Ida Patten Rollins

Ida Patten was born September 3, 1862, to Thomas and Joanna Hollister Patten, who were married in 1853 in Salt Lake City, Utah. In the 1860 census for Provo, Utah, her parents and older siblings were listed as: Thomas J., 40, Johanna, 25, Lenina, 6, Thomas J., 3, Hannah, 2, Joanna, 3 months, and living with the family was Johanna's mother, Vina Hollister, 59. Thomas Senior stated his real estate was valued at $550 and his personal estate at $400, and Thomas was born in Indiana and Johanna and her mother in New York. All their children were born in Utah.

In the 1870 census for Provo, Utah, Ida was listed with her family, as follows: Parents--Thomas, 40, Joanna, 35, siblings: Lovina, 16, Thomas, 14, Hannah, 12, Joanna, 10, Ida, 8, Malissa, 6, William, 4, Alva, 8 months old. Her father was working as a farmer, and the value of his real estate was $700 and his personal estate was $400. Ida's father was born in Indiana, her mother in Michigan (New York in previous census?) and all of their children were born in Utah. Why Thomas was shown to be 40 years old in both the 1860 and 1870 census is rather odd!

The family was still living in Provo during the 1880 census, and are listed as: Thomas, 52, Johana, 44, Thomas, 23, Hannah, 21, Ida, 17, Melissa, 16, William, 11, Alva, 10, and two more children have been born, Phoebe, 8 and Wiman (David Wyman), 3. Ida's father was still farming, and brother, Thomas, was working as a carpenter. This census record stated her father was born in Indiana and her mother New York.

A Utah Select Marriage Record for Ida Patten indicated that she was born in 1863 in Provo, Utah, and on May 22, 1890, she married William S. Rollins in Manti, Sanpete, Utah, at the age of 27 years old. However, I believe Ida was previously married to William's older brother, Ephraim in 1883, and they had three children, May in 1884 and Edward in 1886, and Ervin in October of 1887. Ephraim passed away in 1887, and Ida married his younger brother William shortly after his death, probably in 1888. William and Ida's first child, Eleanor, (known as Ella) was born in December of 1889, then Wilmirth. (known as Wilma), in October of 1893, Delila, (known as Lyle) in October of 1895, and Louyre in August of 1897, and the last son, Guy William Rollins, in November of 1899.

Due to the fact that my great grandfather, John Henry Rollins, Jr., (one of Ephraim and William brothers) married my great grandmother, Dortha Roxana Madsen, in Arizona in 1885, I tend to think that the Rollins family moved from Utah to Arizona sometime between 1879 and 1880, since they were listed in the 1880 census in Snowflake, Arizona. My great grandmother's family, the Madsen's, moved from Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho, to Safford, Arizona, in 1883, but her diary indicates that many Mormon Church members had moved from Utah and Idaho as early as 1879.

Jesse Nathaniel Smith (Joseph Smith, Jr.'s cousin, and a bishop in the church) went from Parowan, Utah, to Arizona on a fact-finding mission for the the church in 1879, with a plan to colonize that area for the church. Jesse was connected to the Rollins family as a son-in-law, since two of his wives, Emma Seraphine West Smith, and her sister, Margaret Fletcher West Smith, were the sisters of my second great grandmother, Nancy Malinda West Rollins, who was the wife of John Henry Rollins, Sr. John and Nancy were the parents of 11 children, four of whom died young. The children were Ephraim Edward Rollins, William Samuel Rollins, Nancy Malinda Rollins, John Henry Rollins, Jr., Jesse West Rollins, Isles Marion Rollins, Porter Moses Rollins, Charles Watson Rollins, Guy Washington Rollins, Margaret Eve Rollins, and Emma Jane Rollins. Ephraim died at the age of 25, John Henry, Jr., at the age of 24, Porter Moses at the age of 21 and Charles Watson as a baby.

In the 1900 U.S. Federal Census, William and Ida were living in Graham County, Arizona, and that census record states they were married in 1883. However, in 1883, William was only 15 or 16 years old, since he was born in August of 1867, and 1883 was probably the year that Ida married William's brother Ephraim. In the census, the family was listed as follows: William, 32, Ida, 37, May, 15, Edward, 13, Ervin, 12, Ella, 10, Wilmirth, 6, Delila, 4, Lourye, 2, and Guy, 6 months old. The record stated that they had 9 children and 8 were still living at that time. In the 1900 census William was working as a dry goods dealer.

By 1910, the family was living in Douglas City, Cochise, Arizona, and they were listed as: William, 43, Ida, 48, Edward C., 23, Ervin, 21, Ella, 19, Wilma, 17, Delilah, 15, Louyre, 13, and Guy, 11. This census record states William and Ida had been married for 23 years, had 9 children, 8 of whom are still living. In 1910 William was working as a home building contractor and his nephew or step-son, Edward, as a carpenter.

On June 5, 1917, when Ida's son, Ervin Ephram Rollins, completed his U.S. World War I Draft Registration Card in Douglas, Cochise County, Arizona, he indicated he was tall with a slender build, blue/grey eyes and light colored hair, and was 29 years old, having been born October 30, 1887, in Provo City, Utah, This is strange because by 1887 the Rollins family was already living in Arizona. His draft card indicates that he was married and had two children who were three and one year old. At that time he was working as a civil engineer for the L.D. Corp., Copper Queen Branch, at their reduction works.

By 1920, Ervin was 32, and married to Lillian Earhuff, 26, living at 1530 Twenty First Street, Douglas, Arizona, with their two sons, Irvin, 5 and one half, and Robert, 3 years old. Ervin's son, Irvin, was born in California, and Robert in Arizona, so they had been living in California as early as 1915 when Irvin was born and then returned to Arizona by 1917 when Robert was born. Ervin was working as a surveyor for a smelter. By 1921 he was working as a master mechanic for the Copper Queen Company, according to a U.S. City Directory listing.

By 1930, Ervin and Lillian had returned to Southern California, and were living at 440 North Washington Avenue, Whitter, Los Angeles County, in a home they rented for $50.00 per month. Ervin E., 42,and Lillian M. 36, have been married for 16 years, and with them are: Ervin W., 15, Theron J., 10, and Jewell C., 6. But since Robert was not listed in this census, he must have passed away, because he would have been only 13 years old in 1930. Ervin E. was working as a mechanical engineer in the gasoline industry. There is a California birth record showing that Jewel C. Rollins was born January 31, 1924, in Kern County, California. Kern County is located in Central California, about an hour and a half north of Los Angeles. Why they were living in Kern County at that time is unknown, but perhaps it had something to do with Ervin E.'s work.

By 1935, Ervin and Lillian were back in Southern California, living at 317 N. Delord Street in Whittier, in a home they owned which was valued at $3,300. In the 1940 census they were listed as: Ervin was 52, Lillian, 47, Erwin W., 25, Theron J., 20, and Jewel C., 16. Theron was born in Arizona, but the other children were born in California. Ervin had four years of high school education, as did Lillian, and Erwin W., had 2 years of college, Theron, one year of college, and Jewel was in her 3rd year of high school. Ervin E. was working as a plant operator at a gasoline production company, and for the 52 weeks he worked at 36 hours per week in 1939 his income was $1800. Erwin W. was working as an aircraft repairman and for the 52 weeks he worked at 40 hours per week in 1939 his income was $1,200. Having $3,000 per year annual income in 1940 meant the family was probably living fairly comfortably by then.

On September 12, 1918, when Ida's son, Edward Clifford Rollins, completed his U.S. World War I Draft Registration Card in San Pedro, Los Angeles County, California, he indicated he was of medium height and build with brown eyes and hair, and was 33 years old, having been born July 14, 1885. At that time he was living at 526 West 14th Street in San Pedro, with his wife, Ethel, and was working as a shipwright for the L.A. Shipyard and Dry Docks on Regan Street in San Pedro. In 1920, he and Ethyl, both 34, were living in Los Angeles with Ethyl's daughter, Alice, 13, in a home they were renting at 5650 Fifteenth Street. Both Ethyl and Alice were born in Illinois, Ethyl's father was French, and her mother was from Indiana. Edward was still working as a shipwright in the shipyard.

Getting back to William and Ida, in 1920, William, 52, and Ida, 56, were living in Robinson, Cochise, Arizona, with someone named L.A. Carter, a man working as a servant in their home. William was again working as a farmer and L.A. Carter as a farm laborer. In 1920, Ida and William's daughter, Ella was 28, and had married William C. Coe, 38, and they were living at 1160 23rd Place in Douglas, Arizona, with their daughter, Lillian, 6, and son, William, 5. William Coe, Sr. was born in Canada, Ella states she was born in Utah, (but in 1892 when she was born the family was already living in Arizona), and both their children were born in California. William was working as a plumber for a smelter.

According to a 1920 U.S. City Directory listing, William and Ida were living in Tucson, Arizona, and he was working as a poultry man. But when Ida registered to vote it was in Benson, Cochise County, Arizona on August 11, 1920. She was 5'5" tall and weighed 135 pounds and was listed as a housewife, born in Utah, and was a Republican. On May 13, 1920, when William registered to vote, he was listed as a farmer, born in Utah, and was also a Republican. William was 5'-8-1/2" tall and weighed 150 pounds.

In 1930, Eleanor Coe, was a 40-year old divorcee living at 518 Columbia Avenue in Los Angeles, California, with her daughter, Lillian M., 16, and son William C., 15, in a home they were renting for $50 per month, and Eleanor was working as a stenographer for a patent law office. Ella's younger sister, Louyre Rollins Blackledge, was living next door at 518-1/2 Columbia Avenue. Louyre was divorced from her husband, Harry Blackledge, but strangely was living with her husband's sister, Esther V. Blackledge. Ester was 38 and Louyre 29. Esther was working as a manager of a boarding house and Louyre as a typist for a stock broker. There is no mention of Louyre's son with Harry Blackledge, who was Harry Blackledge, Jr., five years old having been born in 1925. He was living nearby as a "roomer" with other people at this time, which is very strange!

In 1940, Eleanor, 49, was living with her son, William C.J. Coe, 25, in a rented home in Los Angeles. She working as a stenographer for a patent attorney and William was working as a cook at a preserving factory. For the 52 weeks Eleanor worked at 39 hours per week in 1939, her income was $1,960 and William's was $1,043. Eleanor Rollins Coe, born December 23, 1889, in Utah (again the family was living in Arizona in 1889), passed away on January 9, 1955, while living in Los Angeles.

Her mother, Ida Patten Rollins, passed away October 11, 1932, in Emery Park, Pima County, Arizona, and was buried in Safford, Graham, Arizona. Less than two years later Ida's husband, William Rollins, passed away June 27, 1934, in Tucson, Pima County, Arizona, and he was buried in Safford with his wife. His cause of death was from a crushing injury of his chest with six broken ribs caused by an automobile accident in Benson, Arizona.

Ida's oldest daughter, May, also known as Ida Mae, married Udall Adams Tenney April 26, 1923, in Lordsburg, Hidalgo, New Mexico. Udall was born to Ammon Meschach Tenney, Sr., and Hettie Milicent Adams, on May 22, 1901, in Colonia Dublan, Chihuahua, Mexico. In the 1940 census, Udall and Ida M. Tenney, 39 and 44, were living in Belleville, San Bernardino, California. Udall had 2 years of high school and Ida had a 4th grade education. The were previously living in Los Angeles in 1935. For the 52 weeks that Udall worked as a section foreman for the railroad in 1939 at 48 hours per week, his income was $1,740.

Their neighbors in Belleville that year were farmers, miners, prospectors, a mine superintendent in a talc mine, a restaurant cook, a restaurant manager, a service station attendant, a stock man on a stock ranch, someone raising poultry, and railroad laborers, and they were from places such as, Nebraska, Wisconsin, New York, Kansas, Texas, Colorado, Michigan, Pennsylvania Utah, Montana, Indiana, Arizona, Mexico and Spain. San Bernardino was quite a melting pot in those days. Ironically, about a hundred years earlier in 1851, William Rollins' grandfather, James Henry Rollins, and grandmother, Evaline Walker Rollins, had been sent by the Mormon Church to settle the area known as San Bernardino. It's interesting to note that their descendant ended up living there many years later.

In 1951, per a U.S. City Directory, Ida Mae and Udall Tenney were living at 408 E. 66th Avenue in Gallup, New Mexico, and he was working was as roadmaster for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. It seems like they had to move around a lot because of Udall's work in the railroad industry.

Udall's younger years were spent on a cattle ranch, and at the age of 15, he went to work for the El Paso & Southwestern Railroad and then to the Pacific Electric Railroad in Los Angeles. Later he worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad. The last 28 years of his career, he was employed with the Santa Fe Railroad. Udall lived in Prescott, Arizona, for ten years before he passed away on March 4, 1965. Ida Mae or May Rollins and Udall did not have any children together.

Five years later, Ida Mae Rollins Udall passed away on June 10, 1970, in Prescott, Arizona. Her obituary reads: "Prescott Courier, June 19, 1970: Ida Mae Rollins Tenney had moved to Prescott from Barstow, California in 1955. Survivors included: three sisters, Mrs. Wilma (Wilmirth) Cartwright of Los Angeles, Mrs. Louyre McCoy of Medford, Oregon, and Mrs. Lyle (Delila) Shannon of Prescott." Both Ida Mae and her husband Udall are buried in the Mountain View Cemetery in Prescott, Arizona. The plots are R/9/F and R/9/H.

Edward Clifford Rollins may have divorced his first wife, Ethyl, or she may have passed away, because by 1925, Edward was living in San Diego, California, with his new wife Ollie Hughart, they were both about 39 years old, and were living in a home they owned which was valued at $3,500. located at 2228 Abbott Street. They had a radio in their home, which was a question the census takers asked during the 1930 census. Ollie was born in Kentucky, her father in Missouri, and her mother in West Virginia. Edward was working as a carpenter and building contractor. They lived there until at least 1935.

For ten years from about 1940 to 1950, Edward and Ollie were living at 523 Chatsworth Drive, in San Fernando, Los Angeles County, California. Ironically, I lived about two miles from there when I was growing up starting in 1955. They owned their home which was valued at $3,000, and Edward was still working as a carpenter. They had previously been living in San Diego in 1935. Edward had a 6th grade education and Ollie a 5th grade education. Edward passed away at the age of 71 on February 6, 1958, in Los Angeles County, and is buried at The Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, Plot: Whispering Pines, Map 3, 1155, Space 9. Ollie Hughart Rollins, born April 26, 1887, in Kentucky, passed away at the age of 83 on May 30, 1970 while living in San Bernardino, California, and is buried in Forest Lawn next to her husband, in Space #10.

Ida's son Ervin E. Rollins passed away on October 18, 1962, in Los Angeles, California. I can find no record of where he was buried. Ervin and Lillian's daughter, Jewel, 27, born January 31, 1924, was married on June 29, 1951, (two days after I was born) in Los Angeles County, California, to Forrest R. Gilmore, who was 28 years old. There was also a record of Jewel traveling from Los Angeles to Honolulu, Hawaii where she departed on June 4, 1948, and arrived there on June 9, 1948, via the ship Lurline. Jewel was 24 years old at the time of her trip to the Hawaiian Islands, and there was a Kay Sadanaga, also 24, listed on the same manifest next to Jewel's name, so maybe they were friends traveling together. Perhaps this was a trip they took together after college?

Ida's daughter, Wilmirth married Albert Cartwright, and in 1920 they were living at 1271 Eighth Street, Douglas, Arizona, with their children. Albert was 30, Wilmirth, 25, Norville E., 5 and a half, and Jack M., 3 years 9 months old. Albert was born in Iowa, Norville E. in California and Jack in Arizona. Albert was working as a house contractor. Based on the fact that Norville E. was born in California in 1915, that means the family may have been living there at some point earlier, then returned to Arizona to live for a time. But by 1930, they were back in California again, living at 4221 Arlington Street in Los Angeles, a home they owned valued at $10,000. Albert was listed as A. Earle Cartwright in this census, and he and Wilmirth had been married for 16 years. Earle was 39, Wilmirth, 34, Norville, 15, and Jack, 14, and Earle was still working as a house building contractor.

Albert Earl Cartwright, born April 11, 1889, in Iowa, passed away on February 2, 1955, in Los Angeles County, California. His mother's maiden name was Moore. According to an Iowa Birth and Christening Index, he was born in Pilot Mound, Boone, Iowa, to John Marshall Cartwright, born in Yorktown, Illinois, and Mary Josephine Moore, born in Dallas, Texas. When Albert Earl Cartwright completed his U.S. World War I Draft Registration Card on June 5, 1917, in Cochise County, Arizona, he described himself as being of medium height and build with blue eyes and dark hair. He listed himself as Albert E. Cartwright, 28 years old, having been born April 11, 1889, in Pilot Mound, Iowa. He was living at 1279 8th Avenue in Douglas, Arizona, and was working as a carpenter for a contractor named Morris, and he had a wife and two children. A. Earl Cartwright passed away in 1955, and was buried in the Taylor City Cemetery, in Taylor, Williamson County, Texas. Could that place have been chosen because his mother, Mary Josephine Moore Cartwright, was born in Dallas, Texas?

There is a California Death Index for a Wilma Rollins Cartwright, born October 15, 1893, in Arizona, who passed away on March 5, 1986, in Los Angeles. It shows her mother's maiden name was West, which is not correct, although her paternal grandmother was Nancy Malinda West Rollins. Wilma or Wilmirth's mother was obviously Ida Patten Rollins. A California Find a Grave Index lists her as Wilma R. Rollins Cartwright, who died at the age of 92 and was buried in The Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, Los Angeles County, California, Plot: Rosehill, Lot 228 C.

Ida's daugher Lyle or Delila, married Lester Shannon, and in 1920 they were living in Douglas, Arizona, with their two children, Jay, 6, and Thomas, 4. Lester was 25 and Lyle was 23. Their home was located at 1504 Twenty First Street, and Lyle's brother, Ervin E. Rollins was living next door with his wife Lillian and their sons, Irwin and Robert. Lester and Lyle owned their home free from a mortgage, as did Ervin and Lillian. Lester, who was born in Texas, was working as a shift boss at a smelter. In 1940, they were still living in Douglas, and Lester was 37, Lyle, 33, Holland Jay, 15, Thomas B., 14, and Henry E., 9. They owned their home which was valued at $3,500 and had a radio in their home. Lester and Lyle had been married for fifteen years and Lester had been promoted to be a foreman at the smelter.

In 1940 Lester, 48, and Lyle, 44, were living in Pima, Arizona, with their son, Thomas B., 24, in a home located on Lane Road near Ruthuff Road and James Station, and Lester was working as a power grader operator for the state highway. Thomas was working as an assistant at a gasoline service station. For the 32 weeks they worked at 48 hours per week in 1939, Lester had income of $1,536 and Thomas $1,250.

Ida's daughter, Louyre Rollins, passed away at the age of 96 on February 6, 1994, having been born in Arizona on August 30, 1897. She was living in Medford, Oregon, at the time of her death. Louyre married at least three times. Her first husband was Jack Rosenbloom, and they were married on October 2, 1916, in Cochise County, Arizona. They had one son, John, born in about 1918, and by 1920, Louyre was separated from Jack (who may have passed away) and she was living in Bakersfield, California, with her two year old son, John Rosenbloom, and her aunt, Dortha Roxana Madsen Rollins McKinney (my great grandmother). Sadly, her son John, died shortly after that and was no more than 2 or 3 years old at the time of his death.

Louyre was then married briefly to Harry Blackledge,and they had one son, Harry C., Blackledge in 1925, but they divorced, and in 1930 Louyre was living in Los Angeles at 518-1/2 Columbia Avenue, with her sister-in-law, Esther Blackledge, and next door was her divorced sister, Ella or Eleanor Rollins Coe. At that time, Louyre's son, Harry Blackledge, was living with other people who lived nearby, Joe S. White, and his wife I. Louise. They owned their home at 631 N. Detroit which was valued at $8,000. Joe was 35, his wife, I. Louise, 33, and Harry Blackledge, 5 years old, was listed as a "roomer" in their home.

Also in the home was Joe S. White's father-in-law, George Van Stan, and mother-in-law, Mary H. Van Stan, 56 and 54, years old. Joe was working as a representative of a carburetor company, and George as a lineman for the gas company. Why Louyre's son Harry was living with them is not known. However, by the next year, Louyre was back in Arizona, and married Donald Eugene McCoy on June 8, 1931, in Tucson, Pima County, Arizona. When they returned to California is unknown, but their son, Donald Eugene McCoy, Jr., was born May 19, 1934, in Los Angeles County, California.

In 1940, Donald and Louyre were living in Pasadena, California, at 269 Terrace Avenue, in a home they owned valued at $4,000. Donald was 39, Louyre, 41, and their children, Donald Eugene, Jr., 5, Janet Louyre, 2, and Harry C. Blackledge, 15. Donald was working as an iron worker, and for the 52 weeks he worked at 44 hours per week in 1939 his income was $2,200. Both Donald and Louyre had a 4 year high school education, and Harry Blackledge was in his second year of high school. During the previous census in 1930, Donald was 29, living with his widowed mother, Lottie J. McCoy, 64, in Pasadena, at 748 Fair Oaks Avenue, in a home they owned valued at $12,000. They had a radio in their home. Donald was working as an iron worker at that time as well.

Earlier in 1920, Donald was living in Pasadena with his father, Eugene, 62, and mother, Lottie, 54, and Donald was working as a machinist, and his father was retired. Two years earlier, when Donald completed his U.S. World War I Draft Registration Card on September 9, 1918, in Pasadena, California, he described himself as being of medium height and build with blue eyes and light brown hair. He was living at 759 N. Fair Oaks, and was 18 years old, having been born May 1, 1900, in Iowa. Donald was working as a blacksmith's helper for Standard America Dredging Company in San Pedro, California. His nearest relative was Mrs. Lottie McCoy, living at the same address in Pasadena. Before that, in 1910, Donald was living in Grinnel, Poweshiek, Iowa, with his parents, E.M. McCoy, 53, Lottie J., 44, and his brother Stanley H., 16. Donald was 10 years old and his father was working as a real estate broker in 1900.

When Donald Eugene McCoy passed away at the age of 88 on Christmas Day, 1988, he and Louyre had been married for 57 years. He passed away in Jackson County, Oregon. I'm not sure when Donald and Louyre moved from the Los Angeles area to Oregon, but when Louyre's sister, Ida Mae Rollins Tenney, passed away in 1970, Louyre McCoy was already living in Medford, Oregon, and their sister, Lyle (Delila) Rollins Shannon, was living in Prescott, Arizona.

Donald and Louyre's son, Donald Eugene McCoy, Jr., born May 19, 1934, in Los Angeles, had been living at 2 Bensell Avenue in Jacksonville, Oregon, and also at 4042 W. Griffin Creek Road, in Jacksonville, Oregon.

Donald's sister, Janet Louyre McCoy, was born May 29, 1937, in Los Angeles County, California. I can find no further public record for Janet.

I did find an obituary for a Tony Champ McCoy, who was born July 5, 1924, in Los Angeles, who was supposedly the son of Don and Louyre Rollins MCcoy, but they were not married until 1931. His obituary reads as follows:

"Tony Champ McCoy: The graveside service for Tony Champ McCoy will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Eagle Point National Cemetery interment shelter. The American Legion Honor Guard will officiate. Mr. McCoy, 76, of Medford, died Aug. 2, 2000 at Rogue Valley Medical Center. Memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity. He was born July 5, 1924, in Los Angeles, a son of Don and Louyre (Rollins) McCoy. He received a master's degree from Colorado A&M, now known as Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. Mr. McCoy was a professor of English and drama. He attended the Pasadena Playhouse in California, and appeared in 27 plays and four Hollywood films. He moved to the Rogue Valley in 1975 from Missouri. He served in the U.S. Army with the Paratrooper Skull Squad and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. Survivors include a son, Charles, in Canada; a brother, Donald E. Jr., in Canada; a sister, Janet Lourye Odell, Medford; and several grandchildren. Arrangements: Rogue Valley Funeral Alternatives & Crematory."

I wonder if the birth date shown for Tony McCoy in his obituary was incorrect, since in 1924, Louyre was married to Harry Blackledge, and had their son in 1925. She did not marry Donald Eugene McCoy until 1931. This is a mystery I will probably never solve!

That is all I know about my second great aunt Ida Patten Rollins and her family, and this narrative has pretty much been pieced together from public records as well as some minor details from my great grandmother's diary, which she started writing in 1940 when she was 71 years old.

Della Dale Smith-Pistelli

February 10, 2014