Person:James Ransom (4)

Jim quit high school in 11th grade, and worked on a farm and golf course. In about 1933, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, where he met Bob SMITH, Mary K's brother. He worked CCC in Pomona CA, Tulelake CA, and Enaville ID [near Coeur d'Alene]. When he left the CCC in 1938, he worked days at the Evanston IL Hospital [$12/wk + room], and nites at a gas station whose owner, Vito, had a fruit stand next door. Vito also had a still at his truck farm, and ran bootleg whiskey in two new Fords. Jim served four years in World War II in the Army Signal Corps in Africa and Italy. After the war, he went to Brookfield IL, where he worked one shift at Reynolds Aluminum before the workers struck the plant. He then worked for CNW Railroad at Union Station for six months, when Fran GILLEY and Mary K talked him into driving them to Coeur d'Alene in 1946. He worked at a Kaiser Aluminum rolling mill in Trentwood WA for $1.04 per hour. Jim & Mary K married in 1947, and honeymooned for a summer as fire lookouts on Mt Coeur d'Alene. After a trip to Indiana, Jim completed his GED Certificate in Spokane WA, and was accepted for engineering school at Gonzaga University. Instead, in 1948 Jim became a carrier & clerk for the Post Office Department @ 92¢ per hour. He worked as a window clerk in Coeur d'Alene for 25 years, retiring in 1975.

Upon "retirement", Jim & Mary K became resident caretakers at Boy Scout Camp Easton on Lake Coeur d'Alene for 3 years, and also were foster parents for a Vietnamese mother and daughter, Do Thi LI and Kahn LI [now of Portland OR]. They were also foster parents for young children in 1967-1974 under the Idaho State Child Welfare Department. In the 1980's & 90's, Jim & Mary K volunteered at St John's Indian School near Phoenix AZ, and spent many winters there. They have always been active volunteers in their church and community, including Mary K's ongoing work with Birthright.

1. ↑ Birth Certificate.

   Delayed birth certificate, issued in 1941. True copy of same issued 10-14-81 by Lake County Clerk. see notes on birth for additional information.

2.   United States. 1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T625)
   1920 Illinois, Lake, Fremont, ED 256, page 4A, HH# 71.

   James RANSOM, age 7 [with parents, q.v.]

3. ↑ Letter dated 11 June 1981 from Ivanhoe Congregational Church (UCC).

   JAMES CALVIN RANSOM and mother BLANCHE RANSOM were both baptized & confirmed on 7 June 1925.

4.   United States. 1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T626)
   1930 IL Lake Libertyville ED 51 p14A.

   520 Broadway; with parents & 3 sibs:
   Edson A RANSOM, 59; Blanche 54; Howard E, 32; James C, 18; Daniel S, 13.

5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} James RANSOM, Application for Federal Employment, Form 60 US CSC, completed by Jim RANSOM in March 1947..
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} Application for Federal Employment, Form 57 US CSC, for Substitute Clerk-Carrier, USPO CdA..
7.   Envelope, postmarked.

   from General Finance Corp, 184 West Lake St, Chicago, postmarked Chicago, 23 March 1940, transmitting Wilmette IL, Village Chevrolet invoice for 1936 Chev Tudor Sedan, cost $304.80, with $160 financed through GFC, 12 notes at $17 ea.

8.   Envelope, postmarked.

   From car dealer Carlson-Loutit Inc, 6454 N Webster Av, North Town Stn, Chicago IL, postmarked 29 July 1941, transmitting an invoice for a used 1939 Chev Trunk Tudor Sedan, cost $491.

9. ↑ Military Service Discharge papers; form WD AGO 53-55.

   in possession Michael RANSOM 2002

10.   James RANSOM, Application for Federal Employment, Form 60 US CSC, completed by Jim RANSOM in March 1947..

    Chauffeur - Materials Handler for U S Navy Depot,, Spokane WA

11.   USDA, Wm W LARSEN, Forester, CdA Nat Forest., Form 676 rev July 1946, issued to Mary Kay RANSOM, on 18 June 1947.
    signed by LARSEN and Mary K RANSOM.
12. ↑ JAMES' birth certificate was late filed, in 1941, and does not include the middle name [Calvin] he used at baptism (q.v.). The certificate is Lake Co IL , Fremont Twp, Dist # 6951. It shows his mother was Blanche Kirk, born in Marquette WI, age 37 at JAMES' birth (28 Aug 1912). His father was A Edson RANSOM, age 42, a carpenter. Blanche had 7 children, six still alive. JAMES was living at 2727 Gerrard Av, Evanston IL. The certificate was filed 29 January 1941, and signed by Dr Charles R Galloway of Libertyville IL.
    
    A family bible record in the custody of Jim RANSOM of Phoenix AZ [reprinted in RANSOM Family Newsletter #4, Feb 1992, page 5], lists "James Calvin RANSOM, Aug 28, 1912."
13. ↑ Dad told me he was a "houseboy", running the elevator, hauling ice, and other miscellaneous chores at the hospital. On his Civil Service Application in March 1947, he reports he worked for Evanston Hospital Assoc, 2650 Ridge Av, Evanston IL, as Houseman, elevator operator & Junior Stock Clerk (bonded), @ $20 per week, from May 1938 until March 1942. He listed Mrs Blanche M WATT, Executive Housekeeper, as a reference.
    
    On Civil Service Application Sept 1947, Jim reported the end of his emloyment there as 12 March 1942. Initially listed Blanche M WATT, crossed her out and wrote in Louis KNUTSON, Senior Stock Clerk. Duties listed as "Stock room work. Receiving and checking all incoming articles for 250 bed hospital, issuing items on requisition only. Taking inventory. Bonded."
14. ↑ Honorable Discharge 6 Nov 1945, Camp Grant IL. James RANSOM, 16069026, Tec 5, 6662 Signal Service Corps, served as a powerman 166 in the campaigns of Algeria-French Morocco, Naples-Foggia, and Rome-Arno. Joined with 829th before discharge.
    
    Enlisted 17 March 1942.
    
    On a Civil Service Application, Jim listed:
    Enlistment 17 March 1942, salary $21/mo.
    Promotion PFC 1 July 1942, $50/mo
    Promotion Tech 5, 1 Dec 1942, $66/mo
    Discharge 6 Nov 1945 as T/5, $66/mo.
15. ↑ On a Civil Service Application in March 1947, Jim reported he worked from 5 Dec 1945 until 5 June 1946, @ $0.94 per hour, as a mail handler, part-time operator of Mercury electric tow truck, towing loaded carts of mail, for Chicago Union Station Co, Canal & Jackson, Chicago. He listed Edward ANDERSON as foreman of mail handlers, and as a reference.
    
    On Civil Service Application Sept 1947, reported initial salary of 78¢, ending 94¢ per hour. "Loaded mail sacks and parcel post in railroad cars. Sorting mail sacks on platform, loading carts with mail for one destination etc." On his draft application, he listed reason for leaving as "homesick for Idaho", then crossed it out and wrote "no future".
16. ↑ On his Civil Service Application in March 1947, Jim reported working from July 1946 @ $1.04 to $1.16 per hour as a Shear room laborer, operator of Hallden Shear & driver of Elwell Parker electric trucks, for Permanente Metals Corp, Trentwood Works, Spokane WA. He also listed Oscar MUNSON, 1902 Lakeside Av, CdA ID, as his foreman & reference.
    
    On Civil Service Application in Sept 1947, reported work from 22 July 1946 to 6 June 1947, as Electric truck driver, starting pay $1.04ph, final pay $1.255ph. "Picking up steel racks of aluminum coils, hauling racks to machines. Hauling loaded tables of cut flat sheets away from machines. Looking for order numbers, to keep machines set up." R L SMITH, foreman.
17. ↑ Jim listed A C HANSEN, gas station owner, as a reference on his 1947 civil service application. I remember my Dad working there on some evenings and days off, in the early 50's.
18.   Bob SMITH and Jim RANSOM shared this mailbox for their entire lives in Cd'A, paying the rent in alternate years. Both men worked at the post office in Cd'A, Jim as a window clerk, Bob as a rural route driver. After Bob died in 1994, Marilyn continued to keep the box open, and Mom and Dad used it until they went into the nursing home. David had mail forwarded to his home, not wanting to go to the PO to pick up mail.
19.   Hired 18 June 1947 for lookout #9 [Mt Coeur d'Alene] at salary $1954 per year.
    
    On Civil Service Application later, reported work as a "Lookout, Fireman" from 10 June 1947 until 6 Sept 1947. Duties: "fire detection daily for eight hours from a tower in CdA National Forest. Early in season building of trails and roads, maintenance of public campground
    & of cabin & tower on lookout." "Fire season ended".