Month: July 2020

by

Robert Leonard Ross Idaho stay

Robert Leonard Ross mug shot

Many years ago, 2007, I was able to flesh out some of one of Robert’s daughters, Beulah Ross Duncan.  Then in 2017 I was able to obtain and share some photos.

Then, early July, I finally stumbled on more information for Robert Leonard Ross.

He married Rose Anna Clawson (1893-1956), widow of Hyrum Peter Sanders (1890-1918) on 18 February 1919 in Burley, Cassia, Idaho.  Then he just disappeared.  Well, I found out why.  He decided to act illegally in Minidoka County and spend a decade as a resident of the Idaho State Penitentiary in Boise, Ada, Idaho.  A certain irony knowing that his brother-in-law was the local probate (magistrate) judge in Minidoka County.

Idaho State Penitentiary Intake for Robert Leonard Ross

I like the fact they called him Slim.

Pardon of Robert Leonard Ross

He spent the 1920s doing hard time.  The world was just waiting for him to make it in 1929 and through the 1930s.  I am still trying to pin down his remaining years.  I assume Rose divorced him, but I haven’t located those records yet.

1930 he was in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.

1935 he was in San Francisco, San Francisco, California.

1940 he was in Redding, Shasta, California.

Still trying to confirm, but apparently he died in Bend, Deschutes, Oregon in 1944.

I believe his daughter Mary Elizabeth Ross died in Avenal, Kings, California.

Beulah Estell Ross died in Toppenish, Yakima, Washington.

Annie Adeline Ross died in Grundy, Buchanan, West Virginia.

Orson Lee Ross died near Klamath Falls, Klamath, Oregon.

Edith Pansy Ross died somewhere in California.

by

Interviews

Jackie Jonas Melycher interviewed for a television show

In 1998, my mother was involved in a crime.  In 2020, a television show is doing an episode on that crime.  I don’t know how many people were interviewed, where, or why.  All I know is that on the 20th of June, my Aunt Jackie and I drove to Twin Falls to be interviewed as well.  One of my Mom’s high school friends and a co-worker of mine was also interviewed that day.  I have no clue how the show will turn out or when it will be aired.  I guess time will tell.  But I Snapped this picture as part of the interviews of my Aunt.

by

Little Things

James and Lillian piano

I wanted to share this picture.  I took a shower one morning and got out of the shower to this sight.  Two little children brought in this little keyboard and were playing Primary songs on it.  I appreciate how little children want to be near their parents, even if in a shower early in the morning…  I am fortunate to have such great children.

by

Photos of James Thomas Ross/Meredith

In the last few weeks, family history communications paid some dividends.  I found the first quality photos of my Great, Great Grandfather James Thomas Ross also known as James R Meredith.

I previously wrote about James’ life story here on 8 January 2012.  I also posted pictures of our visit as a family to James’ grave at Belmont Memorial Cemetery in Fresno, Fresno, California at this post.

This past week, in conversations with Darlene Neault, a granddaughter of Martha Elnora Cackler, she let me know she had some photos of Jim and Martha.  I was very interested in obtaining a copy.  She was kind enough to mail them to me!  Very trusting.  I scanned them and already mailed them back to her.  These photos are uploaded to FamilySearch and I will also share them here.

Martha and James Meredith, photo has 1946 written on the back. 

As a refresher, James was born 22 September 1869 in Snowville, Pulaski, Virginia.  He married Damey Catherine Graham 9 August 1887 in Hiwassie, Pulaski, Virginia.  Four children were born, Robert, John “Jack”, Fanny, and James.  Damie passed away 3 February 1933 in Marysville, Yuba, California.  James remarried Henrietta Fountain 8 June 1936 in Sacramento, Sacramento, California.  She passed away 21 February 1946 in Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona.

That brings us to his marriage to Martha Elnora Cackler, widow of Daniel Gordon Brewer, 14 July 1947 in Fresno, Fresno, California.  Daniel and Martha had 7 children together.  Martha’s granddaughter, Darlene, had these photos in her possession.

I have a younger picture of James, but it is pixelated and not any good to really zoom in to see any facial features.  I hope some day to get a better scan of this photo.

James & Damey Ross

But until then, I now have photos of Jim later in his life.  James passed away 13 April 1951 in Fresno.  Martha passed away 31 July 1974 in Fresno.  James was buried in the larger Brewer family plot of Martha’s family.

I understand these two next photos are on their wedding day.

Jim and Martha on the happy marriage date

 

Jim & Martha with wedding cake

These next three pictures are also of James and Martha.  I am still trying to figure out who exactly the others are, but I understand Darlene is in two of the photos.  As I get the information, I will update the post.

Unknown four girls, I believe second from left is Darlene, then Martha and Jim

 

Unknown couple, James, Martha

 

James, Martha, Unknown, Darlene

I hope there are more photos out there to discover.  These were pretty exciting!