Milton Richard Likins

My great-grandfather, Milton Richard Likins, came to California around 1916. A native of Indiana, he had brought his family to Arizona when my grandmother was a young child, where Milton (and his wife Nettie?) were employed on an Indian reservation. They then had a similar job in Santa Fe, NM, where my grandmother graduated from high school. Around 1916 they relocated to the Indian school at Ft. Bidwell, CA. They were apparently only there for a few years. It isn't clear to me just what his jobs were on these reservations; he's usually listed, in the records I have found, as an "engineer" but I believe that by profession he was a baker. I really don't know a lot about him; my father never knew him, and my grandmother didn't talk much about him, so I've been trying to put together whatever I could find. Here's a timeline showing what I've learned about him:

Milton Richard Likins

Born Fortville, IN 25 July 1862, son of Peter and Mary (Alfont) Likins

1870 census of Fortville, IN, in household of his parents, age 8

1880 census of Fortville, IN, in household of his parents, age 18, “works on farm”

20 Nov 1884, married Nettie Belle Hastings in Fortville, Hancock co. IN

28 Feb 1898 Known to be living in Broadripple, IN, where his daughter Katharyn was born.

27 Sep 1899 obit of father-in-law Oliver P. Hastings refers to his daughter as “wife of Milton R. Likins, formerly a justice of the peace at Broad Ripple” (Indiana State Journal)

1900 census Fortville, Hancock co. IN, age 38, with wife and four children; baker

1907 listed in directory of civil servants, address San Carlos, AZ (listed as engineer; Nettie also listed as housekeeper)

June 1908 received payment from federal government Dept of Agriculture as “rainfall observer” (no location specified)

1910 census, San Carlos Indian Reservation, Gila, AZ, age 48, with wife and three children; engineer, Indian agency

1914 listed in The Native American v. 15 p. 558 as employee at Santa Fe (both Milton, engineer, and Nettie, cook)

Jun 1916 daughter Katharyn Mary Likins graduated Santa Fe (NM) High School (note in Santa Fe New Mexican 2 Jun 1916)

1916 Son Virgil registered to vote in Modoc co. (Bidwell precinct)

1918 registered to vote in Modoc co. (West Bidwell pct). Engineer, Republican; listed as Likens; Nettie registered, listed as Likins.  Housewife, Republican. Not registered 1920.

1917-18 son Virgil registered for draft in Modoc co. CA, so Milton likely there (Ft. Bidwell) at that time

1918 automobile registered in Stewart, NV [note: Indian School in Stewart; Willis Richard Cameron b. Stewart 1918]

28 October 1918 signed petition in Modoc co. relating to cutting of timber on land in NV

Surprise Valley Record 5 Nov 1919

M. L. Likins and wife departed last week for the southern part of the state,
where they expect to spend the winter and possibly locate. Mr. Likins
recently disposed of his mail contract from Bidwell to Adel, Ore., to Jesse
Allenwood.

1920 census, Vacaville, Solano co. CA, age 58, with wife, farmer

1920 Registered to vote (Republican) in Vacaville, Pct. 1, Solano co. CA; occupation farmer.

[Nettie as well, occupation housewife]

1922 Registered to vote, same info except occupation “carpenter”

11 Sept 1924 died, Vacaville CA

1 Oct 1924 Surprise Valley Record

M. R. Likins, former resident of Fort Bidwell passed away at his home at
Vacaville, Sept. 11th, after a lingering illness. He was the father of
Mrs. Olin Johnson, formerly of this place.

1930 census, Nettie in El Segundo, CA, widowed, head of household, living alone

Nettie arried Grant Hagey some time between 1930 and 1940.

1940-44 Nettie and Grant Hagey both registered to vote in Paradise (Grant not listed in final list of this volume, presumably the 1944 list)

Nettie died Eureka CA 27 May 1945

 Here's a photo of Milton Richard Likins, taken around 1910: