YES, Leland's middle name was
WILLIS, and yes, he did live with his grandparents from his father's death until entering the service in 1917. What I don't know is which grandparents and where and when his father Fred died. I do have the WWI draft registration showing Bridgeport,
Conn. but so far that's has been a deadend. I have located a marriage license for Fred & Lena, a birth cert for
Leland, and a death cert for Lena, all in Boston. Lena's death record shows her maiden name as McLane, and coming from
Pictou,
Nova Scotia, with her parents listed as Alexander & Margaret
Mclean. Another researcher has found a John Alexander
Mclean and Margaret
Murray in
Pictou,
Pictou county,
Nova Scotia in the 1891 Canadian census. The census' show Fred born in
New York state, not sure where. Lena immigrated from
Nova Scotia around 1887. Fred did live near Teedville now
Trout Creek N.Y. as a child with his parents
Alonzo and Emeritta. Alonzo traces back to the colonial Long Island Teed's but I'm not sure what Emeritta's maiden name was. I'm working on the idea that it was perhaps
WILLIS as Fred was (Frederick W) and Leo was
Leland WILLIS. The family was told Leland's grandparents had died while he was in France 1917 - 1918. Leland made his way to
Los Angeles sometime between leaving the army and 1922, there he met and married Vera Irene
Schroeder from
Missouri, sometime the end of 1922 or beginning of 1923. They did take a trip to New
England for her to meet his family. Not sure which family members or Mass or N.Y. I can't find a marriage record in N.Y., Mass,
Missouri,
California or
Nevada. Leland passed away in an Arizona hospital in 1927 and was returned to
LAA. for burial. He is buried at Forest
Lawn Cemetery,
Glendale, Ca. Borderland section, Lot 167, Block 1615, Tier 2. Any more leads on Fred, Lena or
Leland would be gratefully appreciated.