| Paxson Family | Group No: 8 | ||
| Name: | Oliver Evan | Name: | Bertha May S. |
| Birth Date: | 12-12-1884 | Birth Date: | 08-14-1885 |
| Place of birth: | Norristown, PA | Place of birth: | Philadelphia, PA |
| Died: | 02-01-1962 | Died: | 05-03-1964 |
| Place of death: | Chicago, IL | Place of death: | Chicago, IL |
| Married: | 04-14-1904, Philadelphia, PA | ||
| Other Marriages: | |||
| Son of: | George Washington Paxson | Daughter of: | John Howard S. |
| and | Mary Jane Chalfant | and | Ella Gable |
|
Family History | |||
Oliver Evan Paxson was reared in West Philadelphia, PA., attending West Philadelphia Boys
High School and Drexel Institute. As a youngster he was mildly athletic (tennis - excellent;
baseball - very good; swimming - good). He met his future wife, Bertha May S., on the
tennis court during a mixed doubles match. Oliver Even's father, George Washington Paxson,
while an engineer on the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad was partially paralyzed and
assigned to Philadelphia Central Station until retirement.
Oliver and Bertha moved to Buffalo, New York, with their family late in 1909. He secured
employment in the electric fixture business and, in 1910, they moved to Chicago, IL., where
again he followed his profession in fixture lighting (he was a pioneer in the early development of
this expanding business). In 1911 he moved the family to St. Charles, IL. And became manager
of the Lighting Fixtures Department for the St. Charles Fixture Company. In 1918 he moved
again to Campbell's Island (E. Moline, IL.) And worked on electrical systems for large caliber
Naval guns at a former heavy equipment plant in Moline. Early in 1919 he moved the family to
St. Joseph, Mo., and was manager of the Fixture Department for the American Electric Company
of St. Joseph.
He arrived again in Chicago in 1926 and was employed be the American Concrete Company.
He was a designer and project engineer for the company that manufactured light standards for
various city governments. He worked there until his retirement in 1960.
|
Children | |||
| Name | Birth D. Place | Died Place | Married Spouse |
| Helen May | 07-24-1912 St. Charles | Died Young St. Charles | |
| Mary Jane | 07-28-1916 St. Charles | Dies Young, St. Charles | |
| Ralph Evans | 08-06-1917 St. Charles | Louise U. | |
| Name: | Ralph Evans | Name: | Louise U. |
| Birth Date: | 08-06-1917 | Birth Date: | 11-21-1918 |
| Place of birth: | St. Charles, IL | Place of birth: | Chicago, IL |
| Died: | Died: | ||
| Place of death: | Place of death: | ||
| Married: | 05-01-1943, Chatham Fields Lutheran Church, Chicago, IL | ||
| Other Marriages: | |||
| Son of: | Oliver Evan Paxson | Daughter of: | Adolph U. |
| and | Bertha May S. | and | Louise Koshmieder |
|
Family History | |||
Ralph lived in St. Charles from his birth until 1919, when the family moved to St. Joseph, MO,
1919 to 1926, and then to Chicago. He attended schools in St. Joseph, and Chicago's Hirsch
High School, where he demonstrated prowess in basketball. While a senior at Hirsch Ralph tried
out for the 1936 Olympics in the 100 Yard Dash, conducted at Northwestern University.
Ralph was with the Packard Motor Car Company from 1938 to 1945, when he was drafted into
the Army for two years, 1946-1947, and shipped off to Korea. After his service he returned to
Packard and stayed until 1952. In 1952 he began employment with Chemetron Corp. Fire
Systems Division as Manager of Spare Parts, and retired from their employ in 1982 after 30
years of service.
Family Portrait, ca. 1958
| Name | Birth D. Place | Died Place | Married Spouse |
| Thomas Evans | 05-01-1948 Chicago | Vicki A. | |
| William Evans | 05-06-1951 Chicago | ||
