John Laird, once mayor of Santa Cruz, California, later a California State legislator from this district.
John Laird was born 29 Mar 1950 in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, the son of Ralph Laird Jr (1924-2000) and his wife Dorothy Jean Ofstedahl. Ralph born in Danville, Illinois, probably met his wife Dorothy when he attended the University of South Dakota, as she had been born in that state. Together they moved to California, where Ralph was hired to work at John Swett High School in Crockett, which is a small town between Vallejo and Martinez. This is where John Laird grew up.
Later Ralph was principal of San Dimas High School, and then Amador High School in Pleasanton, California.
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Ralph Laird Jr was born in Danville, the son of Ralph Laird and his wife Edna May Clawson, daughter of Allen Clawson and Sarah Kinney. The family is enumerated in the 1930 Federal Census of Danville, Vermillion County, Illinois, where Ralph is listed as a plumber. Ralph and Edna are living in Danville in the 1920 Federal Census, and Ralph is listed as a plumber again.
Ralph filled out his World War I Draft Registration Card stating that he was married with one child and working as a plumber.
In his World War II Draft Registration Cards entry, Ralph states that he was born 28 Jul 1895 in Danville
In the 1910 US Federal Census of Danville, Ralph is single, living with his parents Lewis C Laird and his wife Carrie M Snyder. Lewis is there listed as a painter, working for Danville Buggy Company. Lewis and Carrie were married 15 Jun 1894 in Vermillion County. This was her first marriage, but his second marriage. She was the daughter of George Snyder and May Mikesell.
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