lillie Huey [Tillie Huey]
Age: 20
Birth Date: Jan 1880
Birthplace: California
Home in 1900: Supervisors District 5, Contra Costa, California
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Granddaughter
Marital Status: Single
Father's Birthplace: Scotland
Mother's Birthplace: Oregon
Neighbors:
Household Members: Name Age
Mary Miller 74
Lillie Huey 20



1910 United States Federal Census
Name: Tillie Christiansen
Age in 1910: 30
Estimated birth year: abt 1880
Birthplace: California
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: Ireland
Mother's Birth Place: Canada English
Home in 1910: Berkely, Alameda, California (1728 62nd St. Piedmont City)
Marital Status: Single (Divorced)
Race: White
Gender: Female
Household Members: Name Age
Tillie Christiansen 30
Huey Christiansen 7

1930 United States Federal Census
Name: Tillie M Browne [Tillie M Brown]
Gender: Female
Birth Year: abt 1880
Birthplace: California
Race: White
Home in 1930: Berkeley, Alameda, California
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Spouse's Name: Lewis B Browne
Father's Birthplace: Ireland
Mother's Birthplace: Oregon
Occupation: Education: Military service: Rent/home value: Age at first marriage: Parents' birthplace:
Neighbors:
Household Members: Name Age
Lewis B Browne 49
Tillie M Browne 50
Hugh Christenson 27

California Death Index, 1940-1997 TILLIE MILLER BROWNE
Name: BROWNE, TILLIE MILLER
Social Security #: 0
Sex: FEMALE
Birth Date: 4 Jan 1880
Birthplace: California
Death Date: 8 Aug 1959
Death Place: SANTA CLARA (Agnew State Hospital - 3 yrs)
Mother's Maiden Name: HUGBY
Father's Surname: HEALEY

Hays Funeral Home Sunnyvale California, Rev. C. E. Hawthorne

last residence: 2491 Ellsworth St., Berkeley, Alameda County, California

Matilda married Louis B. BROWNE on 21 Dec 1912 in Alamea County, California, United States. Louis (son of CHEATHAM) was born on 18 Aug 1880 in Kansas, United States; died on 23 Jan 1961 in , Santa Clara, California, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Matilda married Christensen about 1901 in California, United States, and was divorced. Christensen was born about 1877 in California, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: F0E47FDF2F22E1489D34333D866605EBC993

Notes:

1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Hazel J Rasdorf [Hazel I Kasdorf]
Home in 1920: Precinct 5, Pueblo, Colorado
Age: 25 years
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1895
BirthPlace: California
Relation to Head of House: Wife (of brother Lovis/Lewis)
Spouses's Name:
Father's Birth Place: United States of America
Mother's Birth Place: United States of America
Marital status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Female
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Image: 1064
Household Members: Name Age
Walter B Rasdorf 25
Edward J Rasdorf 21
Erma Rasdorf 42
Lovis T Rasdorf 38
Hazel J Rasdorf 25
Iren C Rasdorf 6
Esther M Rasdorf 9/12

1930 United States Federal Census
Name: Lewis F Kasdorf
Home in 1930: Township 9, Contra Costa, California
Age: 48
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1882
BirthPlace: Iowa
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouses's Name: Hazel I
Race: White
Household Members: Name Age
Lewis F Kasdorf 48
Hazel I Kasdorf 35
Irene C Kasdorf 16
Esther M Kasdorf 10
Fred W Kasdorf 7

California Birth Index,
KASDORF 1922 11 19 COLLIS MALE CONTRA COSTA 0
KASDORF RICHARD LEWIS 1936 06 30 COLLIS MALE CONTRA COSTA 0

California Death Index, 1940-1997 Record
Name: KASDORF, HAZEL I
Social Security #: 551367672
Sex: FEMALE
Birth Date: 19 Dec 1894
BirthPlace: CALIFORNIA
Death Date: 30 Oct 1977
Death Place: SACRAMENTO

Hazel married Lewis Fred KASDORF about 1912 in , Whitman, Washington, United States. Lewis (son of Fred KASDORF and Sophia Wasmund) was born on 1 Jun 1881 in Grant, Carroll, Iowa, USA; died on 1 Feb 1940 in Byron, Contra Costa, California, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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.
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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:

• _UID: DBED793EA1544C438092B19F623422F91672

Notes:

no children

1920 United States Federal Census Gladys E Ping
Name: Gladys E Ping
Home in 1920: Diamond, Whitman, Washington
Age: 21 years
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1899
BirthPlace: California
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Spouses's Name: Elmer F
Father's Birth Place: California
Mother's Birth Place: California
Marital status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Female
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Image: 889
Household Members: Name Age
Elmer F Ping 28 (worked as laborer for the railroad)
Gladys E Ping 21
Russel Collis 22 brother to Gladys
Winnie 19 " (should be Winner- worked for the railroad)

1930 United States Federal Census
Name: Elmer F Ping
Home in 1930: Oakland, Alameda, California
Age: 32
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1898
Birthplace: Washington
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Name: Frank E Born Washington
Mother's Name: Mary E Born Washington
Spouse's Name: Gladys E
Race: White
No Military service: Rent/home value: Age at first marriage: 20
Neighbors:
Household Members: Name Age
Elmer F Ping 32 laborer warehouse
Gladys E Ping 30 Press operator- Phonograph records, married age 17
Frank E Ping 57 laborer sewer layer (served in Spanish war) father bn Indiana,
mother bn Oregon
Mary E Ping 52 father born USA, mother born Indiana
Laura S Collis 63

1939 Sacramento City Directory: Ping not found
1940 Sacramento City Directory: Ping, Elmer F (Gladyce E) h4964 13th av
Ping, Frank (Mary E) h5018 14th 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
California Death Index
PING GLADYCE E 1898 11 01 FEMALE CA SACRAMENTO 1975 12 13 573183927 77

buried at Eastlawn Southgate Cemetary next to hwy 99, between Elk Grove and Sacramento

Gladyce worked as a house girl for Addie Mae Lamb in Diamond, Washington. Later after she and Pete were married and moved to Sacramento, CA, she worked for the telephone Company. They had no children.

Gladyce married Elmer Frank "Pete" PING on 21 Nov 1917 in Diamond, Whitman, Washington, United States. Elmer (son of Frank Eb PING and Mary Estelle GOUGH) was born on 24 Mar 1896 in Dayton, Columbia, Washington, United States; died on 13 Jan 1980 in Sacramento, Sacramento, California, United States; was buried in Sacramento, Sacramento, California, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 36BE5AB5EE95FA42842A29A8686E1B407228

Notes:

1930 United States Federal Census Winner W Callis
Name: Winner W Callis
Home in 1930: Township 9, Contra Costa, California
Age: 29
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1901
BirthPlace: California
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouses's Name: Ruth V
Race: White
Household Members: Name Age
Winner W Callis 29
Ruth V Callis 27
Lucile E Callis 3 6/12 (Elaine)
Edgar Callis 22 brother

Oregon Death Index, 1903-98 Winner Win Collis
Name: Collis, Winner Win
County: Columbia
Death Date: 10 Dec 1985
Certificate: 85-21987
Age: 85
Birth Date: 08 Oct 1900
Spouse: Ruby

Social Security Death Index Winner Collis
Name: Winner Collis
SSN: 543-03-1294
Last Residence: 97051 Saint Helens, Columbia, Oregon, United States of America
Born: 8 Oct 1900
Died: Dec 1985
State (Year) SSN issued: Oregon (Before 1951 )

The following was taken from a letter dated July 13, 1976, to Marilyn Parker from Uncle Winner Winwood Collis (brother to Ernest Russell Collis).
"Ruby finally prodded me into writing you about how I broke my arm. I must have been between 7 and 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 and 1/2 inch or 2 inch pipe run ghrough the branches of three locust trees or pepper trees. It was about 3 or 4 feet above the ground, but seemed higher to me now. 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. Suppose I was bare footed. Anyway, I slipped and fell to the ground with my right arm under my body and broke so many bones in my elbow, the old Dr. Cool just put it in a towel and tied the towel around my neck so I could be comfortable as possible with all the broken bones in a mess. I looked at the bones under a florescope in Portland, Oregon, in 1954 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 always like to turn over to our competitor doctor'." I remember him also telling me that he used to carry a full bucket around in that hand to straighten out the arm. When I was between 4 and 5 years old, Arthur begged me to get him some matches from the kitchen stove, which he couldn't reach. I did so, and a few minutes later mother said, `Our barn is on fire. Where is Arthur?' Well, Arthur had gotten over the manger in the little barn, put some straw in a little pile and started a fire. Mom had to go in after him, but with no fire equipment, we lost the barn, thanks to me." "About the San Francisco fire and earthquake, I remember April, 1906, mom or dad got all we kids out of the house and into the yard. We had a water tank in the back and water was sloshing out of the top of it. I talked many years later with a Mr. Nunn, brother of George, who told me he was putting a harness on a team of horses when he noticed the horses moved up against the manger, back as far as the halter chains would let them. He ran outside to check. The ground was rolling or undulating like waves on the bay or ocean. Our Aunt Florence stood in a doorway in San Francisco watching things happen."
Winner had Bladder cancer like his father. He had several surgeries and chemotherapy. He died peacefully at age 85, as he sat down to watch the 5 o'clock news. There was no service and he was cremated as per his request.
Ruby Collis (503) 397-1466 32084 Brooks Rd. St. Helens, Or, 97051

Winner married Ruth Vivian HOXIE on 31 Dec 1925 in Whitman County, Washington, USA. Ruth was born on 10 Jan 1903 in Washington, United States; died on 22 Jan 1944 in Saint Helens, Columbia, Oregon, United States; was buried on 25 Jan 1944 in Lutheran Cem, Warren, Oregon, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Winner married Ruby Cecelia PETERSON on 3 Feb 1945 in Vancouver, Clark County, Washington, USA. Ruby was born on 7 Jul 1906 in Buxton, Washington, Oregon, United States; died on 1 May 1999 in Saint Helens, Columbia, Oregon, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 637B60211515834D877A5432E48C322BAD4B

Notes:

Brentwood Union Cemetary

!Death:State file # 07-21882

Other Events:

• _UID: 6966D313B93AB44FA100D350623BA612C425

Notes:

No children

California Birth Index, 1905-1995 Record
Name: Edgar D Collis
Birth Date: 19 Sep 1907
Gender: Male
Mother's Maiden Name: Grigsby
Birth County: Contra Costa

U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 Record about Edgar D Collis
Name: Edgar D Collis
Birth Year: 1907
Race: White, citizen
Nativity State or Country: California
State: California
County or City: Sacramento
Enlistment Date: 3 Mar 1941
Enlistment State: California
Enlistment City: Sacramento
Branch: Infantry
Branch Code: Infantry
Grade: Private First Class
Grade Code: Private First Class
Component: National Guard (Officers, Warrant Officers, and Enlisted Men)
Source: National Guard
Education: 1 year of high school
Civil Occupation: Gas And Oil Man
Marital Status: Single, without dependents
Height: 70
Weight: 142

Social Security Death Index Record
Name: Edgar Collis
SSN: 542-07-9529
Last Residence: 84115 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States of America
Born: 19 Sep 1907
Died: Mar 1987
State (Year) SSN issued: Oregon (Before 1951 )

Utah Cemetery Inventory about Edgar D. Collis
Name: Edgar D. Collis
Burial Date: 20 March 1987
Cemetery: Mount Olivet Cemetery
Source: Sexton Records / Grant
Grave Location: West Masonic_152_1



no issue
was said by his wife to have suffered from ahlzeimers during the last years.

Edgar married Alma Laura Joshumsen on 15 Aug 1942 in Lewis andr Clark County, Montana, USA. Alma (daughter of Christin Joshumsen and Laura Larsen) was born on 31 Jul 1902 in Odense, Denmark; died on 7 Nov 1991 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, USA; was buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 39FC6BE4B6E33B47A608A807CA1B3EB1D0F9

Notes:

CA birth records: Marian E. Grigsby, 7 Dec 1906 Alameda Co. CA, mothers maiden name Gardiner

1930 United States Federal Census about Marion E Hardison
Name: Marion E Hardison
Home in 1930: Montebello, Los Angeles, California
Age: 23
Estimated birth year: abt 1907
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Spouse's name: Eugene D production engineer for an oil company
Occupation: Military Service: Rent/home value: Age at first marriage: 20 Parents' birthplace:
Household Members: Name Age
Eugene D Hardison 25
Marion E Hardison 23


New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 (Jan 1933)
Name: Marian Elmira Hardison
Estimated birth year: 1906
Age: 26
Gender: Female
Port of Departure: Le Havre, France
Ship Name: Paris
Search Ship Database:
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Nativity: California residence 915 Leonard St. Los Angeles, CA
Line: 8
Microfilm Serial: T715
Microfilm Roll: T715_5282
Birth Location: California
Birth Location Other: Oakland
Page Number: 102

U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 (Beta) about Marian Hardison
Name: Marian Hardison
Gender: F (Female)
Residence Year: 1941
Residence Place: Los Angeles, California
Spouse: Eug D Hardison
Publication Title: Los Angeles Directory Co's Los Angeles City Directory

Death Notice
Mrs. Hardison Succumbs Here
Funeral plans were pending yesterday for Mrs. Marian E. Hardison who died here on Wednesday evening in her 49th year. The wife of Eugene D. Hardison of Reno, she was formerly a student at the University of Nevada, and had been residing at Arlington, Va., before coming recently to this community. She was born in Oakland, Calif, in 1907.
Funeral arrangements will be announced later by the Ross-Burke Co.
-June 8 1956
Nevada State Journal

cause of death, cancer

No children

Marian married Eugene D HARDISON about 1926 in California, United States. Eugene (son of Erson P HARDISON and Edna D.) was born on 3 Jul 1904 in Geneva, Adams, Indiana, United States; died on 20 Jun 1977 in Glendora, Los Angeles, California, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: EDE0D186F0B7B8449AD5BCDAFDA891202258

Notes:

no children

1930 United States Federal Census
Name: Mildred B Howell
Home in 1930: Oakland, Alameda, California
Age: 35
Estimated birth year: abt 1895
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Spouse's name: Roy J Chauffer for private family
Age at first marriage: 22
Household Members: Name Age
Roy J Howell 35
Mildred B Howell 35



California Death Index, 1940-1997
Name: Mildred Bernice Howell [Mildred Bernice Palmer]
Social Security #: 552093886
Sex: FEMALE
Birth Date: 27 Mar 1894
Birthplace: California
Death Date: 3 Apr 1981
Death Place: Contra Costa
Mother's Maiden Name: Grigsby
FATHER'S SURNAME: Palmer

Mildred married Roy J. HOWELL about 1916 in California, United States. Roy (son of HOWELL and Rickets) was born on 14 Dec 1894 in Kansas, United States; died on 20 Feb 1964 in , Alameda, California, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: D31516E8A4D805488297415296BE12BE7FDE

Notes:

Virginia attended public school in Brentwood. It is said that her mother drove to school with long black gloves on every day at noon to take Virginia home for lunch. Driving a car in those days was rare, and going home for lunch was not the norm for most children. At about age 20, it is said that Virginia seemed to change in personality. She has had "depressions" throughout her adult life. Virginia never married.

Virginia was baptized 8 August 1915 in the Oakland Presbyterian Church.

Other Events:

• _UID: D9BB6B83149A574C97A6245D615631F77070

Notes:

Virginia Grigsby had a picture of Hugh Christiansen, son of Tillie Brown and his wife taken at 981 Dainty Ave., Brentwood, CA. Aug 1966.(Also stated Menlo Park on back of picture.)

1930 United States Federal Census about Hugh Christenson
Name: Hugh Christenson
Home in 1930: Spruce St., Berkeley, Alameda, California
Age: 27
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1903
Birthplace: California
Relation to Head of House: Stepson
Mother's Name: Tillie M
Race: White
Occupation: Clerk- Insurance, Education: Military service: Parents' birthplace both California
Neighbors:
Household Members: Name Age
Lewis B Brown 49 Insurance Broker
Tillie M Brown 50
Hugh Christenson 27 Insurance Clerk

1940 United States Federal Census about Hugh Christesen
Name: Hugh Christesen
Age: 37
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1903
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: California
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1940: San Mateo, California
Street: Klayton Drive
Farm: No
Inferred Residence in 1935: Oakland, Alameda, California
Residence in 1935: Oakland, Alameda, California
Resident on farm in 1935: No
Sheet Number: 21B
Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 524
Occupation: Insurance Superintendent
House Owned or Rented: Owned
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 7500
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: College, 4th year
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 44
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work
Weeks Worked in 1939: 52
Income: 4000
Income Other Sources: No
Neighbors:
Household Members: Name Age
Hugh Christesen 37
Gladys Christesen 33 nurse in Dr. Office

U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
Name: Hugh Christenson
Residence Year: 1942
Street address: Menlo Park
Residence Place: San Francisco, California, USA
Publication Title: San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1942

U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
Name: Mrs Hugh Christenson
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1946
Street address: Klayton dr rt 1 bx 867a
Residence Place: Palo Alto, California, USA
Publication Title: Palo Alto, California, City Directory, 1946

U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
Name: Hugh Christenson
Gender: Male
Residence Year: 1948
Street address: Menlo Park
Residence Place: San Francisco, California, USA
Spouse: Gladys Christenson
Publication Title: San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1948

U.S. Phone and Address Directories, 1993-2002

Name: Hugh Christenson
Address: 2145 Clayton Dr
City: Menlo Park
State: California
Zip Code: 94025-6222
Phone Number: 415-854-3645
Residence Years: 1993 1995

Social Security Death Index
Name: Hugh Christenson
SSN: 547-05-5324
Last Residence: 94025 Menlo Park, San Mateo, California, United States of America
Born: 15 Jul 1902
Died: 29 Apr 1993
State (Year) SSN issued: California (Before 1951 )

California, Death Index, 1940-1997
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Name: Hugh Christenson
Social Security #: 547055324
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 15 Jul 1902
Birth Place: California
Death Date: 29 Apr 1993
Death Place: San Mateo
Mother's Maiden Name: Tilley
Hugh Christenson Senior
Contributed By Kimbrely Holtom · 28 June 2014 · 0 Comments

Death: Menlo Park Colonial: give to Cal Berkley in the sports dept.1-415-323-5143

Obituary: San Francisco May 2, 1993. "At rest at home on April 29, 1993 beloved father of Hugh R. Christenson of New York. He was born in Oakland in 1902. He founded the Christenson and Gutmann Insurance company and lived in Menlo Park since 1936. He was a member of the Olympic Club for 70 years and graduated UC Berkeley. A memorial service was held to be followed by a memorial scattering at sea near Golden Gatefrom the sailing ship, Windson by John O'Connor's Menlo Colonial Chapel.Donations to your favorite charities preferred."

Notes: These are taken from his green photo book. Hugh went to Berkeley High School and then graduated from UCAL Berkeley. He played water polo. His team mates called him "rabbit." He swam for the Olympic Club. Fancy diving and 220 were events he won. He at UC Berkeley in 1918(?). The Olympic Club had an amateur team. Feb. 7 a newspaper article was written by Ernest M. Smith stating the following: "There are a number of men, sucha as the diminutive Hughie Christenson who are playing bang-up water polo." and on Feb 22 "Olympic Club team beat Hawaiian Outriggers. The visitors easily outclassed the Outriggers, the shooting and relaying of Christenson featuring fine goals for the O." Picture of him with team in 1926 where he won 2nd play at a National event.

Hugh married Gladys H Schas on 13 Feb 1935 in Oakland, Alameda, California, USA. Gladys was born on 22 Sep 1906 in Jordan Valley, Malheur, Oregon, United States; died on 2 Oct 1986 in Santa Clara. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]