WHALEY

Notes:

Jim was Dentist, as was his father. He practiced in California, Alaska and Oregon.
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Death Certificate No. 90-22582
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Social Security Record:
Name: James O. Whaley
SSN: 574-01-9039
Born: 15 Sep 1912
Died: 24 Nov 1990
State (Year) SSN issued: Alaska (Before 1951

James — BRIGGS. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Oliver was born in Missourri. By 1910 he was in Washington where his children were born.
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The 1920 census finds the family living in Saint John, Whitman Co., Washington. Oliver was listed as a Doctor of Dental Surgery. The family was living on Jennings St.
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In 1930 the family appears in the First Judicial District of Wrangell Township, Alaska Territory. At that time he was practicing dentistry.

Oliver — WISELEY, Gladys. Gladys (daughter of WISELEY, James M. and WALTERS, Florence S.) was born Nov 1889, Indiana; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

John was born in Oregon and moved to as a young boy with the rest of his family to Red Bluff, Tehama Co., California.
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His father John Levi began an almond ranching business in Durham, Butte Co., California in about 1925 which was followed by John and his brother Lester for many years.
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He married Alta Cantwell and had a daughter LaDonna Briggs, and a son John Levi Briggs. After some years the marriage didn't work and they divorced.
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John then married Alta May Kelly and the couple had two children Jimmy Franklin Briggs and Leona Marie Briggs.
John continued on the farm and struggled through several other marriages.
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He eventually sold the farm and moved to the Chico area where he lived the remainder of his years. His funeral brought together family from many places and reunited cousins and other family members who hadn't seen each other for years.
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John's obituary appeard in the Chico Enterprise Record Newspaper on January 23, 1998.

John married KELLY, Alta Marie Abt 1941, Durham, Butte County, California. Alta (daughter of KELLY, Merl Gates and STEVENS, Alice Marguerite) was born 24 Sep 1922, Chico, Butte County, California; died 4 Apr 1991, Grants Pass, Josephine County, Oregon. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Alta was born at 3:55 AM at the address of 4045 7th. St, in Chico, CA. The attending Physician was Ella P. Gatchell. At the time her parents Merl and Alice had not decided on a name, however her social security record (566-34-8580) confirms the same birthdate as the Butte Co., CA. birth record.
Alta's parents were 28, Merl and 18, Alice. at the time of her birth, and had been married nearly 10 months.
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Alta was married to John Briggs in about 1940. The couple had 2 children together and married each other twice before divorcing sometime latter.
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Following the divorce Alta was with Freddie McFall for some time, and together they had one daughter Norma Lelonie McFall (her surname may be Kelly, Briggs or McFall, as Alta and Freddie were not married).
By the mid 1970's Alta married Homer K. Bassett. Homer had been married twice before and also had at least seven children by his first wife Thelma before marrying Alta. The couple stayed together until Homer died in 1989. Alta passed away in 1991 in Oregon, and her cremains were interred in Chico, Butte Co., California, next to Homer Bassett. (Josephine Co., Oregon Death Certificate #91-06761).

William — SCOTT, Lewellyn. Lewellyn (daughter of SCOTT, James Madison and HOWELL, Mary Mollie H.) was born Nov 1867, Missourri; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

1880 census:
(3rd Ward, Hannibal, Marion, Missouri)
Ed. DREACHER Self M Male W 25 MO Dry Goods Merchant GER ---
Bernine CRESCHER Wife M Female W 22 MO Keeping House KY KY
Nellie DRESCHER Dau S Female W 8M MO At Home MO KY
Llewelyn SCOTT Niece S Female W 12 MO At Home --- MO
Thos. HOWELL BroL S Male W 26 MO Lawyer KY KY
Annie FIELDS Other S Female W 22 OH Servant IRE IRE

Notes:

1900 Census:
Boone Township, Cass Co., Indiana (p. 23a)
James and his family are located on this census were he was a 39 year old dairyman.
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Washington Death Index, 1940-1996

Name D.Date D. Place Age Gender Certificate
James M Wiseley 25 Mar 1954 Spokane City 93 M 5498
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James married WALTERS, Florence S. 24 Oct 1885, Cass County, Indiana. Florence (daughter of WALTERS, Jacob H. and Hester) was born Sep 1867, Indiana; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Book: 10, Page: 251.
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Notes:

After the birth of their 2nd. child they headed out by covered wagon westward on the Lewis & Clark trail to Clearwater River, Idaho, and settled on a Nez-Perce Indian reservation.
John was known as "Judge of the Tribe", as he was the Justice of the peace for the Indians. He ran a store & post office in the town of Spaulding, Idaho.
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1900 census La Pine precinct, Nez Perce County, Idaho (Roll 234 Book 1, Page 140a).
Briggs John L., Head, White, Male, b. Nov. 1860, age 39, married 12 years, b. Indiana, Father b. Indiana (actually PA), Mother b. Indiana (actually PA), General Merchant, can read, write, and speak english, renting his home.
Viola, Wife, White, Female, b. Aug. 1865, age 35, married 12 years, 4 children 3 surviving today, b. Nebraska, Father b. Tennessee, Mother b. Kentucky, can read, write, and speak english.
Pearl V., Daughter, White, Female b. Dec. 1889, age 10, b. Nebraska, Father b. Indiana, Mother b. Nebraska, attending school.
Bessie I., Daughter, White, Female b. May 1896, age 4, b. Idaho, Father b. Indiana, Mother b. Nebraska.
Arthur W., Son, White, Male b. Mar. 1899, age 1, b. Idaho, Father b. Indiana, Mother b. Nebraska.
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In 1901 the family took flatboats down the Snake River, then the Columbia River, eventually catching a steamer down the coast to Northern California in 1917. They settled first in Red Bluff, Tehama Co., California, where John was a farmer.
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The 1910 census finds the family living in Coos City, Coos Co., Oregon (Roll 1280 Book 1, Page 34b), as folows:
Briggs, John L. head, male, white 49, married once, for 22 years, b. IN, fa. b. Ohio, mo. b. PA, Dairyman
- , Viola L., wife, female, white, 44, married once, for 22 years, b.NB, fa. b. TN, mo. b. KY
- , Bessie I., daughter, female, white, 13, single, b. ID, fa. b. IN, mo. b. NB
- , Wilmer A., son, male, white, 11, single, b. ID, fa. b. IN, mo. b. NB
- , Lester L., son, male, white, 8, single, b. OR, fa. b. IN, mo. b. NB
- , John F., son, male, white, 5, single, b. OR, fa. b. IN, mo. b. NB
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1920 census :
(Dairyville precinct, Red Bluff Township, Tehama Co., California, ED 144, SH 2-A).
Briggs, John L., Head, renting land, M, W, 59, Married, b. IN, fa. b. PA, mo. b. Unknown, Farmer (Grain)
", Viola L., Wife, F, W, 54, Married, b. NE, fa. b. TN, mo. b. IN,
Zevely, Pearl V., Daughter, F, W, 31, Divorced, b. NE, fa. b. IN, mo. b. NE,
", Robert F., Grandson, M, W, 3yr. ?mo., Single, b. OR, fa. b. OR, mo. b. NE,
Briggs, Wilmer A., Son, M, W, 19, Single, b.ID, fa. b. IN, mo. b. NE, Farm Labor
", Lester L., Son, M, W, 17, Single, b. OR, fa. b. IN, mo. b. NE,
", John F., Son, M, W, 15, Single, b. OR, fa. b. IN, mo. b. NE,
Sharp, Victor W., Son-in-law, M, W, 33, Married, b. CA, fa. b. TN, mo. b. CA, Farmer (Grain)
", Bessie B., Daughter F, W, 23, Married, b. ID, fa. b. IN, mo. b. NE,
NOTE: Wilmer was enumerated twice on the 1920 census, both here and on Oak Park Precinct, Los Molinos, Tehama Co., California (Roll 150 Book 1, Page 212a), as a hired hand.
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By 1925 they moved to in Durham, Butte Co., California and ran an Almond ranch there. John died of a stroke in 1929 and is buried in Chico Cemetery (section 7, row 3, lot 142). Viola died some 26 years later in 1955.

John married HAYTER, Viola Luella 2 Apr 1888, Brown, Co., Nebraska. Viola (daughter of HAYTER, William John and SWANK, Zillah) was born 14 Aug 1865, Freemont, Brown County, Nebraska; died 14 Sep 1955, Durham, Butte County, California; was buried 19 Sep 1955, Chico Cemetery, Chico, Butte County, California. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

1930 census:
(Durham, Butte Co., California, ED 4-16, Sh. 11-A)
Briggs, Viola L., Head, F, W, 59, Widowed, married age 20, b. NE, fa. b. TN, mo. b. IN
", Lester, Son, M, W, 27, Single, b. OR, fa. b. IL, mo. b. NE, Farmer
", John F., Son, M, W, 25, Single, b. OR, fa. b. IL, mo. b. NE, Farmer
", Robert E., Son, M, W, 13, Single, b. OR, fa. b. IL, mo. b. NE, (Robert is actually the son of Pearl (Briggs) Zevely).
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Viola was a mother and a housewife.
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Her obituary follows:
Viola Briggs of Durham Dies at Home at Age 90
Mrs. Viola Luella Briggs died at her home in Durham Wednesday evening at the age of 90. She was born in Freemont, Neb. on August 14, 1865, and came to California in 1917.
She and her husband John Levi Briggs, made their home in Red Bluff until 1925 when they moved to Durham where Mr. Briggs engaged in almond ranching. He died in 1930 (actually 1929).
Mrs. Briggs leaves 4 children, Mrs. Bessie I. Sharp, Lester and John Briggs, all of Durham, and Rev. Wilmer A. Briggs of Tillamook, Ore.; 21 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are being completed by the Brusie Funeral Home, and time of services will be announced later.
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Viola was buried at Chico Cemetery, Chico, Butte Co., California (section 7, row R-12, lot 713).

Notes:

Brown Co., Nebraska Marriage Book A (10-05-1883 to 11-13-1902)
Page 306.

Notes:

Merl, a native Californian, lived in Chico from 1920 until his death in 1977 at age 83. Census records indicate he was born in 1894 at Oregon House, Yuba Co., CA., where his family had located from Algonquin, Mc Henry Co., Illinois around 1880. He appears in the Marysville area with his older brothers and parents in the 1900 census where his father, Joseph, was a gold miner.
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Merl, a WWI soldier, was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army when attending basic training at camp Kearny, Ca., By a written request to the President of the U.S. that Merle was needed at home. After his divorce from Alice, he stayed with his mother until she died in 1944.
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The 1920 census has Merl, his mother Alice and uncle Fernando Kelly all living together in Buckeye Township, Shasta Co., CA., (his mother had been widowed by then).
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We can follow the movements of Merl from 1921 on through Chico city directories located at the Sutro Library in San Francisco, CA.
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1921 finds Merl living with his widowed mother Alice and his uncle Fernando G. Kelly at 4045 7th street, his occupation was listed as laborer, his uncle was a public school teacher.
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At the end of 1921 Merl was married to Alice M. Stevens. The Dec. 6, 1921 issue of the Enterprise Record shows: Couple Marry - Alice M. Stevens and Merl G. Kelly, both of Chico were married last night at 8:30 by Justice of the Peace J.L. Barnes in the municipal building.
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1922 has Merl working at D. M. (Diamond Match) Co. as a Laborer.
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Merl and Alice moved to 4821 9th street in Chico in about 1928, and to 4534 9th Street in 1931. About 1930 Merl is listed as a chauffeur.
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About 1933 He and Alice had split up, and gone their separate ways.
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In 1935 Merl and a woman by the surname Methrin had a child together.
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1937 finds Merl at 244 W. 9th, and at 644 W. 2nd in 1945.
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Another career change came about for Merl in 1948 when he is listed as a reader at the Christian Science Church, his address is also different at 440 W. 4th.
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By November 24, 1950 Merl had married Suzie Newquist.
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Merl's death certificate indicated he was a self employed man and had been a widower at the time of his death.
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Merl's Obituary appears in the Chico Enterprise Record as follows;

M.G. Kelly
A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday at the Brusie Funeral Home for Merl G. Kelly, 83, of 1147 Neal Dow Ave.
Kelly died Friday at a local hospital.
Born Aug. 1, 1894 in Marysville to Joseph and Alice Kelly, he lived in Yuba County until the age of six, when the family moved to Redding. He lived there until joining the Army in 1918, and moved to Chico after his military service.
Survivors include three daughters, Alta M. Bassett of Chico; Betty Comasky of Stockton, and Elsie E. Perry of Eagle, Colo.
Bishop Robert Standing will officiate at the services, and Mrs. Joyce Bae will sing "Beyond the Sunset", and "Going Home." Interment will be in the veterans section of the Chico Cemetery with Jimmy McMahon, Everett Cudd, Frank Zucca, Albert Coleman, Tony Squillace and Ernie Cook as casket bearers.
The flag will be presented by members of the Chico Post 17 of the American Legion.

Merl married STEVENS, Alice Marguerite 5 Dec 1921, Chico, Butte County, California. Alice (daughter of STEVENS, Henry Mains and DURETTE, Gertrude Estella) was born 2 Apr 1904, California; died 25 Nov 1971, Sacramento, Sacramento County, California; was buried 30 Nov 1971, Mount Vernon Memorial Cemetery, Charmicheal, Sacramento County, California. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

SOURCE:
Most of the following infromation was compiled by Joan R. Fitch

Alice was born just before her mother married Harvey T. Holsey in Red Bluff, Tehama Co., California. Her father is noted as Henry Stevens on her death certificate.
As a child, Alice was raised in the Halsey home and appears there with her mother on the 1910 census. Sometime between 1910 and 1921 Alice and most of her siblings were taken into the care of the county and set for adoption, as their father had abandoned the family, and Gertrude found herself unable to care for so many children.
Alice soon ran away from the orphanage, and back to her mother, who by then, had taken back the youngest of the children, Harry.
Alice married Merl Kelly at a young age, and had 2 daughters and a son with him.
Before 1933 the marriage disolved, and she moved out with her children. Finding herself alone with 3 children was difficult and she had to make the painfull decision to have her second daughter adopted, after consulting her mother Gertrude.
Merl wasn't aware at first about the decision, but found out later.
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That daughter "Betty" grew up with adoptive parents and she only found out about Alice when she became an adult.
Alice soon met and married a man by the name of Sam "Stacey" Bailey, and they appear together in the 1933 Chico city directory at 4027 4th Ave. Sam Bailey is supposed to have owned a plumbing business.
By 1934 they had moved to 3925 5th Ave. In 1941 they are shown at Oaklawn Ave. and in 1960-1961 they are listed at 1314 Mulberry.
Alice and Sam split sometime before she moved to Sacramento. Sam stayed in Chico. Alice found work in Sacramento with the Goodwill organization.
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Alice passed away in Sacramento and the "Sacramento Bee" published the following death notice;
BAILEY - In Sacramento November 25, 1971. Mother of Alta Bassett, Harold C. Bailey and Betty Comaskey. Ten Grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Services, Tuesday November 30th at 1 p.m. In MOUNT VERNON'S CHURCH OF THE VALLEY 8201 - Greenback Lane, Fair Oaks. Interment Mount Vernon Memorial Park. A MOUNT VERNON SERVICE.
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Mortuary papers give name as "Alice POWERS" and brother, Harry DURETTE's obituary lists her as "Alice POWERS".
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S.S.N. 559-30-5449