Ross was the third child for Berton Vorce and Vena Bertha (Clarke) Cole. His early childhood was spent in Shenandoah, Iowa. His father had inherited great wealth when his adoptive father, James Lamb Cole, passed away. Unfortunately, that changed his father. he began drinking, gambling and womanizing. It eventually led to the family losing everything. Sometime between 1913 to 1916 the family moved to Michigan, where Berton was originally from.
Sister Helen was born in Battle Creek in 1916. By 1918 the family was living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Vena's sister and brother-in-law, Jessie and Harry Risteen, came to visit the family in August. One month later Berton had moved to Williams, Arizona and had a job working for the Santa Fe RR. Vena and the children followed in October. It can be surmised that the Risteens, who lived in Williams, had convinced the Coles to move there. Harry was a long time employee of the Santa Fe and he no doubt was responsible for getting Berton the job.
Times were hard for the family. Berton was assigned to the freight depot in Seligman, about 40 miles west of Williams. Berton was living in a converted boxcar there while Vena and the children were in Williams. In January 1919 Vena and the children moved in with Berton. Ross's brother Harry was born in the boxcar. In September Berton quit his job with the Santa Fe so the family could move back to Williams. He had found employment as a bookkeeper in town. This only lasted one month, then he was back with the Santa Fe, but working in Williams as a car clerk. The family was able to move into a small bungalow. In October 1922 the family bought a small house at the corner of Second and Hancock streets.
In January 1923 Ross lost his mother. his three youngest siblings were sent to live with Vena's sister and brother-in-law, the Risteens, who were now in Fresno, CA. There were many trips back and forth from Williams and Fresno over the next several years so the siblings could visit each other. Ross graduated 8th grade in June 1924. he was very involved with playing high school baseball and was on the Northern Arizona championship team in May 1924 even though he was only in 8th grade. When Ross got to high school he joined the football team, playing a receiver.
By 1926 Ross had moved to Fresno, CA and was working for the Santa Fe Railroad there. He was most likely living with the Risteens. Sometime in the first half of 1926 Ross married Dean Vesta Rhyan. They had three children: Victor (died at age 3 days), Dorothy Dean and Richard Edward. The family was living in Long Beach, CA in 1930 and Ross was employed as a bakery salesman. The marriage ended in divorce about 1931. Dean went on to marry again about a year later and her new husband, Glenn Evans, adopted the children. They took on the "Evans" last name.
In 1936 Ross was working at the Grand Canyon. He married Bonnie Alice Miller on 3 Jun 1936 at Flagstaff, AZ. Bonnie had a daughter from a previous relationship, Barbara Jean McCoy. Bonnie and Ross had a son, Ralph Herbert Cole, born in 1939. At this time, Ross was a part owner of the Alabam trucking company. Less than one month after his son was born, Ross embezzled about $400 from the Santa Fe RR and the trucking company, and left town. A warrant was put out for his arrest. In October 1939 Ross turned himself in to the state police in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He waved extradition and was sentenced to between 1 1/2 to 3 years in prison. it is unknown exactly how much time he served, but he was living in Los Angeles, unemployed, in April 1941.
By 1944 Ross had found employment with the AT & SF RR as a brakeman and was living in Los Angeles, possibly with brother Richard who was also there and worked for the railroad. He was still in Los Angeles and working for the railroad in May 1945 when he went to San Pedro to enlist in the U.S. Army. Ross shows up again in 1956 when he goes to visit brother Clarke in Williams, Az. Ross has been living in Pendleton, Oregon. Nothing in known about Ross from 1956 until his death in 1962. According to his death cert, he was working for the Pine Grove Livestock Co. as a ranch hand in Orovada, NV.
Sister Helen was born in Battle Creek in 1916. By 1918 the family was living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Vena's sister and brother-in-law, Jessie and Harry Risteen, came to visit the family in August. One month later Berton had moved to Williams, Arizona and had a job working for the Santa Fe RR. Vena and the children followed in October. It can be surmised that the Risteens, who lived in Williams, had convinced the Coles to move there. Harry was a long time employee of the Santa Fe and he no doubt was responsible for getting Berton the job.
Times were hard for the family. Berton was assigned to the freight depot in Seligman, about 40 miles west of Williams. Berton was living in a converted boxcar there while Vena and the children were in Williams. In January 1919 Vena and the children moved in with Berton. Ross's brother Harry was born in the boxcar. In September Berton quit his job with the Santa Fe so the family could move back to Williams. He had found employment as a bookkeeper in town. This only lasted one month, then he was back with the Santa Fe, but working in Williams as a car clerk. The family was able to move into a small bungalow. In October 1922 the family bought a small house at the corner of Second and Hancock streets.
In January 1923 Ross lost his mother. his three youngest siblings were sent to live with Vena's sister and brother-in-law, the Risteens, who were now in Fresno, CA. There were many trips back and forth from Williams and Fresno over the next several years so the siblings could visit each other. Ross graduated 8th grade in June 1924. he was very involved with playing high school baseball and was on the Northern Arizona championship team in May 1924 even though he was only in 8th grade. When Ross got to high school he joined the football team, playing a receiver.
By 1926 Ross had moved to Fresno, CA and was working for the Santa Fe Railroad there. He was most likely living with the Risteens. Sometime in the first half of 1926 Ross married Dean Vesta Rhyan. They had three children: Victor (died at age 3 days), Dorothy Dean and Richard Edward. The family was living in Long Beach, CA in 1930 and Ross was employed as a bakery salesman. The marriage ended in divorce about 1931. Dean went on to marry again about a year later and her new husband, Glenn Evans, adopted the children. They took on the "Evans" last name.
In 1936 Ross was working at the Grand Canyon. He married Bonnie Alice Miller on 3 Jun 1936 at Flagstaff, AZ. Bonnie had a daughter from a previous relationship, Barbara Jean McCoy. Bonnie and Ross had a son, Ralph Herbert Cole, born in 1939. At this time, Ross was a part owner of the Alabam trucking company. Less than one month after his son was born, Ross embezzled about $400 from the Santa Fe RR and the trucking company, and left town. A warrant was put out for his arrest. In October 1939 Ross turned himself in to the state police in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He waved extradition and was sentenced to between 1 1/2 to 3 years in prison. it is unknown exactly how much time he served, but he was living in Los Angeles, unemployed, in April 1941.
By 1944 Ross had found employment with the AT & SF RR as a brakeman and was living in Los Angeles, possibly with brother Richard who was also there and worked for the railroad. He was still in Los Angeles and working for the railroad in May 1945 when he went to San Pedro to enlist in the U.S. Army. Ross shows up again in 1956 when he goes to visit brother Clarke in Williams, Az. Ross has been living in Pendleton, Oregon. Nothing in known about Ross from 1956 until his death in 1962. According to his death cert, he was working for the Pine Grove Livestock Co. as a ranch hand in Orovada, NV.
Ross was the third child for Berton Vorce and Vena Bertha (Clarke) Cole. His early childhood was spent in Shenandoah, Iowa. His father had inherited great wealth when his adoptive father, James Lamb Cole, passed away. Unfortunately, that changed his father. he began drinking, gambling and womanizing. It eventually led to the family losing everything. Sometime between 1913 to 1916 the family moved to Michigan, where Berton was originally from.
Sister Helen was born in Battle Creek in 1916. By 1918 the family was living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Vena's sister and brother-in-law, Jessie and Harry Risteen, came to visit the family in August. One month later Berton had moved to Williams, Arizona and had a job working for the Santa Fe RR. Vena and the children followed in October. It can be surmised that the Risteens, who lived in Williams, had convinced the Coles to move there. Harry was a long time employee of the Santa Fe and he no doubt was responsible for getting Berton the job.
Times were hard for the family. Berton was assigned to the freight depot in Seligman, about 40 miles west of Williams. Berton was living in a converted boxcar there while Vena and the children were in Williams. In January 1919 Vena and the children moved in with Berton. Ross's brother Harry was born in the boxcar. In September Berton quit his job with the Santa Fe so the family could move back to Williams. He had found employment as a bookkeeper in town. This only lasted one month, then he was back with the Santa Fe, but working in Williams as a car clerk. The family was able to move into a small bungalow. In October 1922 the family bought a small house at the corner of Second and Hancock streets.
In January 1923 Ross lost his mother. his three youngest siblings were sent to live with Vena's sister and brother-in-law, the Risteens, who were now in Fresno, CA. There were many trips back and forth from Williams and Fresno over the next several years so the siblings could visit each other. Ross graduated 8th grade in June 1924. he was very involved with playing high school baseball and was on the Northern Arizona championship team in May 1924 even though he was only in 8th grade. When Ross got to high school he joined the football team, playing a receiver.
By 1926 Ross had moved to Fresno, CA and was working for the Santa Fe Railroad there. He was most likely living with the Risteens. Sometime in the first half of 1926 Ross married Dean Vesta Rhyan. They had three children: Victor (died at age 3 days), Dorothy Dean and Richard Edward. The family was living in Long Beach, CA in 1930 and Ross was employed as a bakery salesman. The marriage ended in divorce about 1931. Dean went on to marry again about a year later and her new husband, Glenn Evans, adopted the children. They took on the "Evans" last name.
In 1936 Ross was working at the Grand Canyon. He married Bonnie Alice Miller on 3 Jun 1936 at Flagstaff, AZ. Bonnie had a daughter from a previous relationship, Barbara Jean McCoy. Bonnie and Ross had a son, Ralph Herbert Cole, born in 1939. At this time, Ross was a part owner of the Alabam trucking company. Less than one month after his son was born, Ross embezzled about $400 from the Santa Fe RR and the trucking company, and left town. A warrant was put out for his arrest. In October 1939 Ross turned himself in to the state police in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He waved extradition and was sentenced to between 1 1/2 to 3 years in prison. it is unknown exactly how much time he served, but he was living in Los Angeles, unemployed, in April 1941.
By 1944 Ross had found employment with the AT & SF RR as a brakeman and was living in Los Angeles, possibly with brother Richard who was also there and worked for the railroad. He was still in Los Angeles and working for the railroad in May 1945 when he went to San Pedro to enlist in the U.S. Army. Ross shows up again in 1956 when he goes to visit brother Clarke in Williams, Az. Ross has been living in Pendleton, Oregon. Nothing in known about Ross from 1956 until his death in 1962. According to his death cert, he was working for the Pine Grove Livestock Co. as a ranch hand in Orovada, NV.
Sister Helen was born in Battle Creek in 1916. By 1918 the family was living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Vena's sister and brother-in-law, Jessie and Harry Risteen, came to visit the family in August. One month later Berton had moved to Williams, Arizona and had a job working for the Santa Fe RR. Vena and the children followed in October. It can be surmised that the Risteens, who lived in Williams, had convinced the Coles to move there. Harry was a long time employee of the Santa Fe and he no doubt was responsible for getting Berton the job.
Times were hard for the family. Berton was assigned to the freight depot in Seligman, about 40 miles west of Williams. Berton was living in a converted boxcar there while Vena and the children were in Williams. In January 1919 Vena and the children moved in with Berton. Ross's brother Harry was born in the boxcar. In September Berton quit his job with the Santa Fe so the family could move back to Williams. He had found employment as a bookkeeper in town. This only lasted one month, then he was back with the Santa Fe, but working in Williams as a car clerk. The family was able to move into a small bungalow. In October 1922 the family bought a small house at the corner of Second and Hancock streets.
In January 1923 Ross lost his mother. his three youngest siblings were sent to live with Vena's sister and brother-in-law, the Risteens, who were now in Fresno, CA. There were many trips back and forth from Williams and Fresno over the next several years so the siblings could visit each other. Ross graduated 8th grade in June 1924. he was very involved with playing high school baseball and was on the Northern Arizona championship team in May 1924 even though he was only in 8th grade. When Ross got to high school he joined the football team, playing a receiver.
By 1926 Ross had moved to Fresno, CA and was working for the Santa Fe Railroad there. He was most likely living with the Risteens. Sometime in the first half of 1926 Ross married Dean Vesta Rhyan. They had three children: Victor (died at age 3 days), Dorothy Dean and Richard Edward. The family was living in Long Beach, CA in 1930 and Ross was employed as a bakery salesman. The marriage ended in divorce about 1931. Dean went on to marry again about a year later and her new husband, Glenn Evans, adopted the children. They took on the "Evans" last name.
In 1936 Ross was working at the Grand Canyon. He married Bonnie Alice Miller on 3 Jun 1936 at Flagstaff, AZ. Bonnie had a daughter from a previous relationship, Barbara Jean McCoy. Bonnie and Ross had a son, Ralph Herbert Cole, born in 1939. At this time, Ross was a part owner of the Alabam trucking company. Less than one month after his son was born, Ross embezzled about $400 from the Santa Fe RR and the trucking company, and left town. A warrant was put out for his arrest. In October 1939 Ross turned himself in to the state police in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He waved extradition and was sentenced to between 1 1/2 to 3 years in prison. it is unknown exactly how much time he served, but he was living in Los Angeles, unemployed, in April 1941.
By 1944 Ross had found employment with the AT & SF RR as a brakeman and was living in Los Angeles, possibly with brother Richard who was also there and worked for the railroad. He was still in Los Angeles and working for the railroad in May 1945 when he went to San Pedro to enlist in the U.S. Army. Ross shows up again in 1956 when he goes to visit brother Clarke in Williams, Az. Ross has been living in Pendleton, Oregon. Nothing in known about Ross from 1956 until his death in 1962. According to his death cert, he was working for the Pine Grove Livestock Co. as a ranch hand in Orovada, NV.
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