Last week I mentioned my Grandfather, Milo James Ross, preparing a Power of Attorney. This week I share the Last Will and Testament he executed the next day, 2 June 1943. Camp Clipper, near Needles, California, was a harsh environment to help train soldiers. It was here, the day after, he signed this document for what might need to be done should the War take his life. Fortunately for him and his family, it didn’t take his life for another 71 years. Although he lived with the shrapnel and effects of the War until the relief of death took him to the next stage of our eternal journey.
Last Will and Testament of Milo James Ross, page 1
Last Will and Testament of Milo James Ross, page 2
Notes on the witnesses.
Charles Edward Witham, born 12 October 1918 in Pisgah, Morgan, Illinois. Married in 1958. Died 10 March 2009 at age 90 in Jacksonville, Morgan, Illinois.
Frank Fancher or Faucher, unable to find anything on this person. Nothing quite adds up for Cudahy or that name.
William Luther Mills, born 14 March 1918 in Greenville, Greenville, South Carolina. Died 12 June 2001 at age 83. He is buried in Anderson, Anderson, South Carolina.
Ellis Donaldson, Gertrude Shaefer, and George Beck
Another one of those stories that are snippets of time but teases the sentiments from the heart’s strings. A story from a century ago of a life taken too early.
Joseph Ellis Donaldson went by Ellis his whole life. Not sure why, but his parents called all their sons by their middle name. Ellis was born 28 August 1896 in Park City, Summit, Utah. He is the brother to my David Delos Donaldson. I have written of their family and their relationship with the railroad and finding their way to Ogden, Weber, Utah.
In their time in Ogden, the Beck family had also moved there from Cheyenne, Laramie, Wyoming with the railroad. One of those boys was George Carl Beck. George was born 8 April 1896 in Cheyenne. Ellis and George became friends. The photo above includes Gertrude Shaefer who was one of their friends as well.
Ellis Donaldson and George Beck
George registered for the draft on 5 June 1917 in Ogden. Blue eyes, light hair, medium build, and medium height. He was then a private in the Utah National Guard and had been for 1 month. He was an electrician working for Dr. Fredrick Vining Fisher.
George Carl Beck
While in the military, he learned how to fly an airplane. He was in the Army 361 Aero Sqadron Air Service based out of Salt Lake City. Commissioned 22 April 1918. George went to Camp Mills in Mineola New York where he learned to fly at Roosevelt Field. He also acquired a Bachelor of Arts. For a time he worked for Ogden Picture Corp doing “moving picture.” George even took Ellis for a flight on at least one occasion.
Ellis Donaldson and George Beck
I am not clear on what happened or whose plane he was in. Ellis simply wrote for the above photo, “Ellis Donaldson and my boyhood buddy Lt. George C. Beck. Killed in plane tragedy summer 1919–Salt Lake.” George died 21 June 1919 in Salt Lake City. George’s death certificate states the cause of death, “Fracture at base of skull (Accidental– Airplane fell to earth)” The death certificate states he was an “Aviator” working for J. Gilmer, apparently he was no longer in the military. Aged 23 years, 2 months, 3 days. His father was the informant for the information on the death certificate.
The tragedy of a life cut short strikes me. Ellis’ short comment highlighted buddy and plane tragedy. John Greenleaf Whittier comes to mind, “For all the sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these, ‘It might have been.'”
This is another photo that was recently provided to me by a cousin. She did not know if we are related to him or not. Here is the photo and I can indicate I am not related, and I do not believe she is directly either. Since I did not see the photo available elsewhere, I thought I would make it available just in case it is a one of a kind.
William Mills was born 4 November 1839 in Spurstow, Cheshire, England. The back of the photo has “Wm Mills 4 Nov 1839” written on the back. He married Margaret Ann Hawkey on 1 June 1867 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah. After she died, he married Caroline Virginia Hughes 13 December 1883 in Salt Lake City. He died 10 November 1910 in Paradise, Cache, Utah. He was buried 14 November 1910 in the Paradise City Cemetery.
Back (l-r): Larry Weitzstein, Becky Kuhlman, Jane Garcia, Donald Bodily, Allen Llewellyn, Kim Maier, Kirk Carpenter, David Hill. Middle: Mrs. Rue, Val Patterson, Randy Harris, Jenny Ford, Kim Barlow, Trudy Mills, Todd Anderson, Robert Fairbrother. Front: Faye Smith, Jeanette Bellafullin, Bruce Harper, DeeLon Jones, Mark Bonner, Pam Draper, Kathy Larson, Jackie Jonas.
Here is another class picture of my Aunt Jackie. As the sign tells, this picture is from Southwest School in Burley, Cassia, Idaho taken in April 1970. The names were written on a piece of paper inside. If they are incorrect, please let me know. I would be happy to update the information. First, a copy of letter from Ms. Rue.
Back(l-r): Bret Sever, Steven McDaniels, Becky Kolman, Kim Maier, Gina Richardson, Leslie Easton, Keith Barns, Jeff Holland, Rodney Hansen. Third Row: Mrs. Matthews, Steven Devers, John Matthews, Trudy Mills, Rachell Harris, Lisa Thompson, Jenny Ford, Toye Kopkins, David Lynn, Val Paterson. Second Row: Mark Bonner, Greg Morten, Katherine Ringell, Debbie Hatt, Wendy Muir, Cory Parish, Robert Miller. Front: Jackie Jonas, Mike Larson, Kathy Larson, Douglas Brown.
Here is another class picture of my Aunt Jackie. As the sign tells, this picture is from Southwest School in Burley, Cassia, Idaho taken in March 1971. The names were written on a piece of paper inside. If they are incorrect, please let me know. I would be happy to update the information.
Sagacity 