My Great - Uncle Billy

My Great-Uncle Billy, named William Paul Roger Little was born on April 23, 1923 at 7:10am in Duluth Minnesota to Ruby Evangeline (Hummer) Little (9-25-1888 to 11-18-1933) and William Herman Little (8-4-1884 to 12-16-1961). The doctor's name was William Ryan. Billy grew up on England Avenue of Riverside and Lewis Street of Hunter's Park, both Duluth neighborhoods. They had moved to Hunters Park around 1935 or 36. Billy's hobby was taking watches and clocks apart, fixing them and putting them back together again. This could have turned into his life's occupation. Sadly, he had some trouble with the law and spent some time in Red Wing Prison in Red Wing, Mn. around age 18. He worked for Holland Furnace Company for a time and apparently ran away or otherwise vanished without a trace around 1945 at age 21 or 22 because he felt the stigma of having been in prison would never go away. When Billy was young he broke his arm which never properly healed leaving him noticeably crippled. Billy had one brother Merle Little, born in 1919 and drowned in Lake Superior off of Park Point at age 13 in 1932. Billy also had two sisters. Naida Clarissy Little (my great aunt) was born 12-16-1909 and died a couple years back. Loiz Arle Little (my grandmother) was born 3-31-08 and died about 30 years ago. Bill also had an aunt Ora (Hummer) Gorder (1-4-1886 to 3-1982) that lived many years and died at age 96 in Seattle Washington. According to the stories that I have heard, Aunt Ora always knew the whereabouts of Billy and would periodically tell his sister Naida that he was ok, but she never told where he was. She also said he had changed his name to Wilhelm something, had married and had a family. For this reason I feel that he was somewhere in the Seattle area at some point in his life.

At this point Great-Uncle Billy would be 80 years old and could very well be alive, possibly with a new name, living in Seattle. All other members of his generation of our family are deceased. Please help me clear up this 58 year old mystery. If someone you know seems to fit into this story in any way, shape or form, please contact me at webmaster(at)greatunclebill.com. Thank you.

UPDATE:
We don't know alot about uncle billy. We do know he was born William Paul Roger Little. He ued the alias's William Paul and William Roger Little. He spent time in Red Wing State School during the 1940 census. we think the below central high school picture of the class of 42 is him. we think he was in a CA jail in 1956. and we know he died in CA in 1995. whatever happened inbetween, we may never know.

death index Name: William Paul Little [William Roger Little] [William Little] SSN: 477185595 Gender: Male Race: White Birth Date: 23 Apr 1923 Birth Place: Duluth St Lo, Minnesota Death Date: 15 Nov 1995 Father: William H Little Mother: Ruby E Hummer Death Certificate Number: 1995035922 Type of Claim: Original SSN. Notes: Sep 1941: Name listed as WILLIAM PAUL LITTLE; 15 Jun 1990: Name listed as WILLIAM ROGER LITTLE; 10 Nov 1996: Name listed as WILLIAM R LITTLE

birth Name: William Paul Roger Little Birth Date: 23 Apr 1923 Birth Place: St. Louis, Minnesota, USA Father's Surname: Little Mother's Maiden Name: Hummer Certificate Number: 1923-56423

1940 census Name: William P Little Respondent: Yes Age: 16 Estimated birth year: abt 1924 Gender: Male Race: White Birthplace: Minnesota Marital Status: Single Relation to Head of House: 8441 Home in 1940: Red Wing, Goodhue, Minnesota Map of Home in 1940: View Map Inferred Residence in 1935: Duluth, St Louis, Minnesota Residence in 1935: Duluth, St Louis, Minnesota Resident on farm in 1935: No Sheet Number: 7A Institution: State Training School And Hospital Attended School or College: Yes Highest Grade Completed: High School, 2nd year Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 1

1930 census Name: William Little Birth Year: abt 1924 Gender: Male Race: White Birthplace: Minnesota Marital Status: Single Relation to Head of House: Son Home in 1930: Duluth, St Louis, Minnesota Map of Home: View Map Street address: Penton Boulevard Ward of City: Pct. 65, 66 and 67 House Number in Cities or Towns: 18 Dwelling Number: 301 Family Number: 304 Attended School: Yes Father's Birthplace: Minnesota Mother's Birthplace: Iowa Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age William H Little 45 Ruby Little 42 Lois Larson 21 Naida Little 20 Merl Little 12 William Little 6 David Larson 1

ss death index Name: William R. Little SSN: 477-18-5595 Last Residence: 98101 Seattle, King, Washington, USA BORN: 23 Apr 1923 Died: 15 Nov 1995 State (Year) SSN issued: Minnesota (Before 1951)

WA death index Name: William R Little Date of Death: 7 Nov 1995 Place of Death: Seattle Age: 72 Estimated birth year: abt 1923 Residence: Seattle Gender: Male SSN: 477-18-5595 Certificate: 035922

probably him in the Tulare County, California, Sheriff's Office and Jail Records, 1874-1963 Name: William Roger Little Gender: Male Race: White Birth Date: abt 1924 Birth Place: Minnesota Received Age: 32 Received Date: 13 Mar 1956 Jail Place: Tulare, California, USA Record Type: Jail Register Book Title: Jail Register, 1956

1993 Name: William R Little Birth Date: 23 Apr 1923 Phone Number: 343-9430 Address: 1331 Terry Ave Apt 705, Seattle, WA, 98101-2784 (1993)

1990 Name: William R Little Birth Date: 23 Apr 1923 Phone Number: 285-4094 Address: 1822 1st Ave N, Seattle, WA, 98109-2824 [1214 8th Ave # 103, Seattle, WA, 98101-2545 (1990)] [1331 Terry Ave Apt 205, Seattle, WA, 98101-2722 (1992)]

CHS Class of 42

All known pictures of Uncle Billy
Click the pic to see the bigger pic

Billy

Billy...Merle...Dad

Merle...Billy...nephew David

It may help to view all of my Old Family Pictures.

Bill & Jackie's

Copyright © 2001 - 2016 Great Uncle Bill