William J. Best was a native of Missouri, having been born there on Feb 15, 1871. His parents were Henry Best, a native of Missouri, and Mary Kitchen, also a Missouri native. At some point in his life he relocated to Oregon and married Ora Edna Wilmot, an Oregon native, in about 1895 in Oregon. He was a Carpenter by trade and he and his wife lived in Milton - Freewater, Umatilla Co., Oregon, from at least 1900 until about four years before his death in 1926.
The 1900 U S Census found William, his wife Edna, and their five children living in North Milton Town*, Umatilla Co., Oregon. They had been married 5 years by then and had three children, all sons:
eldest son Neil, age 4, had been born in Idaho in Apr in 1896
son Carroll, age 2, had been born in Oregon in Mar 1898 and
son Glen, the youngest, had been born in Oregon in Feb 1900.
In 1900 William was listed as a day laborer.
By 1910, the couple had been married for 15 years and now had five children. William J., now 37, was a house carpenter. Ora Edna, who always went by Edna, was now 35. In addition to Neil, now age 14, Carroll, now 12, and Glen, now age 10 (as of June 9, 1900, date of enumeration), they now had two daughters:
Helen, age 6, had been born in Oregon and youngest daughter, Eva, age 2, was also an Oregon native.
When the 1920 Census was taken (on Jan 16), William and Edna had lost their eldest son, Neil Wilmot Best, who had been killed in France while fighting World War I. He had been a Pvt., a member of Co.B, 363rd Infantry, in the 91st Division. His remains were laid to rest at the IOOF Cemetery in Milton-Freewater, Umatilla Co., Oregon, after being returned to Oregon. They had also lost their young daughter, Eva Katherine, who died Apr 14, 1915. She was buried by her grieving family at the Old Pioneer Cemetery in Milton-Freewater, Umatilla Co., Oregon.
As of 1920, the family owned their home on Main St., in Milton Town, Umatilla Co., Oregon. William continued to work as a house carpenter, son Carroll, now 21, worked as a delivery wagon driver, and son Glen, now 19, was a cigar store merchant. Young Helen, age 15, attended school, as did young Vera, age 9. Their youngest child, a son they named Donald, was aged 4 yr. 8 months of age when the census was taken. He had been born within a month of his sister's untimely demise. Sometime in 1922 the family moved to Southern California. Helen, now age 22, married James Emerson Huffman, a native of Washington and an "interior decorator" who painted interiors. The couple married in Los Angeles Co., California on Aug 27, 1926. During this time, William contracted Osteomyelitis (a bone infection caused by a bacterial or fungal infection). It developed into a chronic condition and he was finally admitted to the Research Hospital in Glendale with Septicaemia (blood poisoning caused by a bacterial infection entering the blood stream). After 7 days in the hospital, William died at about 4 a.m. on Nov 19, 1926, at the age of 55 years. His grieving wife and children buried him at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale. His daughter, Helen Elizabeth, died in 1942 and was also buried there, as was his dear wife, Edna, who died Apr 4, 1966. May they all Rest in Peace.
*The towns of North Milton and Freewater voted to combine and became Milton-Freewater in 1951.
The 1900 U S Census found William, his wife Edna, and their five children living in North Milton Town*, Umatilla Co., Oregon. They had been married 5 years by then and had three children, all sons:
eldest son Neil, age 4, had been born in Idaho in Apr in 1896
son Carroll, age 2, had been born in Oregon in Mar 1898 and
son Glen, the youngest, had been born in Oregon in Feb 1900.
In 1900 William was listed as a day laborer.
By 1910, the couple had been married for 15 years and now had five children. William J., now 37, was a house carpenter. Ora Edna, who always went by Edna, was now 35. In addition to Neil, now age 14, Carroll, now 12, and Glen, now age 10 (as of June 9, 1900, date of enumeration), they now had two daughters:
Helen, age 6, had been born in Oregon and youngest daughter, Eva, age 2, was also an Oregon native.
When the 1920 Census was taken (on Jan 16), William and Edna had lost their eldest son, Neil Wilmot Best, who had been killed in France while fighting World War I. He had been a Pvt., a member of Co.B, 363rd Infantry, in the 91st Division. His remains were laid to rest at the IOOF Cemetery in Milton-Freewater, Umatilla Co., Oregon, after being returned to Oregon. They had also lost their young daughter, Eva Katherine, who died Apr 14, 1915. She was buried by her grieving family at the Old Pioneer Cemetery in Milton-Freewater, Umatilla Co., Oregon.
As of 1920, the family owned their home on Main St., in Milton Town, Umatilla Co., Oregon. William continued to work as a house carpenter, son Carroll, now 21, worked as a delivery wagon driver, and son Glen, now 19, was a cigar store merchant. Young Helen, age 15, attended school, as did young Vera, age 9. Their youngest child, a son they named Donald, was aged 4 yr. 8 months of age when the census was taken. He had been born within a month of his sister's untimely demise. Sometime in 1922 the family moved to Southern California. Helen, now age 22, married James Emerson Huffman, a native of Washington and an "interior decorator" who painted interiors. The couple married in Los Angeles Co., California on Aug 27, 1926. During this time, William contracted Osteomyelitis (a bone infection caused by a bacterial or fungal infection). It developed into a chronic condition and he was finally admitted to the Research Hospital in Glendale with Septicaemia (blood poisoning caused by a bacterial infection entering the blood stream). After 7 days in the hospital, William died at about 4 a.m. on Nov 19, 1926, at the age of 55 years. His grieving wife and children buried him at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale. His daughter, Helen Elizabeth, died in 1942 and was also buried there, as was his dear wife, Edna, who died Apr 4, 1966. May they all Rest in Peace.
*The towns of North Milton and Freewater voted to combine and became Milton-Freewater in 1951.
William J. Best was a native of Missouri, having been born there on Feb 15, 1871. His parents were Henry Best, a native of Missouri, and Mary Kitchen, also a Missouri native. At some point in his life he relocated to Oregon and married Ora Edna Wilmot, an Oregon native, in about 1895 in Oregon. He was a Carpenter by trade and he and his wife lived in Milton - Freewater, Umatilla Co., Oregon, from at least 1900 until about four years before his death in 1926.
The 1900 U S Census found William, his wife Edna, and their five children living in North Milton Town*, Umatilla Co., Oregon. They had been married 5 years by then and had three children, all sons:
eldest son Neil, age 4, had been born in Idaho in Apr in 1896
son Carroll, age 2, had been born in Oregon in Mar 1898 and
son Glen, the youngest, had been born in Oregon in Feb 1900.
In 1900 William was listed as a day laborer.
By 1910, the couple had been married for 15 years and now had five children. William J., now 37, was a house carpenter. Ora Edna, who always went by Edna, was now 35. In addition to Neil, now age 14, Carroll, now 12, and Glen, now age 10 (as of June 9, 1900, date of enumeration), they now had two daughters:
Helen, age 6, had been born in Oregon and youngest daughter, Eva, age 2, was also an Oregon native.
When the 1920 Census was taken (on Jan 16), William and Edna had lost their eldest son, Neil Wilmot Best, who had been killed in France while fighting World War I. He had been a Pvt., a member of Co.B, 363rd Infantry, in the 91st Division. His remains were laid to rest at the IOOF Cemetery in Milton-Freewater, Umatilla Co., Oregon, after being returned to Oregon. They had also lost their young daughter, Eva Katherine, who died Apr 14, 1915. She was buried by her grieving family at the Old Pioneer Cemetery in Milton-Freewater, Umatilla Co., Oregon.
As of 1920, the family owned their home on Main St., in Milton Town, Umatilla Co., Oregon. William continued to work as a house carpenter, son Carroll, now 21, worked as a delivery wagon driver, and son Glen, now 19, was a cigar store merchant. Young Helen, age 15, attended school, as did young Vera, age 9. Their youngest child, a son they named Donald, was aged 4 yr. 8 months of age when the census was taken. He had been born within a month of his sister's untimely demise. Sometime in 1922 the family moved to Southern California. Helen, now age 22, married James Emerson Huffman, a native of Washington and an "interior decorator" who painted interiors. The couple married in Los Angeles Co., California on Aug 27, 1926. During this time, William contracted Osteomyelitis (a bone infection caused by a bacterial or fungal infection). It developed into a chronic condition and he was finally admitted to the Research Hospital in Glendale with Septicaemia (blood poisoning caused by a bacterial infection entering the blood stream). After 7 days in the hospital, William died at about 4 a.m. on Nov 19, 1926, at the age of 55 years. His grieving wife and children buried him at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale. His daughter, Helen Elizabeth, died in 1942 and was also buried there, as was his dear wife, Edna, who died Apr 4, 1966. May they all Rest in Peace.
*The towns of North Milton and Freewater voted to combine and became Milton-Freewater in 1951.
The 1900 U S Census found William, his wife Edna, and their five children living in North Milton Town*, Umatilla Co., Oregon. They had been married 5 years by then and had three children, all sons:
eldest son Neil, age 4, had been born in Idaho in Apr in 1896
son Carroll, age 2, had been born in Oregon in Mar 1898 and
son Glen, the youngest, had been born in Oregon in Feb 1900.
In 1900 William was listed as a day laborer.
By 1910, the couple had been married for 15 years and now had five children. William J., now 37, was a house carpenter. Ora Edna, who always went by Edna, was now 35. In addition to Neil, now age 14, Carroll, now 12, and Glen, now age 10 (as of June 9, 1900, date of enumeration), they now had two daughters:
Helen, age 6, had been born in Oregon and youngest daughter, Eva, age 2, was also an Oregon native.
When the 1920 Census was taken (on Jan 16), William and Edna had lost their eldest son, Neil Wilmot Best, who had been killed in France while fighting World War I. He had been a Pvt., a member of Co.B, 363rd Infantry, in the 91st Division. His remains were laid to rest at the IOOF Cemetery in Milton-Freewater, Umatilla Co., Oregon, after being returned to Oregon. They had also lost their young daughter, Eva Katherine, who died Apr 14, 1915. She was buried by her grieving family at the Old Pioneer Cemetery in Milton-Freewater, Umatilla Co., Oregon.
As of 1920, the family owned their home on Main St., in Milton Town, Umatilla Co., Oregon. William continued to work as a house carpenter, son Carroll, now 21, worked as a delivery wagon driver, and son Glen, now 19, was a cigar store merchant. Young Helen, age 15, attended school, as did young Vera, age 9. Their youngest child, a son they named Donald, was aged 4 yr. 8 months of age when the census was taken. He had been born within a month of his sister's untimely demise. Sometime in 1922 the family moved to Southern California. Helen, now age 22, married James Emerson Huffman, a native of Washington and an "interior decorator" who painted interiors. The couple married in Los Angeles Co., California on Aug 27, 1926. During this time, William contracted Osteomyelitis (a bone infection caused by a bacterial or fungal infection). It developed into a chronic condition and he was finally admitted to the Research Hospital in Glendale with Septicaemia (blood poisoning caused by a bacterial infection entering the blood stream). After 7 days in the hospital, William died at about 4 a.m. on Nov 19, 1926, at the age of 55 years. His grieving wife and children buried him at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale. His daughter, Helen Elizabeth, died in 1942 and was also buried there, as was his dear wife, Edna, who died Apr 4, 1966. May they all Rest in Peace.
*The towns of North Milton and Freewater voted to combine and became Milton-Freewater in 1951.
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