Yuma County, Colorado Photographs

Yuma County Pioneer Photographs:

Francis Edwin Commons was born  in Ohio (one Ancestry treee has him born in Indiana April 9, 1849,  and in March 1878 married Elizabeth R. Jay in Wayne County, Indiana.  Elizabeth Rebecca Jay was born February 28, 1849 in Wayne County.

In 1880 they are in Wayne County, Indiana, with one-year-old Howard born in Ohio (Wayne County is right next to Ohio, so it's very possible they went to a relative's to give birth).  Francis is a plasterer, and they have two servants (seems unusual that a 30-year-old would have servants)

Death 10 Nov 1944 in Longmont, Boulder, Colorado, United States

Death 17 Jun 1929 in Derby, Adams, Colorado, USA

In the 1885 census of Green County, Iowa Francis and Elizabeth have Howard, 5 and Emma May, 3  - Francis and Elizabeth said they were born in Indiana, and the two children in Ohio.

Francis must have been in Oregon in 1893, because the Standard Poland China lists a litter farrowed November 6, 1893.  One of the litter was sold in 1895 to  R. N. Williamson of Wells, Oregon.

The  Poland China registry book has Whiteface Beauty, farrowed April 16, 1896 by F. E. Commons of Scotts Mills, Oregon.  F.E. also owned the sire, Ideal 27017, who was bred by Hamilton & Beyer Bros., Warsaw, Indiana.

In 1900 Francis and Elizabeth are in Mills County, Iowa, with Emma M. 19 and Ray J., 5.

In 1910 they're farming in East Fleming - Logan County, Colorado.  Ray J. is 15, farm laborer, born in Oregon

In 1915 Francis "proved up" a claim for 150 acres in section 7 of 9 North, 48 West in Logan County. 

Ray Jay Commons registered for the draft in Yuma County, saying he was born December 7, 1895 in Scotts Mills, Oregon, and was framing for himself

In 1920 Francis, Elizabeth, and son Ray Jay Commons are living in Weld precinct, Yuma County - that's thirty miles south and twelve miles east of the Logan County homestead, but it's further from a railroad.  So Francis might have gotten more land in the deal.  In 1922 they owned 480 acres in sections 5 and 8, 4N 46W - a mile east of the Pleasant Valley church.

Born: 7 Dec. 1894, Scotts Mill, OR
Died: 23 Oct. 1977, Central Point, OR
 

Ester Elsie Commons  Born:  1 Jan. 1932, Yuma, CO

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vi. Mabel Martha, 11, b. Lamar, Chase CO, NE 29 Jan.1903; m

. 26 May 1920 Ray Jay Commons, son Francis E. and Elizabeth R. (Jay) Commons,

 b. Scotts Mills, OR 7 Dec. 1894. Ray Commons moved from IA to Crook Co., CO 

in 1906 to Yuma Co., CO in 1916 where they married, and moved to Wilder, ID in 1934; 

Grants Pass, OR Mar.1937, and in June 1951 to Central Point, OR 

where he died 23 Oct.1977 and she still res. 1550 E.Pine #10.5

 ch.:
i. Howard Ray,12, Commons b. Holyoke, CO 14 Mar.1921; res. Phoenix, OR; 

m. 1) Shirley McCullem; 4 ch.; m. 2) Patricia Eaves Puclett
ii. Gillard Elloid Commons, 12, b. Yuma, CO 11 Aug.1925; educated Grants Pass, 

4 yrs. U.S.N.; employed by Telephone Co., owned hardware store & sandblasting shop; 

owned and managed restaurant; res. Roseburg, OR; member H.F.A.; m. 10 Aug.1947 Wanda Mae Hobson, dau. Will & Elsie (Chandler) Hobson. Ch.:
i. Christy Lee,13, b. 10 Nov. 1950; Eastern OR College; school teacher, 

piano and organ teacher; m. 4 Sept. 1971 Gordon Syphers, teacher. 2 ch.
ii. Cathy Rae,13, b. 6 Dec.1951; Univ. OR Medical School, radiology, 

Umpqua Com. Col. dental asst., radiology; m. 12 Feb.1977 John Bell. 1 ch.
iii. Carla Sue,13, b. 22 Sept.1955; typesetter, Central Oregonian; 

m. May 1974 Mark R. Clement, 2 ch. He in lumber; she accomplished flutist, plays piano

iii. Lewis Eugene Commons, 12, b. Tabernash, CO 7 Jan.1927; 

B.A. Puget Sound College of the Bible, Seattle, minister, 

ship yard instructor in woodcraftsmanship; m. 10 July 1948 Charleen Barbara Noland. 

Real estate agency. 4 ch.
iv. Goldie Mae,12, b. Idaho Falls, CO 28 July 1929; 

m. 21 Mar.1948 Asa Robert McKenzie; res. Grants Pass, OR. 4 ch.
v. Ester Elsie,12, Commons b. 1 Jan.1932 Yuma, CO; degree Portland State in Counseling (Social Work); m. James G. Edwards, minister; adr. Willamette View Manor, Milwaukie, OR. 3 ch.