Bio: Short, George Arthur

Contact: Sharon Short G.
Email: gooch@clicksim.com

Surnames: Short, Washington, Green, Ofsthun

----Source: Family Records

George Arthur Short, born May 19 1857 in Towanda, Bradford Co., Penn was the second child of (George) Washington and Lydia Green Short. George Arthur Short married c1881 to Mary Box. (Think in Spencer or Stevens Point, WI) George and Mary Box Short had four known children:

Earl W. Short, born 27 Apr 1884, WI died 3 Oct 1958 at age 74 in Chelan Falls, Chelan Co., WA at the Chelan Falls Community Hospital of cardiovasuclar renal disease one month after having been admitted. His occupation was listed as laborer in the apple industry. Earl W. Short Married c1909 in Seattle, WA (?) Bertha, born c1888, Missouri. Earl and Bertha Short appear on the Ballard area of Seattle, WA 1910 Census with Earl's brother Harry Short. The 1910-1917 Polk directory lists Earl and wife Bertha living at various rental addresses in Seattle. Earl's occupation was listed as laborer, teamster, driver, expressman. Bertha's occupation was listed as dressmaker. When Earl's father was admitted to the hospital in April 1941 Earl was said to be living in Amirilio, TX.

Harry A. Short, born 6 Dec 1886 in Stevens Point, WI died on 2 April 1934 at the Columbus Hospital in Seattle, WA of bronchial pneumonia with asthma being a contributory cause. (Harry's last day of work was 28 Mar 1934 so went rather quickly.) Harry A. Short first shows up in the Seattle, WA Polk directory in 1907 living with his father George Short. Harry's occupations over the years were listed as laborer, teamster, driver, for eight years prior death he drove for Ace Transfer Co. Harry A. Short first married Amanda Johanna Hansen c1912, and they were later divorced. (Amanda, born c1883, next married Melvin Johnson. Amanda died 10 Oct 1958 in Seattle, WA) Harry A. and Amanda Hansen Short had one child, Myrtle A. Short, born c1913 in Seattle who married Henry J. Ofsthun. Henry J. and Myrtle A. Short Ofsthun had two children; James H. Ofsthun c1934 and Neil H. Ofsthun. Harry A. Short next married, c1923, Josephine and they are listed in the 1924-25 Polk directory for Seattle.

Roy W. Short, born c1888 in WI(?)died at age 28 (c1916) per the 1941 hospital records of his father George Arthur Short.

Clifford A. Short, born c1890 WI(?)was still alive in 1941 and living in Portland, OR per the hospital records of his father George Arthur Short. There was only one listing for Clifford A. Short and his wife Molly in the 1922 Seattle Polk directory, his occupation was listed as "driver".

George Arthur Short, at age 51, first shows up in the Seattle Polk directory in 1907 with his son Harry A. Short, age 21. The 1912 directory shows George A. Short living with his second wife, Matty P. Pierce from whom he was separated by 1920. 1941 hospital records state that George was the widower of Matty Pierce so it is assumed that she died prior to that date.

George Arthur Short's occupations: 1907-12 "timber cruiser"; 1913-15 "driver; 1917 teamster; 1920 "dockworker". George's landlady said that he had been a "bootleger", a man of considerable ability but threatened suicide to get attention. Medical records state that George had burn scars on his back and right side; had an allergic reaction from bee stings in the Philippines in 1922; had shingles in 1937 that required three months or more to recover from.

In February 1940 George Arthur Short was struck by an automobile in the Ballard area of Seattle where he lived in a rooming house, and several ribs were broken on his right side. He was admitted to the Georgetown County Hospital in Seattle where he remained for 15 months before being admitted to Northern State Hospital (1987 = "Portal N.W.) in Skagit Co., WA on April 29, 1941. George was diagnosed as "Senile Psychosis, paranoid type" but within a week he was enjoying himself, playing cards with his fellow patients. George's main complaint was always feeling cold and prone to finding extra blankets and secretly taking rugs to pad his trousers with.

George Arthur Short's April 1941 physical showed him to be 5' 9 1/2 inches tall, 133 lbs, blue eyes, grey hair, quite deaf, no teeth or dentures. (George weighed 182 lbs in 1920, 155 lbs in 1944.) Family said that he was tall, blond hair with blue eyes.

George Arthur Short died at age 87 at the State Hospital on 18 Jan 1945 at 6:05 a.m. of general arteriosclerosis. The body was cremated.