Résumé

Switchboard Installer, Western Electric Company, Incorporated, Hettinger, ND, 06/02/1917.

Principal J.F. Wadkins, Corporation, Building Contractor, Los Angeles, CA, 1936- . In 1942, Wadkins had two business addresses: 9012 Olympic Boulevard in Beverly Hills, CA, and 15080 Crenshaw Boulevard in Gardena, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; World War II Draft Cards (4th Registration) for the State of California; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System, 1926-1975; Record Group Number: 147, accessed 01/28/2019.)

Relocation

Born in McGilpan County, IL, in 1895, Wadkins resided with his grandmother, aunts and parents at 1517 South 2nd Street in Springfield, IL, by 1900. (See Ancestry.com, Source CitationYear: 1900; Census Place: Springfield Ward 4, Sangamon, Illinois; Page: 17; Enumeration District: 0095; FHL microfilm: 1240343, accessed 01/28/2019.)

Ten years later, he lived with his 33-year-old mother in Pleasant View, ND, where she lived, according to the US Census, as a "homesteader." Her mother had divorced his father, George Wadkins, by this time. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Pleasant View, Stanley, South Dakota; Roll: T624_1488; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 0102; FHL microfilm: 1375501, accessed 01/28/2019.)

Wadkins resided in an apartment building at 728 Market Street in Tacoma, WA, in 1920, where he worked as an electrician for the telephone company (perhaps Western Electric) there. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Tacoma Ward 2, Pierce, Washington; Roll: T625_1936; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 262, accessed 01/28/2019.)

He had moved to Hettinger, ND, by 06/1917. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: North Dakota; Registration County: Adams; Roll: 1819402, accessed 01/28/2019.)

He and Opal lived at 8944 Burton Way in Los Angeles, CA, in 1936. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 01/28/2019.) By1938, they resided at 8101 Langdon Avenue in Los Angeles, CA.

Voting records indicated that John and Opal Wadkins lived at 129 South Bowling Green Way in the West Los Angeles neighborhood of Los Angeles in 1942.

Wadkins died at the age of 48 and was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, CA.

Parents

His grandmother was Sarah A. Wadkins (born 01/1852 in IN), who had been widowed by 1900. She had had seven children, five of whom were listed as residing with her in Springfield, IL, in that year. John's parents, George J. Wadkins (born 05/1871 in IL) and Burthy Solomon (born 02/1878 in IL), lived with Sarah, raising him with extended family. George was a bicycle repairman at the turn of the century. (See Ancestry.com, Source CitationYear: 1900; Census Place: Springfield Ward 4, Sangamon, Illinois; Page: 17; Enumeration District: 0095; FHL microfilm: 1240343, accessed 01/28/2019.)

George's sisters included Margaret Wadkins, (born 08/1882 in IL), Grace E. Wadkins, (born 09/1883 in IL), Mary E. Wadkins, (born 01/1889 in IL), and Minnie L. Wadkins Johnson (born 09/06/1892 in IL-d. 06/15/1986 in Memphis, TN).

Spouse

He married Opal Lillie Landon (born 11/18/1906 in Asher, OK-d. 1226/1990 in Logan, UT) in 1926. Opal worked as an interior designer in 1942.

After John Wadkins's death in 1943, Opal remarried five years later to Walter Augustus Vogel (1902-1964).

Biographical Notes

His World War I draft registration card indicated that Wadkins had a medium height and build, with light blue eyes and hair. Wadkins claimed exemption from military service due to being needed as a telephone switchboard installer. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: North Dakota; Registration County: Adams; Roll: 1819402, accessed 01/28/2019.) His World War II draft registration information listed him as standing 5-feet, 9-and-1/2-inches tall, and weighing 170 pounds and having green eyes. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; World War II Draft Cards (4th Registration) for the State of California; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System, 1926-1975; Record Group Number: 147, accessed 01/28/2019.)

According to Los Angeles County voting records, Wadkins voted Democratic in 1936, and Republican in 1938. Both Wadkins and his wife were registered Republicans in 1942. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 01/28/2019.)