Arl Bishop and Mary Ellen Adams McAdon
Memories and Brief HistoryOf Arl Bishop McAdon and Mary Ellen Adams McAdon Arl Bishop McAdon (Bob) was born on March 17, 1898 in Little Sioux, Iowa. His mother passed away on July 16, 1904 of T.B. Bob was six years old at the time. His father then married Clara Kidder Adams. Clara helped raise him and was the only mother he could remember. Bob and Mary Ellen Adams were married on September 25, 1916. Mary was one of nine children. Her parents were Thomas and Lillie Mae Adams. Her Grandfather, Thomas Adams II was born in Ireland. Mary and Bob lived in and around Little Sioux, Iowa until 1941, at that time they came to California. While living in Little Sioux, Iowa, they had twelve children. Five sons and seven daughters. Bob worked at many jobs, such as farming, carrying mail and freight from River Sioux to Little Sioux, helped his Dad clean the County roads with a road grader, clearing snow and whatever. He also helped “put away” ice. They would cut the ice and store it in the icehouse. The family came to California in pieces, so to speak. Frank and Red were in California first through the Air Force, then along came Bernie. The rest of the family came in various ways with Mom and the younger ones coming on the train. They arrived in Daly City, down the street where Dadand some of the other kids met them at the station. Dad had gotten a job at a Service Station in Daly City, down the street from where their house was, before the family arrived. He worked at several Service Station jobs, 19th Ave., Folsom Ave.; then to the Rincon Annex for the Post Office. Here he worked the night shift sorting mail. They later moved to San Mateo where he worked at a gas station and then did Janitorial work for the Masonic Lodge. Mom and Dad also cooked and served meals for the functions of the Masonic Lodge. While living in the Bay Area they purchased a house on Beresford Court they one on Alameda de las Pulgas. From Alameda de las Pulgas, Mom and Dad and the kids still at home, moved toNorthern California, to Forestville for combination fruit ranch and farm. They had apples, cherries and raised baby calves. They also had a big garden. From Forestville, they moved to 165 Oakdale, Redwood City where Mar and Bob had been living. They stayed here a couple years and then back to Santa Rosa where they lived in a big Victorian house on 14th Avenue. This is where Connie and Bud had their reception and Mom took care of older folks. From the 14th Street house, they moved to Healdsburg where Dad ran a chicken ranch for Hans Raven. He had lots of chickens and gathered eggs twice a day. Here Dad had a cow, sheep, geese and pigs. Mom had a big garden where she grew all the vegetables. Later on they moved down the hill to the little house as Red was getting out of the Air Force and had to have a job to come to. While living in this house, Dad got a job in San Mateo and commuted down on Monday and home each Friday. Dad had a bad accident in San Rafael and that decided them to move to San Mateo in a duplex on 41st ., then to Fremont Street, 42nd Street, 22nds Ave., Jim and Phyllis’ home on Orinda Drive and finally to 39th Avenue. During this time, Bernie had purchased a house in Woodland hills and the folks moved down there for a while. They came back to Redwood City and the Bay Area where dad went to work for the School System until he retired. Upon retirement, Mom and Dad moved to Ramona Drive in Santa Rosa. Here, Mom was ill and becoming forgetful and Dad needed some help with her, so they moved to Dinuba on the property of Connie and Bud. Connie and Bud had pad put in for them and they purchased a Mobile Home. They lived in this until Dad passed away on September 20, 1971. Mom lived with Kay and Mar until she required more care and then went to convalescent Hospital in Dinuba. Here doctor was here and so was her daughter, Connie, and her family. All the children visited as much as they could and she passed away one August 6, 1978. Mom and Dad were very devoted and loving parents, who worked hard to care for their family. They taught all of their children to work hard and make a difference in this world. They had the ability to make each one of us feel as though we were very special and loved, therefore, we are not only brothers and sisters, we are great friends who enjoy being together often. Of course, there has been a huge void in our immediate family since the loss of our parents and two older brothers. Ronald (Red) the eldest of the twelve was always a happy person. He was very thoughtful and a fun person to be around. Red enjoyed planning our family get together. Cooking was his specialty. He did enjoy being around the family. Our trip back to Homecoming in Little Sioux in 1980, was very special. Ten of the brothers and sisters were able to make the trip. We lost Red two months after he arrived home from this trip. He passed away November 4, 1980 of cancer. He was married to his wife, Alice, for thirty-nine years. They were parents of two sons, Ronnie Lee and Dennis and one daughter, Cheryl and three grandchildren. Bernard (Bernie) will always be remembered as a very ambitious person who was always there to help anyone that needed a helping hand. A year after his brothers were in the service (Air Force) stationed in California , he had to journey west to be with them. The rest of the family was lucky to make the trip the following year. I will never forget the surprise gift, a watch, that Bernie gave to Frank and I for graduation (Mar writes). Bernie was married to his wife Peggy, for forty years. They were the parents of two daughters. Lana and Sandra, and two grandchildren. We all miss another special brother. Bernie passed away July 27, 1983 of a heart attack. We are all grateful to Frank for going west as a young mane. Mom and Dad are sadly missed by all their family. As of the date of this writing (1993) they had 12 children, 31 grandchildren and 41 great grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Many, many great in-laws. I know we all feel that it is wonderful to be a part of this family