Leonard J. Gariss was the son of John L Gariss and Florence Hazen, both of whom were born in Nebraska. John, age 20, and Florence, age 18, were married on 18 Oct 1905 in Tecumseh, Johnson, Nebraska.

The Gariss and Hazen families appear to have had strong roots in Johnson county, and it was here where Leonard was living with his family in 1910 in the community of Tecumseh.

From the 1910 census, we learn that John's father was born in Illinois, and that John was born in ca 1887 with Florence being born around a year later.

At this point, Leonard has a little sister, Goldie V. Gariss, who was born ca 1905 in Nebraska.

I believe that John lost his wife, and Leonard and Goldie lost their mother, four years later in 1914. There is a Florence M. Gariss, # 80068478, b. ? d. Dec. 14, 1914, buried in Tecumseh Cemetery, Johnson County, Nebraska, whom I believe to be her. (Photo request out)

There is also a John Gariss Jr b and d 1914 in this same cemetery There is no cemetery location specified for john Jr, so at this point I cannot prove that John Jr is Leonard's brother, but all things seem to indicate that he is, and that this Florence is Leonard's mother.

Further, proof of this point is that by 1920, John has taken a new wife, Clara. Clara's estimated year of birth was 1887, and she was Nebraska born.

The family is still residing in Johnson County, but has moved to the community of Nemaha where they are renting a home. The family has also grown considerably in size with the introduction of several additional children. though the census declares all children to be surname Gariss, I believe that these are step-siblings to Leonard, and am designating the family members below accordingly (error in surname spelling):

Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head John Garriss M 33 Nebraska
Wife Clara R Garriss F 33 Nebraska
Son Le Roy Garriss M 14 Kansas, step-brother
Daughter Mildred Garriss F 12 Kansas, step-sister
Son Lenord (Leonard?) Garriss M 13 Nebraska
Daughter Goldie Garriss F 10 Nebraska
Son Donald Garriss M 8 Nebraska, step-brother

The 1920 census reconfirms Johns father's (and Leonard's grandfather's) place of birth as Illinois, and declares his mother to have been born in Nebraska.

By 1930, 24 year old Leonard has married Mabel V, who is two years his senior and was Nebraska born. The two of them are living in Nemaha, Johnson, Nebraska with no additional family members declared in the home.

In this same year, Leonard's father, John, and his family, have moved from the Nemaha community and are residing Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska.

Leonard's stepsister, Mildred, is still living with her mother and stepfather, but she is now using the surname of Schmitz. As she is declared single, it is supposed (but not confirmed) that this was the surname of her birth father, whom we also learn was born in Germany.

It also seems that John and Clara had a son together, Nebraska brn Jack L Gariss, b ca 1921. Remaining in Omaha through 1940, with a declaration that they have been in this same residence for at least the past 5 years, the family structure will remain the same with one exception. Another son, Jerry Gariss, was added ca 1934, hiis birth place being declared as Iowa.

In the meantime, Leonard and Mabel have left the Nehama community and are now residing in Wichita, Wichita City, Sedgwick, Kansas. They have listed their last place of residence as Fremont, Nebraska, so presumably they spent some time there between 1930 and 1940. They are the only two persons listed as living in the household.

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There are two persons who passed away in California, and whose details appear to match those of Leonard's father and stepmother.

John Lyman Gariss, born 16 Aug 1886 in Nebraska, died 09 Apr 1952 in San Diego, California ~ Father, Gariss; Mother, Carman.

Clara Liggett Gariss, born 26 Aug 1886 in Nebraska, died 04 Jul 1959 in San Diego, California ~ Father: Liggett (b IN); Mother, Steele (b OH).

Details from: "California, Death Index, 1940-1997"

Clara's father: George Thomas Liggett, # 55435829
Her mother: Hattie Belle Steele Liggett, # 55435764 (dupe was made)

Both are buried in Tekamah Cemetery