Yuma County, Colorado
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Yuma County Pioneer Photographs:

James D. Francis, 1N 45W



In 1880 Jewell County, Kansas, Esther Francis is 43, William H. Francis 21 Son, Adolphus D. Francis 20 Son, James B. Francis 16 Son, Walter E. Francis 14 Son, Latetia J. Francis 10 Daughter, and Mary L. G. Francis 8 Daughter.

In 1900 Jewell County, Walter E. Francis is 35, Ester M. Francis 63 Mother, and James D. Francis 37 Brother.

In 1910 Red Cloud, Nebraska, Walter E. Francis is 41, Cora Francis 28 Wife, Lillie Francis 7 Daughter, Roy Francis 5 Son, Ernest Francis 4 Son, Irvin Francis 2 Son, James Francis 45, is a laborer, Brother, Maggie Francis 61 Aunt, and George E. Davis 22 Boarder.

November 17, 1910 Burr Oak, Kansas "William H. Francis was born in Illinois, June 26, 1857, and died at Parsons, Kansas, November 9, 1910, aged 53 years, 4 months and 14 days. He was married at Northbranch, Kansas, October 26, 1892, to Cora Davis and to them were born a daughter and a son, who together with three brothers and two sisters, who live in or near Red Cloud, Nebraska, and an aunt at Northbranch are left to mourn his departure. The body was brought to his old home for burial. The funeral was held at Northbranch last Sunday at one o'clock, conducted by Rev. Z. M. Hadley and the remains laid to rest in Highland cemetery."

James proved up 320 acres in sections 4 and 5, , 1N 45W in 1916.
"Claimant names as witnesses: Mitchell M. Cruse, and John C. Clark of Wray, Colorado, and Grant Churchill and Bennett F . Frampton of Eckley, Colorado."


James David Francis BIRTH 19 Oct 1864 DEATH 27 Jun 1923 Wray, Yuma County, Colorado, USA BURIAL Grandview Cemetery Wray, Yuma County, Colorado, USA MEMORIAL ID 228689618
July 5, 1923 "Mrs. S. G. Stancer of Red Cloud, Neb., was called to Wray last week on account of the death of her brother, J, D. Francis. She visited with the family of her sister, Mrs.E. Ralph, a few days before returning home."

(Elizabeth G. Francis Marriage Age: 27 Birth Place: Indiana Marriage Date: 22 Feb 1899 Red Cloud, Nebraska, Mother: Ester Francis Spouse: S. Grasener Stancer.)

January 1937 "Miss Faye Ralph will leave Wray this Thursday evening for Loudon, Tenn., where she will be united in marriage with Mr. Vern Hudson on Sunday, January 17th. Miss Ralph is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. Ralph, long time residents of this city. She received her education in the Wray schools and graduated with the class of 1928 of the Wray High School. She has been employed by the department of Public Welfare in the county court house until the time of her leaving Wray. Vern Hudson is the son of Mr. Sam Hudson of Wray and attended the Benkelman High School. He ha 3 been employed in Tennessee and the happy young couple will make their home at that place. Miss Ralph’s absence from the younger set of this community will be regretted, but along with her to her new home goes the best wishes of her life long acquaintances for a long and happy married life."

December 1942 "Mr. and Mrs. Olaf Oman and daughter Jennie (Who married Bert Monk six months later, my parents) drove to Camp Phillips, Kansas, and visited until Sunday with their son and brother, Cpl. Herbert Oman. Mr. and Mrs. E. Ralph accompanied them to Downs, Kansas, where they visited relatives. "

January 1944 "Clair C. Ralph, a former Wray man who had been living in Denver, where he operated a poultry business, for several years, died Thursday of last week. He is reported to have ended his own life while despondent over his health and other matters. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon in Denver at Hofmann’s Mortuary and burial was in Crown Hill cemetery. The deceased had many friends at Wray. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Ralph and his widow is the former Viola Pickett, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marion Pickett. Besides the widow and parents, he is survived by nine children —Harry, Dean, Paul, Jerry, Betty, Joyce, Carol, Nancy Lee and Jacquelyn. Other survivors include a brother, Ray Ralph of Wray, and three sisters, Mrs. Gertrude Hill, Mrs. Faye Hudson and Mrs. Glenn Bailey. The parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Ralph, Mr. and Mrs. Marion Pickett and Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Broderick of Wray went to Denver to attend the funeral services."

February 1944 "Mrs. Elra Ralph, highly respected Wray lady, succumbed at the Wray hospital Sunday. She had been taken to the hospital for treatment after she sustained a fracture of a hip bone in a fall at her home on Friday. She had been in failing health for some time, but maintained her cheerful outlook on life and her consideration of others until the end came. She was 74 years, six months and three days old at the time of her death.
Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Christian church with Rev. J. T. Wheeler officiating, and burial was in Grandview cemetery.
Latitia Jane Francis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Francis, was born on August 10, 1869. She was united to Elra Ralph at Red Cloud, Nebraska, on February 5, 1889, and the devoted couple had observed their fifty-fifth wedding anniversary this year.
Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ralph. Four grown sons have preceded their mother in death. They were Earl, Harry, Glen and Clair. Earl paid the supreme sacrifice during World War One.
The survivors are the husband; one son, Ray, of Wray; three daughters, Alice Bailey of Franklin, Nebraska, Gertrude Hill and Fay Hudson of Denver; fifteen grandchildren, two of whom are serving in the Armed Forces; one brother and one sister and many less near relatives and a host of friends.
The Ralphs came to Colorado in 1919 and have resided in or near Wray since that time. Mrs. Ralph gave her heart to God and became a member of the Christian church at Wray several years ago, remaining a faithful and loyal member. She is the only Gold Star Mother of the American Legion Auxiliary post No. 30. A friendly smile, a kindly attitude to others and her devotion to her husband and family won her many genuine friends during her residence in this community."
Latitia J. “Tishey” Francis Ralph BIRTH 1869 Parke County, Indiana, USA DEATH 1944 Wray, Yuma County, Colorado, USA BURIAL Grandview Cemetery Wray, Yuma County, Colorado, USA MEMORIAL ID 62637599
August 1944 "Lieut. John M. McKie, a former Wray youth and a son of Mrs. Sam Hudson of Denver, is reported to have been killed in action on June 14. Word that he had been killed was received yesterday toy E. Ralph, whose daughter, Faye Ralph Hudson, wrote him a postcard in which she told that the news of McKie’s death had been received in Denver. John McKie entered the army at the beginning of toe war, went through officers training school and made a rapid advance in the service. A brother, Forrest McKie, is an army major. A letter that Dewey Goodman received from Major F. W. McKie last May told at the two brothers seeing each other in England, and reported that they had both gone to England on toe same convoy. It is thought likely that John was participating in the action in Normandy. Lieutenant McKie, 30, was born at Haigler, Nebr., was graduated in 1934 from the Wray high school, enlisted in toe Colorado National Guard, was sent to Hawaii in 1941 as a master sergeant, returned as an officer candidate. He was commissioned at Fort Knox in December, 1942, went overseas last January. He is survived by his mother of Denver, his wife, Mrs. Minnie Hamil McKie and two sons, Danny, 4, and John, 3, of Green City, MO., a brother, Maj. Forrest W. McKie now overseas and five stepbrothers. He formerly worked for a Denver packing company."

March 1947 "E. Ralph, who is now employed in Denver, came to Wray Sunday night and will spend a week’s vacation here with relatives and friends. "

In 1950 Denver, Vern N. Hudson is 39, Fay L. Hudson 39 Wife, Jane L. Hudson 12 Daughter, Joyce M, Hudson 10 Daughter, and Elra Ralph 81 Father-in-law.

December 1952 "Funeral services were held at the Christian church in Wray Wednesday afternoon for Elra Perry Ralph, who died in Denver Saturday. Rev. Robert Seals conducted the rites and burial followed in Grandview cemetery.
Mr. Ralph was born on March 29, 1869, at La Harpe, I11, a son of Stephen and Nancy Ralph. He died October 11 at the age of 83 years, 6 months and 13 days.
At an early age, he moved to Jewell County, Kan., where he grew to manhood. He was married to Letitia Jane Francis there and to them eight children were born.
The wife and four grown sons preceded Mr. Ralph in death.
Left to mourn his death are his son, Ray of Wray; three daughters, Alice Bailey of Gretna, Neb., Gertrude Hill of Spokane, Wash., and Faye Hudson of Denver; 15 grandchildren; seven great grandchildren, and two sisters.
In 1919 the family moved to Wray, where he remained until after the death of the wife and mother in February, 1944. The last few years he had made his home with his daughter, Faye, in Denver. Mr. and Mrs. Ralph celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary before her death.
Mr. Ralph was friendly and jovial and his friends were limited only by his acquaintances."

GLENN

July 1924 "Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Ralph of Lincoln, Neb., arrived the first of the week to visit Mr. Ralph’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. Ralph, southwest of town. Glenn Ralph is a printer and was formerly employed on the Benkelman Chronicle.

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