Hollis Joseph "Joe" Kroetch was born January 1, 1903, in Harrison, Idaho. Hollis was the son of John Baptist Henry Kroetch and Hellen Isabella ‘Nell’ Steeples. His parents met and eventually married at John’s mothers home in the little city of Plainville, Kansas. A day after their wedding, the couple moved to Nebraska for a short time, then settled in Harrison, Idaho where John helped establish a family lumber business.
Hollis had one older sibling, Juanita Josephine Kroetch, born in 1901, also in Harrison, Idaho. Hollis’ parents divorced when he was 5, and Nell and her two children moved back to Plainville, Kansas where both children entered school while they lived with Nell’s mother and step-father. Nell’s mother, Mary Ann Morrison Steeples Burns, and her step-father, Sam Burns, ran a small hotel in Plainville.
Living near the Plainville Catholic Church was Hollis’ paternal grandmother, Angeline Chartrand Kroetsch.
During his school years, Hollis often appeared in the local newspaper, the Plainville Times:
Plainville Times, June 15, 1911:
"Childrens Day Exercises.....there were 7 in the exercises and little Hollis Kroetch the premier boy singer of the burg went to front in this as he always does in similar exercises..."
July 20, 1911, Plainville Times:
"...Mrs. Nell Kroetch and children Hollis and Juanita will leave for Portland, Oregon this evening..."
Plainville Times Date: May 23, 1912
Hollis did a recitation for the Decoration Day Program sponsored by the GAR
Plainville Times May 29, 1913
Decoration Day Program at M. E. Church....Recitation by Hollis Kroetch from "An American Exile..."
Plainville Times, July 30, 1914
" Mrs. S.W. Burns and grandson Hollis left Tuesday night for Loveland, Colorado to visit her son George Burns and daughter Mrs. James Chamberlain and families. Mr. Burns will join them later."
1915 Kansas State Census
Name: Halles Krotch (incorrect name....)
Census Date: 1915
Residence County: Rooks
Residence State: Kansas
Locality: Plainville
Birth Location: Idaho
Family Number: 5
Line: 16
Roll: ks1915_208
Living in household:
G.S. Burns 70
M.A. Burns 57 (grandmother)
Krutch, Hollis '9' (age incorrect-should be 12 years old..Sam's age reported incorrectly also, as age 80, when it should be '70'). Hollis was attending school, per the census records.
At the time the 1915 Kansas census was taken, Hollis' mother Nellie was living in Aberdeen, Grays Harbor Co., Wash and was married to a Chester McKenzie....
Per Plainville Times, September 9, 1915:
"Mr. and Mrs. G.S. Burns, Charles Holland and Hollis Kroetch were expected to start for home in their ford Monday...."
Per Plainville Times, July 6, 1916
"Hollis Kroetch has accepted a position at the Plainville Pharmacy..."
Per Plainville Times, July 13, 1916
"Mrs. G.S. Burns and grandson Hollis Kroetch expect to leave next week for an extended visit at Garden City, Kansas, and Loveland, Colorado."
Per Plainville Times, Nov. 23, 1916
"Reading : An Imaginary Invalid Hollis Kroetch, Sophomore" during a school program...
Plainville Times Date: August 2, 1917
"Mrs. M.A. Burns, Mrs. H.A. Cool, Mrs. J.C. MacKenzie, and Hollis Kroetch spent Friday at the Ed Richardson home in Zurich."
Plainville Times Date: August 9, 1917
"Mrs. J.C. Mackenzie, who has been visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. G.S. Burns and other relatives, left Tuesday night for her home in Portland, Oregon, Her son Hollis Kroetch, who has made his home with his grandparents for several years, accompanied her to make his home. They will visit relatives in Loveland, Colorado, on their way.
Per Plainville Times, October 24, 1918:
"Hollis J. Kroetch, USS Oregon, San Francisco, Calif care PM"
Plainville Times, January 16, 1919
Hollis listed on the Honor Roll for Plainville High School, Plainville, KS...most likely for the 1918 school year
In the 1930 census, he was listed as living in Neeson, Grays Harbor, WA, with his family: wife Dorothy and children Elaine, Fred, Frank, and Juanita. He said he was a "bucker(?)" in a logging camp.
On May 9th, 1936, Norma married Louis Punnett in Grays Harbor County, WA. It was a second marriage for both. The witnesses were her brother Harry and sister-in-law Aileen. Harry said he was a shipping clerk and Norma said she was a waitress.
Iva Myrtle Ferguson Greenough was born on July 3, 1899. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Iva Myrtle Ferguson Greenough.
Thelma Marguerite (Ferguson) Greenough of Everson, Whatcom County, Washington United States was born on July 10, 1904 in Goshen to George W. Ferguson and Nancy Marguerite (Boggs) Ferguson. She had siblings Earl Ferguson, Dorothy Elaine (Ferguson) Kroetch, James Ferguson, Norma Ferguson, Harry Ferguson, and Iva "Wea" (Ferguson) Greenough. She was in a relationship with Ralph Greenough, and had a child Gale Greenough. Thelma Greenough died at age 46 years old on September 20, 1950 at Nugents Corner Market 3705 Mt Baker Hwy, in Everson, and was buried on September 23, 1950 in Ferndale.
Earl J. Ferguson was born on March 3, 1902 in Kentucky United States of America to George W. Ferguson and Nancy Marguerite (Boggs) Ferguson, and has siblings Thelma (Ferguson) Greenough, Dorothy Elaine (Ferguson) Kroetch, James Ferguson, Norma Ferguson, Harry Ferguson, and Iva "Wea" (Ferguson) Greenough. Earl Ferguson died in Washington. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Earl Ferguson.
My life-time love of geneology and old photos led to the concept of Ancientfaces back in 1999....through the site I have made contact with previously unknown cousins in Australia, Tasmania, England, Scotland and various states in the US, broadening and enriching my family stories, photos and family relationships.
The names I am researching resided in and/or settled the following areas: South Wales; Scotland; Northern Ireland; Normandy; Germany, Belgium & the Netherlands; Virginia; West Virginia, Kentucky, Kansas, Idaho and Washington state; first wave of settlers in the Hudson River & Mohawk River Vallies; founding fathers of New Haven, Middlesex and New London Counties, CT, along with Suffolk, Norfolk & Middlesex Counties in MA; first wave of settlers to Quebec and Ontario, Canada. Also, I am a member of the Mayflower Society after tracing my maternal side to John Billington, a Mayflower passenger ( with his family) who settled in Plymouth , and signed, the Mayflower compact.
My mother is Pamela Thompson. My dad is Richard William Russell. My mom grew up in Fenwick Michigan. My dad grew up in Hart Michigan. They had 2 kids together. Living in Michigan. I have other Half siblings out there somewhere
I want to build a place where my son can meet his great-grandparents. My grandmother Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch always wanted to meet her great-grandchildren, but she died just a handful of years before my son's birth.
So while she didn't have the opportunity to meet him, at least he will be able to know her.
For more information about what we're building see About AncientFaces. For information on the folks who build and support the community see Daniel - Founder & Creator. My father's side is full blood Sicilian and my mother's side is a combination of Welsh, Scottish, German and a few other European cultures. One of my more colorful (ahem black sheep) family members came over on the Mayflower. He was among the first to be hanged in the New World for a criminal offense he made while onboard the ship.