KNOWN FACTS: Born Robert Samuel CASE b. 24 Feb 1887 San Antonio TX. Moved with family
about 1888 to Los Angeles CA. Married Jessie Ellen SHIPTON 16 Jul 1906 Battle Creek, MI.
She is daughter of William and Arizonia SHIPTON b. 1 Jan 1886 Milwaulke, WI. They have one
child born in Battle Creek (Roberta) 28 Apr 1907 and then move to St Louis MO. Here they
have 3 more children the last I don't have a date for but expected after 1910. I have
found the family in 1910 Census for St Louis MO.
MYSTERY: Something happens that causes the family to disperse. We have experts from a
letter from Sam to his brother asking about his parents and family saying that he knows he
has disgraced the family. Whatever it is Sam changes his last name to WARD. I can only
find 1 of the family (girl Edna) in 1920 Census and she is living with grandparents CASE
in Los Angeles, CA.
KNOWN FACTS: Sam as Robert WARD marries Elsie WRIGHT about 1921. They have 2 children in
St Louis MO. Another is born 1925 in Tulsa OK. Then 3 more in Seattle WA. The last in
1942. In 1930 US Census Robert WARD and family are in Seattle. Somewhere after this he
begins using his middle name and is known as Sam WARD. Somewhere before 1939, CASE
relatives make contact with Sam including living children from the first marriage. My
mother's family lived in Seattle between 1938-40 and Sam's oldest daughter from
the second marriage babysat for my mother and siblings during that timeframe. Sam lived
his life out as Sam WARD in the Seattle area.
MYSTERY ON THE MOVE: I recently took a trip west with my mom. While in Seattle, I met with
Sam's grandaughter and we compared notes. When I returned home, I was researching
information about the WRIGHT family. By chance I found a Census record on Jessie SHIPTON
in 1900 Census in Boulder CO listing her as a granddaughter to Almeda ALCORN. I started
tracing Almeda and by chance came across a family tree listing her. ALCORN is a second
marriage. Her first marriage was to Jesse SHIPTON and they are parents of William SHIPTON
that married Arazonia CHAPMAN. I contacted the tree owner and have been in contact with
her and a cousin that are SHIPTON descendents.
Arazonia died shortly after Jessie was born. William remarried Mary DENSON in 1893.
William moved his family including Jessie to Battle Creek, MI where he worked at the
Battle Creek Sanitarium. Sam's brother moved from Los Angeles to Battle Creek to study
medicine. He ended up working with Dr. Kellogg at the Sanitarium and marrying one of Dr.
Kellogg's adopted daughters in 1908. Sam must have come for a visit or to work and met
Jessie here.
William SHIPTON moved his family and worked in the Boulder CO Sanitarium for a while
before moving to Grants Pass OR where he remained for the remainder of his lifetime.
Sideline - Mom and I went through Grants Pass twice on our trip. :-)
From the SHIPTON information, Jessie SHIPTON CASE divorced Sam CASE
shortly after their youngest son died and moved the family to California. Here she
remarried a William JAMESON and had 2 children. She died May 1920 Los Angeles CA.
NEXT: There is still no information on what Sam did to disgrace the family. Maybe it was
the divorce, but that still doesn't explain the name change really. Family stories
tell that he was the "black sheep" of the family and that it might be mob
related. His note dated 1924 indicated that he was back on the right track and getting his
life back. By this time he would have been remarried and with 2 children in St Louis area.
He was writing to his brother but wouldn't meet with him in person. His brother was at
a Medical Convention in St Louis at the time of the letter.
If anyone can add to this family, I would be very interested. Also, if you have
connections and want more details, contact me. ..... Ann (annheisler(a)aol.com)
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