Willis Edward Ricketts (1878 - 1969)

Born 22 Oct 1878 in Granbury, Hood, Texas, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Ettie Annie (Henshaw) Ricketts — married 18 Jun 1916 in Glenwood Springs, Garfield, Colorado, United States

Died 5 Apr 1969 at age 90 in Vista, San Diego, California, United States

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Biography

Willis, son of Newton Franklin Ricketts and Martha Caroline Hastings, was born Oct 22 1878, Granbury, Hood, Texas.

Willis married Ettie Annie Henshaw Scott 18 June 1916 Glenwood Springs, Garfield, Colorado. To this union was born:

1. Barbara Elnora Ricketts, born 1925.

Willis Edward Ricketts was living in Colorado when he somehow found Ettie listed in either a book or newspaper article along with other women seeking husbands. After a period of correspondence, Willis travelled to Louisiana to meet Ettie. Willis had been previously married Jul 3 1901 to Anna Mae Gray, the widow of his brother James Edgar Ricketts. Anna died in 1903, leaving Willis with two young boys.

Ettie and Willis lived for several years in or around Perris, California.

Ettie Annie Henshaw died Dec 18 1950, Perris, Riverside County, California.

n 1969 Willis was living with his daughter Barbara Donaldson in Vista, San Diego County, California.

Willis died Apr 5 1969, Vista, San Diego County, California; buried Row 62, Perris Valley Cemetery, 915 North Perris Blvd., Perris, Riverside County, California.

Sources

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN7Y-C7V : 19 February 2021), Eddie Ricketts in household of Newton Ricketts, Osage, Benton, Arkansas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 15, sheet 481D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,039.
• "Colorado Statewide Marriage Index, 1853-2006," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KNQK-JC7 : 19 February 2021), W E Ricketts and Etta A Scott, 18 Jun 1916, Glenwood Springs, Garfield, Colorado, United States; citing no. 2865, State Archives, Denver; FHL microfilm 1,690,126.
• "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZKX-PJB : 23 February 2021), Willis E Ricketts, 1917-1918.
• "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX2T-JS4 : 31 January 2021), Willis E Ricketts, 1920.
• "California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPHH-8XS : 26 November 2014), Willis E Ricketts, 05 Apr 1969; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/85327159/willis-edward-ricketts) : accessed 18 August 2021, memorial page for Willis Edward Ricketts (22 Oct 1878–5 Apr 1969), Find a Grave Memorial ID 85327159, citing Perris Valley Cemetery, Perris, Riverside County, California, USA ; Maintained by Find a Grave (contributor 8) .