Individual 1346: LaPlant, William Bruce (Bruce)

Individual Record 1346

Name} LaPlant, William Bruce (Bruce)

Family History} Olson

Title}

Race} White

Sex} Male

Birth: Date} Fam 1 Jun 1900

Place} Romness Twp., Griggs, North Dakota

Marr.: Date} Fam 14 Dec 1926

Place} , North Dakota (Link)

Death: Date} Exa 18 Dec 1967

Place} Binford, Griggs, North Dakota

Burial: Date} Aft 18 Dec 1967

Place}

Grave Marker}

Source 1}	373 = Geog history
Source 2}	388 = Family notes
Source 3}	394 = Letter
Source 4}	383 = 1900 USA cen
Source 5}	344 = 1910 USA cen
Source 6}	845 = Military rec
Source 7}	966 = 1920 USA cen
Source 8}	967 = 1925 ND cen
Source 9}	1644=1930 USA cen
Source 10}	1645=1940 USA cen
Source 11}	533 = S.S. record

Parents: } William LaPlant & Mary Rose Haley
Relationship No.} 482

1st Household No.} 120 = Romness Twp., Griggs, North Dakota

Occupation 1} Farmer
Occupation 2} Salesman

Religion/Church}

Spouses: Prime} Lewis, Edna M.
Total Number of} 1

Notes: William Bruce LaPlant was born 1 Jun 1900 in Romness Twp., Griggs, North Dakota. He was the fourth child of William LaPlant and Mary Rose Haley. His brother Louis was born in Dec 1893 in Kansas, and the family had moved to North Dakota in the fall of 1895. His sister Neva was born in Feb 1896, and sister Ethel in May 1898.

In the 1900 U.S. census,William was living with his parents and siblings in Romness Twp., Griggs, North Dakota. Also living with the family was his maternal aunt, Nettie Haley, and his paternal uncle, George LaPlant. His father William was a farmer, and his uncle George a farm laborer.

About 1905, the family moved to Tyrol Twp., Griggs, where they were enumerated in the 1910 U.S. census. The census reports his name as Bruce, which he used thereafter. His father William was a grain farmer, farming the W½ of Sec. 15, Tyrol Twp., Griggs. His brother Louis was working as a farmer on the family farm. In the 1915 North Dakota State census, Neva was no longer listed with the family, as she had just married and moved out.

When Bruce registered for the World War I draft in 1917, he listed his name as William Bruce, his address as 1 Cooperstown. He was a farmer, and was was described as having blue eyes and dark hair.

In the 1920 U.S. census, the household included William, Mary, Louis, Ethel, and Bruce. In the 1925 North Dakota State census, Bruce was the only child still living at home.

Bruce married Edna M. Lewis on 14 Dec 1926. In the 1930 U.S. census, Bruce and his wife were living in Binford, Griggs, North Dakota with their first daughter Shirley The family was renting their residence for $8. per month, and did not have a radio. His occupation is unreadable. Her parents, Fred and Isabella Lewis, were enumerated next to them.

It is reported in family notes (Source No. 388) that Bruce went to Montana in 1929, where he was employed with the Montana Power Department. He returned that year, presumably to Binford, where the family was enumerated in 1930. He returned to Montana with the family. Returning to Griggs County, they farmed on "the Dave Wilcox farm, north of Cooperstown", then on "the Cowan farm, east of Red Willow Lake", which he later bought. Their second daughter Lois was born in Binford.

In the 1940 U.S. census, Bruce, his wife Edna, and their two daughters were living in Cooperstown, Griggs, North Dakota. Bruce was a salesman for the Arneson-Loder company, selling farm equipment, and had completed eighth grade. They were renting their residence for $16. per month.

The family's residence in Cooperstown, and Bruce's employment with Arneson-Loder from 1939 to 1945 is reported in family notes (Source No. 388). The next paragraph then states that during the second World War the family went to Tacoma, Washington, where they both worked in defense factories, he in the shipyards, and she at Boeing. The two paragraphs contradict each other, as they cover the same time period. The family notes state that Edna's mother died in Jun 1946, and the family returned to Binford to take care of her father. Bruce farmed here until his death.

Bruce was active in politics, and was a member of the Democratic Party. He was also a member of the Farmers Union. As a young man he played baseball, and hunted in Montana and North Dakota. Bruce died 18 Dec 1967 in Griggs County, North Dakota. His last residence was Binford. His burial place is unknown.