Living

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He was born John Henry Hills, and changed his name to George John Roxson. Art Peck shows that he was born in Texas, whereas the California Death records has his place of birth as Missouri, and his mother's maiden name as KRAPF. His World War II draft registration also listed him as George John ROXSON, with his birthplace shown as Kennett, MO. He was a resident of Colusa, Califorina at that time, and employed by F. C. Stolte Co of Marysville.

John left home when he was 24, working in Chickasha, Oklahoma, Kansas, Idaho, Washington and Montana.

He crossed into Mexico at Nogales, Arizona in 1917 to avoid Military Service. This is when he changed his name. He chose Roxson based on the nickname he had given sister Annie, Roxyann. He wrote his mother in 1920, saying he planned to visit her soon. After the Mexican Revolution, he was unable to harvest his crops, and had no money. He never wrote back, and his parents thought him dead.

The family moved to California in 1925. They farmed in the foothills, eventually settling in Upper Lake.

After his wife died, John made his home with his eldest son, Fred.

After admitting to his children his true identity, he visited his sister Beckie in Arkansas and sister Annie in Kansas City in 1973. They were his only surving family. They were reunited after a 60 year seperation.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1930 Census
California, Kern County, Delano City
Enumerated April 2-4, 1930
ED 15-3 SD 14 Sheet 3A Stamped 16
Treemount Street
56-58
Roxson, George J Head R 10 M W 34 M 22 CanadaEng Canada Canada English Year of Immigration 1923 Alien Laborer Ranch Work
Roxson, Isidra Wf F Mex 34 M 14 Mex Mex Mex Spanish Year of Immigration 1923 Alien Housewife
Roxson, FedericoSon M Mex 7 S Mexico CanadaEng Mex Spanish Year of Immigration 1923 Al
Roxson, Camillo Son M MEx 3 6/12 S California CanadaEng Mex
Roxson, Freida Dtr F Mex 1 7/12 S California CanadaEng Mex
Roxson, Georgina Dtr F Mex 2/12 S California CanadaEng Mex

George married Isidra Josefina Ordundo on 2 Feb 1920 in El Fuerte, Sinaloa, Mexico. Isidra was born on 15 Mar 1894 in Chinobampo, El Fuerte, Sinaloa, Mexico; died on 5 Nov 1968 in Upper Lake, Lake County, California. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Her mother's maiden name was shown as VALDEZ on the California Death Index.

Notes:

His right arm was crippled due to being improperly set as a boy. He worked for a while as a teacher and as a house painter.

Henry married Mary Magdalena Krapf on 11 Oct 1873 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. Mary (daughter of Johann Friedrich "Frederick" Krapf and Maria Dorothea "Dorothy" Benkelman) was born on 18 Nov 1854 in Greenfield, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin; died on 24 Mar 1934 in Pasadena, Harris County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Art Peck writes that Mary was the oldest in a large poor family, and early on went to work for others. She married Henry Hills when she was just 18, and didn't learn until years later that he was nineteen years older than she. He was a house painter when they met in Cass City. Due to Henry's poor health, they moved to the warmer climate of Texas. They moved about, and in 1902, they settled on a farm in Poinsett County, Arkansas. Henry died here, and Mary lived with various children throughout her remaining years. Her final years were spent with daughter Belle in Pasadena, Texas.