Biography
B. 24 Sep 1873 in Jersey County, Illinois
M. 6 Mar 1895 in Oswego, Kansas
Husband: Howard Milton Sheridan
D. 17 Mar 1917 in Los Angeles, California
Laura Ethol Ross was a woman who faced many hardships in her life. She was born in Jersey County, Illinois on September 24, 1873 to James Ross and Mary Edith Luckey, their first child. Her parents were first cousins. The family would grow to include four younger brothers. When Laura was about 6 years-old, the family moved to Labette County, Kansas. Laura?s father purchased a farm outside of the town of Parsons, but died of pneumonia in 1884. Her mother then married a farmhand named Albert Leonartz and had three children by him. He was said to be strict with all of the children in the family.
In 1893, Laura became pregnant out-of-wedlock; the child was born in October of that year and she named him Thomas. She would later tell her son that his biological father was named Thomas Carey. She claimed that she sued the man for child support when he refused to marry her and won $75. No evidence of a paternity suit has been found.
On March 6, 1895, Laura married a man named Howard Sheridan in Oswego, Kansas. The marriage record shows that Laura lived in a place called Idenbro, a tiny settlement southwest of Parsons which no longer exists. During the years after her marriage to Sheridan, the family moved several times between Kansas and Missouri, sometimes living on farms. Laura had three more sons (one died as an infant). Money was tight and it was said that one winter, the family had $6 to see them through to spring. On one of the farms where they lived, 5 year-old Thomas once tried to keep the runt of a litter of pigs as a pet. Laura encouraged him by telling him, ?Name it after somebody strong, and it will grow up to be strong.? So he named the pig "President McKinley." When Laura?s husband Howard found the boy with the pig, though, he got angry ? he took out his gun and shot it.
Howard worked for the railroad and in 1900, he was transferred to the state of Washington. Around 1901, the family moved to a remote section of woods near a town called Lake Kapowsin, not far from Mt. Ranier. The tiny house where they lived was right next to the train tracks. During this time, Laura had two more sons. The family moved to the Tacoma area in about 1905 and in 1908, Laura had yet another boy. In 1910, she finally gave birth to a girl.
In 1913, Laura was pregnant again. When she gave birth, the labor was difficult and the baby boy lived only a day; he wasn't even given a name. Laura lost a lot of blood and became very weak. The doctor said, ?If you ever have a child again, you could die.? In about 1916, the Sheridan family moved to Los Angeles; it's unknown why they left Washington. Not long after settling in L.A., Laura became pregnant, and on March 17, 1917, she went into premature labor and bled to death. The baby, who would have been her ninth boy, was stillborn. Laura was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in East Los Angeles.
Children by Unknown:
1. Thomas Michael Mitchell ? B. 7 Oct 1893, Oswego, Kansas; D. 10 Mar 1980, Monterey Park, California; M. (1) Tillie R. Nack (1894-1913), 11 Nov 1912, Tacoma, Washington; (2) Hazel Laura Elwood (1901-1964), 11 Feb 1921, Los Angeles, California; (3) Lillian Myrtle Johnson (1909-2002), 8 Mar 1944, Los Angeles, California
Children by Howard Milton Sheridan:
1. Howard Russell Sheridan ? B. 6 Aug 1896, Missouri; D. 27 Jul 1965, Camarillo, California; M. Angela Arruza (1901-1974)
2. Leslie Edward Sheridan ? B. 30 Aug 1898, Kansas; D. 9 Mar 1899, Kansas
3. Forest Milton Sheridan ? B. 13 Apr 1900, Kansas; D. 6 Jan 1971, California
4. Charles Ohmer Sheridan ? B. 1 Jan 1903, Lake Kapowsin, Washington; D. 1 Jan 1989, Los Angeles, California; M. (1) Unknown; (2) Unknown; (3) Altha Sarah Beasley (~1904-?), 30 Sep 1950, Los Angeles
5. Ray Kenneth Sheridan ? B. 13 Oct 1904, Lake Kapowsin, Washington; D. 5 Mar 1982, Duluth, Minnesota; M. Angeline (1915-?), ~1930
6. Orville Alder Ross Sheridan ? B. 5 Jan 1908, Tacoma, Washington; D. 1 Mar 1993, Tacoma, Washington; M. (1) Lucille Potter (~1914 -?), 1 Jun 1935, Tacoma, Washington; (2) Bliss M. Mosley (~1910-1970)
7. Beulah Jane Sheridan ? B. 7 Nov 1910, Tacoma, Washington; D. 3 Dec 1997, Puyallup, Washington; M. Harry A. Larsen (1909-1975), 8 Oct 1930, Pierce County, Washington
8. Baby Boy Sheridan ? B. 7 Sep 1913, Tacoma, Washington; D. 8 Sep 1913, Tacoma, Washington
Sources:
Family Bible of Laura E. Sheridan
1880, 1900, 1910, 1930 and 1940 U.S. Censuses in Kansas and Washington
Marriage record of Howard Sheridan and Laura Ross, Oswego, Kansas, 6 Mar 1895
City Directories in Parsons (Kansas), Tacoma and Los Angeles, 1900-1917
Death certificate of Laura E. Sheridan, Los Angeles, 17 Mar 1917
Interviews of Thomas Michael Mitchell, 1976-1977
Death Certificate of Thomas Michael Mitchell, 14 Mar 1980
Birth Certificate of Hazel Laura Elwood, 10 Apr 1901
World War I Draft registration cards
Social Security Death Index
California Death Records database
California County Marriages, 1850-1952
Minnesota Death Records database
Obituary of Orville Sheridan, March 1993
Obituary of Bliss M. Sheridan, May 1970
Washington Marriage Records database
- Giving Himself A New Name ? Thomas Michael Mitchell
B. 7 Oct 1893 in Oswego, Kansas M. (1) 11 Nov 1912 in Tacoma, Washington Wife: Tillie Nack M. (2) 11 Feb 1921 in Los Angeles, California Wife: Hazel Laura Elwood M. (3) 1943 in (probably) Los Angeles, California Wife: Lillian Johnson D. 10 Mar 1980 in...
- Illinois And Kansas Farmer ? Samuel Luckey
B. 7 Jan 1830 in (probably) St. Charles County, Missouri M. 7 Apr 1853 in Jersey County, Illinois Wife: Mary Jane Davis D. 8 Mar 1884 in Labette County, Kansas Samuel Luckey was typical of a 19th century Midwest farmer: he worked hard all his life, had...
- A Husband In Prison ? Ellen Ann Luckey
B. 1829 in Tennessee M. 3 Apr 1850 in Jersey County, Illinois Husband: John Ross D. 1882 in Labette County, Kansas Ellen Ann Luckey was born in Tennessee in 1829 to Joseph and Esther Luckey, probably as the two migrated from North Carolina to Missouri....
- Robbing A Grocery Store With His Dad ? James Ross
B. 14 Jan 1852 In Jersey County, Illinois M. 24 Jul 1872 in Jersey County, Illinois Wife: Mary Edith Luckey D. 17 Feb 1884 in Labette County, Kansas James Ross was born on January 14, 1852 to John Ross and Ellen Ann Luckey in Jersey County, Illinois....
- The Long Life Of Grandma Luckey ? Mary Jane Davis
B. March 1834 in Jersey County, Illinois M. 7 Apr 1853 in Jerseyville, Illinois Husband: Samuel Luckey D: 7 May 1927 in Parsons, Kansas My grandfather, who was born in rural Kansas in 1893, once told me his earliest memories of his family. Every Sunday,...
Biography
Died in Childbirth ? Laura Ethol Ross
B. 24 Sep 1873 in Jersey County, Illinois
M. 6 Mar 1895 in Oswego, Kansas
Husband: Howard Milton Sheridan
D. 17 Mar 1917 in Los Angeles, California
Laura Ethol Ross was a woman who faced many hardships in her life. She was born in Jersey County, Illinois on September 24, 1873 to James Ross and Mary Edith Luckey, their first child. Her parents were first cousins. The family would grow to include four younger brothers. When Laura was about 6 years-old, the family moved to Labette County, Kansas. Laura?s father purchased a farm outside of the town of Parsons, but died of pneumonia in 1884. Her mother then married a farmhand named Albert Leonartz and had three children by him. He was said to be strict with all of the children in the family.
Laura Sheridan in about 1897
On March 6, 1895, Laura married a man named Howard Sheridan in Oswego, Kansas. The marriage record shows that Laura lived in a place called Idenbro, a tiny settlement southwest of Parsons which no longer exists. During the years after her marriage to Sheridan, the family moved several times between Kansas and Missouri, sometimes living on farms. Laura had three more sons (one died as an infant). Money was tight and it was said that one winter, the family had $6 to see them through to spring. On one of the farms where they lived, 5 year-old Thomas once tried to keep the runt of a litter of pigs as a pet. Laura encouraged him by telling him, ?Name it after somebody strong, and it will grow up to be strong.? So he named the pig "President McKinley." When Laura?s husband Howard found the boy with the pig, though, he got angry ? he took out his gun and shot it.
Sheridan family in 1905
Howard worked for the railroad and in 1900, he was transferred to the state of Washington. Around 1901, the family moved to a remote section of woods near a town called Lake Kapowsin, not far from Mt. Ranier. The tiny house where they lived was right next to the train tracks. During this time, Laura had two more sons. The family moved to the Tacoma area in about 1905 and in 1908, Laura had yet another boy. In 1910, she finally gave birth to a girl.
Laura's entries in her family Bible
Laura and her son Thomas in about 1912
In 1913, Laura was pregnant again. When she gave birth, the labor was difficult and the baby boy lived only a day; he wasn't even given a name. Laura lost a lot of blood and became very weak. The doctor said, ?If you ever have a child again, you could die.? In about 1916, the Sheridan family moved to Los Angeles; it's unknown why they left Washington. Not long after settling in L.A., Laura became pregnant, and on March 17, 1917, she went into premature labor and bled to death. The baby, who would have been her ninth boy, was stillborn. Laura was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in East Los Angeles.
Children by Unknown:
1. Thomas Michael Mitchell ? B. 7 Oct 1893, Oswego, Kansas; D. 10 Mar 1980, Monterey Park, California; M. (1) Tillie R. Nack (1894-1913), 11 Nov 1912, Tacoma, Washington; (2) Hazel Laura Elwood (1901-1964), 11 Feb 1921, Los Angeles, California; (3) Lillian Myrtle Johnson (1909-2002), 8 Mar 1944, Los Angeles, California
Children by Howard Milton Sheridan:
1. Howard Russell Sheridan ? B. 6 Aug 1896, Missouri; D. 27 Jul 1965, Camarillo, California; M. Angela Arruza (1901-1974)
2. Leslie Edward Sheridan ? B. 30 Aug 1898, Kansas; D. 9 Mar 1899, Kansas
3. Forest Milton Sheridan ? B. 13 Apr 1900, Kansas; D. 6 Jan 1971, California
4. Charles Ohmer Sheridan ? B. 1 Jan 1903, Lake Kapowsin, Washington; D. 1 Jan 1989, Los Angeles, California; M. (1) Unknown; (2) Unknown; (3) Altha Sarah Beasley (~1904-?), 30 Sep 1950, Los Angeles
5. Ray Kenneth Sheridan ? B. 13 Oct 1904, Lake Kapowsin, Washington; D. 5 Mar 1982, Duluth, Minnesota; M. Angeline (1915-?), ~1930
6. Orville Alder Ross Sheridan ? B. 5 Jan 1908, Tacoma, Washington; D. 1 Mar 1993, Tacoma, Washington; M. (1) Lucille Potter (~1914 -?), 1 Jun 1935, Tacoma, Washington; (2) Bliss M. Mosley (~1910-1970)
7. Beulah Jane Sheridan ? B. 7 Nov 1910, Tacoma, Washington; D. 3 Dec 1997, Puyallup, Washington; M. Harry A. Larsen (1909-1975), 8 Oct 1930, Pierce County, Washington
8. Baby Boy Sheridan ? B. 7 Sep 1913, Tacoma, Washington; D. 8 Sep 1913, Tacoma, Washington
Sources:
Family Bible of Laura E. Sheridan
1880, 1900, 1910, 1930 and 1940 U.S. Censuses in Kansas and Washington
Marriage record of Howard Sheridan and Laura Ross, Oswego, Kansas, 6 Mar 1895
City Directories in Parsons (Kansas), Tacoma and Los Angeles, 1900-1917
Death certificate of Laura E. Sheridan, Los Angeles, 17 Mar 1917
Interviews of Thomas Michael Mitchell, 1976-1977
Death Certificate of Thomas Michael Mitchell, 14 Mar 1980
Birth Certificate of Hazel Laura Elwood, 10 Apr 1901
World War I Draft registration cards
Social Security Death Index
California Death Records database
California County Marriages, 1850-1952
Minnesota Death Records database
Obituary of Orville Sheridan, March 1993
Obituary of Bliss M. Sheridan, May 1970
Washington Marriage Records database
- Giving Himself A New Name ? Thomas Michael Mitchell
B. 7 Oct 1893 in Oswego, Kansas M. (1) 11 Nov 1912 in Tacoma, Washington Wife: Tillie Nack M. (2) 11 Feb 1921 in Los Angeles, California Wife: Hazel Laura Elwood M. (3) 1943 in (probably) Los Angeles, California Wife: Lillian Johnson D. 10 Mar 1980 in...
- Illinois And Kansas Farmer ? Samuel Luckey
B. 7 Jan 1830 in (probably) St. Charles County, Missouri M. 7 Apr 1853 in Jersey County, Illinois Wife: Mary Jane Davis D. 8 Mar 1884 in Labette County, Kansas Samuel Luckey was typical of a 19th century Midwest farmer: he worked hard all his life, had...
- A Husband In Prison ? Ellen Ann Luckey
B. 1829 in Tennessee M. 3 Apr 1850 in Jersey County, Illinois Husband: John Ross D. 1882 in Labette County, Kansas Ellen Ann Luckey was born in Tennessee in 1829 to Joseph and Esther Luckey, probably as the two migrated from North Carolina to Missouri....
- Robbing A Grocery Store With His Dad ? James Ross
B. 14 Jan 1852 In Jersey County, Illinois M. 24 Jul 1872 in Jersey County, Illinois Wife: Mary Edith Luckey D. 17 Feb 1884 in Labette County, Kansas James Ross was born on January 14, 1852 to John Ross and Ellen Ann Luckey in Jersey County, Illinois....
- The Long Life Of Grandma Luckey ? Mary Jane Davis
B. March 1834 in Jersey County, Illinois M. 7 Apr 1853 in Jerseyville, Illinois Husband: Samuel Luckey D: 7 May 1927 in Parsons, Kansas My grandfather, who was born in rural Kansas in 1893, once told me his earliest memories of his family. Every Sunday,...