Grace Brewer

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.

Abraham Huddleston York was born on January 1, 1843 in Georgia United States to Josiah Cowan York Sr and Sarah Virginia (Blake) York, and had siblings Elizabeth Ann (York) Hobbs, Frances (York) Crabb, William Thomas York, Larkin Blake York, Jasper Newton York Sr, Mary (York) Dean, and Josiah Cowan York Jr. Abraham York died at age 82 years old on August 18, 1925.

Josiah Cowan York Jr was born on March 4, 1841 in Yorkville, Paulding County, Georgia United States to Josiah Cowan York Sr and Sarah Virginia (Blake) York, and had siblings Elizabeth Ann (York) Hobbs, Frances (York) Crabb, William Thomas York, Larkin Blake York, Jasper Newton York Sr, Mary (York) Dean, and Abraham Huddleston York. Josiah York died at age 81 years old on September 8, 1922 in St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, FL. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Josiah Cowan York Jr.

Mary (York) Dean was born on March 2, 1839 in Yorkville, Paulding County, Georgia United States to Josiah Cowan York Sr and Sarah Virginia (Blake) York, and had siblings Elizabeth Ann (York) Hobbs, Frances (York) Crabb, William Thomas York, Larkin Blake York, Jasper Newton York Sr, Josiah Cowan York Jr, and Abraham Huddleston York. Mary Dean died at age 54 years old on December 1, 1893 in St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, FL. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Mary (York) Dean.

Jasper Newton York Sr was born on January 6, 1837 in Yorkville, Paulding County, Georgia United States to Josiah Cowan York Sr and Sarah Virginia (Blake) York, and had siblings Elizabeth Ann (York) Hobbs, Frances (York) Crabb, William Thomas York, Larkin Blake York, Mary (York) Dean, Josiah Cowan York Jr, and Abraham Huddleston York. Jasper York died at age 30 years old in 1867 in St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, FL. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Jasper Newton York Sr.

Larkin Blake York was born on June 2, 1834 in Carroll County, Georgia United States, and died at age 69 years old on November 22, 1903 in Lamar County. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Larkin Blake York.

William Thomas York was born on January 14, 1830 in Carroll County, Georgia United States to Josiah Cowan York Sr and Sarah Virginia (Blake) York, and had siblings Elizabeth Ann (York) Hobbs, Frances (York) Crabb, Larkin Blake York, Jasper Newton York Sr, Mary (York) Dean, Josiah Cowan York Jr, and Abraham Huddleston York. William York died at age 34 years old on August 3, 1864 in Lamar County. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember William Thomas York.

Frances (York) Crabb was born on November 22, 1827 in Polk County, Georgia United States to Josiah Cowan York Sr and Sarah Virginia (Blake) York, and had siblings Elizabeth Ann (York) Hobbs, William Thomas York, Larkin Blake York, Jasper Newton York Sr, Mary (York) Dean, Josiah Cowan York Jr, and Abraham Huddleston York. Frances Crabb died at age 39 years old on September 27, 1867 in Van Wert. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Frances (York) Crabb.

Elizabeth Ann (York) Hobbs was born on May 23, 1825 in Roane County, Tennessee United States to Josiah Cowan York Sr and Sarah Virginia (Blake) York, and had siblings Frances (York) Crabb, William Thomas York, Larkin Blake York, Jasper Newton York Sr, Mary (York) Dean, Josiah Cowan York Jr, and Abraham Huddleston York. Elizabeth Hobbs died at age 73 years old on March 3, 1899 in Van Wert, Polk County, GA.

Larkin Hornsby Blake was born on January 17, 1807 in Roane County, Tennessee United States to Thomas Early Blake and Elizabeth (Owen) Blake, and had a sister Sarah Virginia (Blake) York. Larkin Blake died at age 64 years old on March 16, 1871 in Elm Springs, Washington County, AR. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Larkin Hornsby Blake.

Elizabeth (Owen) Blake was born on June 13, 1776 in Richmond County, Georgia United States. She was in a relationship with Thomas Early Blake, and had children Larkin Hornsby Blake and Sarah Virginia (Blake) York. Elizabeth Blake died at age 56 years old on February 16, 1833 in Lexington, Fayette County, KY. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Elizabeth (Owen) Blake.