Following a request for more information on Walton Archie Raitt and his brother John Emmett Raitt, due to the amount of information I have found, I decided to put this on a separate page since the existing Bovina Raitts page which included them was overlengthy.
It will be recalled that Walton and John were the sons of Archibald John Raitt (1892-1962) and Stella Eulalie Walton who were married in 1914 in Los Angeles. In pursuit of further material about Walton and John, I also found some additional details about Archibald and these are also included below. Archibald's ancestry is included on the Bovina Raitts page.
I am also privileged to have been given several photographs of Archibald (Archie), Walton (Walt) and John Raitt and families - some are included on this page, but others I have elected to put on a separate page.
Archibald John Raitt (1892-1962)
Archibald was the eldest son of James Thomas Raitt and Eva Brockett, who had married on 31 March 1892 in Santa Ana, Orange County, California, and who had six children. Archibald was born on 4 December 1892 in Santa Ana and died in Orange County on 12 April 1962.
In the 1900 census for Santa Ana, Orange, California are James T. Raitt, 32, farmer; wife Eva B., 26; and children John A., 7; George E., 6; Elsie B., 3: Jean B., 10 months - all children born California. They had been married 8 years and had four children, all surviving at the date of the census.
In the 1910 census for First Street, Santa Ana Ward 4, California are James T. Raitt, 42, dairy farmer, born Pennsylvania (both parents New York); wife Eva B., 37, dairy farmer, born Illinois (father Ohio, mother Illinois); and children Archie, 17; Emmett, 15; Elsie, 13: Ralph, 7.
Archibald married Stella Eulalie Walton on 16 March 1914 in Los Angeles. Stella was born on 30 October 1893 in North Dakota to Charles Ethan and Elizabeth Walton. Charles was born on 18 March 1852 in Oakland County, Michigan, and his wife was born in September 1852 in the township of Guelph, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada as Elisabeth S. Jackson. They married on 12 January 1887 in Wellington, Ontario, Canada - Charles was 34, a widower, and a farmer resident in Foster County, Dakota; Elisabeth was also 34, resident in the City of Guelph, Wellington County. The parents of Charles were Joseph Walton and Cynthia Latham; while those of Elisabeth were Joseph Jackson and Mary McCorkindale. Charles died on 4 November 1903 in Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington; while Elizabeth died in 1908 in Carrington, Foster County, North Dakota.
In the 1900 census for Carrington Township, Foster County, North Dakota it states that both Charles' parents were born in Pennsylvania, while Lizzie's father was born in England and her mother in Scotland. Lizzie had been married for 13 years, been in the United States for 12 years and had given birth to four children, three of whom were still living. These three were Belva, 10 (at school), Gladys, 9, and Stella, 7 - all born in North Dakota. Charles was 58, a landlord, and Lizzie was 47.
It is not yet known where the three girls were in the 1910 census after the death of their mother - possibly still in North Dakota, though perhaps Stella Walton at least had gone to California since this is where she presumably met and married Archie Raitt. Interestingly, though, a Belvadere A. Walton aged 21, married Leon T. Cory in Los Angeles on 9 August 1911. In the 1920 census, she (as Belvidere Corey) seems to be an inmate, aged 30 born in North Dakota, in the Southern California State Hospital in Patton, San Bernardino County, California.
Stella and Archie Raitt had two children: Walton Archie, 1914; and John Emmett, 1917 - both were born in Santa Ana, California.
In his World War I registration card no. 19, Archibald gave his full name as Archie John Raitt and his age as 24. He gave as his address simply Fairview & Bristol, Santa Ana, California. He was born on 4 December 1892 in Santa Ana and was a natural-born citizen, a Caucasian and married. He was a self-employed dairy rancher in Santa Ana and he had a wife and two children under 12 who were solely dependent on him. On the basis of this, he claimed exemption from the draft. The Registrar's report (4-4-29.A) dated 5 June 1917 noted he was of medium height and stout build with light blue eyes and dark brown hair. He was not bald, nor had he lost any limbs or eyes and he was not disabled.
In the 1920 census for 721 South Van Ness Street, Santa Ana Ward 4, California there is Archie J. Raitt, 27, carpenter in a dairy business; wife Stella E., 26; sons Walton A., 5; and John, 2.
In 1921 Archie was the Y.M.C.A. Associate County Secretary for Fullerton, Orange County, having entered into the work of the organization in 1920. Not only was he the first leader of the North Orange chapter, but he had helped to found it.
In the 1930 census, the family is living at 424 East Amerige Avenue, Fullerton, California; Archie J. Raitt, 37, secretary YMCA; Stella E., 37 (mother born Canada); Walton A., 15; and John E., 13.
Stella died in Los Alamitos, Orange County, California on 3 April 1938; and Archie subsequently remarried.
In the 1940 census, we find A. J. Rait (sic), age 47, born California, General Secretary, married and head of family, living at 503, North Bradford Street, Fullerton. Fullerton was also his residence in 1935. Also in the household is Cory B. Rait, 48, born Ohio, Attendants Officer, with a residence in 1935 in Placentia; and her two children from her previous marriage: Robert (16) and Elizabeth (15) Pickenpaugh.
Named Archie John Raitt on his 1942 World War II registration card, no.239, dated 26 April 1942, his place of residence was 503, N. Bradford, Placentia, California (with the mailing address as Box 341 Placentia and telephone number Placentia 6846). His age was 49 and his date and place of birth was 4 December 1892, Santa Ana. The person who would always know his address was Mrs Cora B. Raitt at the same address. He was employed as YMCA Secretary, Fullerton, California. He was 5ft 9in tall, weighed 222 lbs, had hazel eyes, brown hair and a ruddy complexion.
Cory was born Cora Belle Graham on 18 November 1891 in Ludlow, Washington County, Ohio to Samuel Graham and Jennie Dent. She married Chester R. Pickenpaugh, aged 26, on 30 October 1919 in Los Angeles, and he died in 1930. She presumably met Archie after his wife Stella died in 1938 - though there seems to be no record of their marriage. How long Cora remained married to Archie is not known. However, she married Earl J. Young, aged 71, on 25 March 1957 in San Diego when she was 65. As Cora B. Graham, she seems to have divorced him in Orange County in June 1970. Cora Belle Pickenpaugh Young died on 31 August 1986 in La Habra, Orange County.
Archibald Raitt was a founder and longtime director of the North Orange County Y.M.C.A. in California and it was at the Y.M.C.A. camps run by his father that son John developed his love for singing. In October 1987, Walt and John, the sons of Archibald Raitt, attended a tribute in Orange County, California honouring their father for being the first Secretary of the Y.M.C.A. Chapter in Orange County, California. At the tribute, Walt and John attended they were informed that a new Raitt Endowment Fund for annual camp scholarships (for both boys and girls) was established at that event and they received both a large and small plaque to commemorate it.
The photos below show Archie and Stella Raitt and with sons Walt and John.
Archie, Walt and John Raitt
John Emmett Raitt (1917-2005)
John Emmett Raitt was the second son of Archibald John Raitt and Stella Watson. He was born on 19 January 1917 in Santa Ana, California and died in Pacific Palisades on 20 February 2005. He married Marjorie Geraldine Haydock on 31 December 1942 in California - she was born on 1 September 1922 in Los Angeles and died on 2 July 2004 in Laguna Hills, Orange County. After their divorce, John, aged 55, married Rosamond K. Smith, aged 26, in Los Angeles on 25 June 1972. John remarried again in Los Angeles on 2 October 1981 - his new wife being Rosemary K. Kraemer. He was 64 and she was 58.
Like his older brother, Walton, John attended Fullerton Union High School from 1933-1935. While at Fullerton High, John was active in athletics (track) as well as the football and basketball teams. The 1933 track team proved to be the best Fullerton had had for years and Lettermen included brothers Walt Raitt, sprinter, and John Raitt, weight man. In the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section State Championship meet held at Fresno State College in 1935, he lead the Fullerton High School Indians to a State Championship, He won the state title in the shot put with a throw of 55ft ¼in and set an all-time state record in the football throw with a toss of 220ft which was never bettered in the years before the event was discontinued in 1938.
As might be expected from his later career, John was also involved at Fullerton High on the drama and music side. He was in the School orchestra in 1932 and 1933 in which latter year it made several appearances to help in student affairs. In 1934 he was in the cast of the operetta ‘Desert Song’. In 1935 he appeared in the Nativity play ‘Gloria’. He was in the Boys’ Glee Club and also Hi-Y, an officer of the Spanish Club and also Class President. In 1934 the upper freshmen at Fullerton High decided to revive the former School paper, ‘The Weekly Pleiades’, and John was the reported for Boys Sports. The yearbook for 1935 published a photo of four Juniors, one of which was John Raitt - the caption notes that in the fall the junior class chose brushed wool sweaters in the class colours, blue and white. They were to entertain the seniors at a sport prom late in the school year - presumably the photo was from an earlier time since in the 1935 year book, alongside his photo and list of activities appears his signature!
Upon leaving Fullerton Union High School, John later attended the University of the Redlands after turning down the scholarship he received from the University of Southern California. While at Redlands he won the discus, shot and javelin at the Pacific Coast Conference in 1938 and beat his Conference shot mark with a heave of 49ft 8in. He graduated from Redlands in 1939.
John’s draft World War II registration card (serial no. 1216, order no. 2891) gives his name was John Emmett Raitt and his address as 4245 Jasmine, Culver City, California with the telephone number AR-8-4628. He was 23 with his date and place of birth given as 29 January 1917, Santa Ana, California. His country of citizenship was USA. The name of the person who would always known his address was his father Mr Archie John Raitt, living at 503 Bradford Avenue, Placentia. His employer was MGM at 10202 Washington Blvd., Culver City. The Registrar’s report, dated 16 October 1980 in Culver City, gives his height at 6ft 1½ in and his weight as 210 lbs. He had brown eyes, brown hair and a light brown complexion.
In the 1920 and 1930 censuses John is at home with his parents and brother. In the 1920 census for Santa Ana Ward 4, Orange County, California we have Archie J. Raitt, 27, carpenter in a dairy business; wife Stella E., 26; sons Walton A., 5; and John, 2. In the 1930 census, the family is in Fullerton, Orange County, California; Archie J. Raitt, 37, secretary YMCA; Stella E., 37 (mother born Canada); Walton A., 15; and John E., 13. In the 1940 census, this is probably him - John Raitt, 23, secretary with the YMCA, a boarder at 6316 West 62nd Street in Los Angeles. He was resident in Anaheim, Orange County in 1935.
As noted above, John's first wife, Marjorie Geraldine Haydock, was born on 1 September 1922 in Los Angeles, California and died on 2 July 2004 in Seal Beach, Orange County, California. She was the daughter and only child of Earl Henry Haydock and Marguerite Roberta Keister who married on 27 June 1917 in Los Angeles, California. Her ancestor, Benjamin Haydock, had emigrated from Tipperary, Ireland to North Carolina in the early 1800s. Marjorie's father, Earl, winner of the National Prohibition Oratorical Contest of the Intercollegiate Prohibition Association in 1914, was a Methodist minister and missionary and was posted to Madeira off the North West coast of Africa in late 1923, when Marjorie was one year old, and returning home with his family in early 1927. Marjorie attended Pasadena Junior College where she was in the Nysaeans singing group as well as the A Capella Choir, and later graduated from the University of Redlands, majoring in music in 1943. This is where, as a sophomore and his leading lady in The Vagabond King, she met John Raitt. The couple married on 31 December 1942 in California and in their 28 years of marriage had three children before divorcing in 1970: Steven James; Bonnie Lynn; and David John.
Eldest son, Steven James, was born on 19 June 1947 in Los Angeles and died on 4 April 2009 in Rio Linda, Sacramento County, California. He moved to the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St Paul, Minnesota) in 1971 where was active in the Twin Cities music scene. He married Joyce Olivia Raitt (maiden name Schwartz) on 23 October 1975 in Todd County, Minnesota - some years after their daughter Ruby Lee was born in Los Angeles on 2 November 1971. Their child, Beamer was born on 29 January 1974 in Todd County and died in Hennepin County, Minnesota a couple of weeks later on 11 February. Their son Miles Emmet Raitt was born in Hennepin County on 21 December 1975, but has not married and has no children. Daughter Ruby is married to Shaun Evans and they have two children - Tyler and Violet. Tyler and his partner Catherine gave Steven a grandson. Steven and Joyce divorced in Hennepin on 3 February 1981. Steven then married Melanie Jean Rosales, co-founder with him of T. C. Jammers, on 8 January 1983 in Hennepin County, Minnesota. He moved back to the city of Sacramento, California about 2006.
Daughter Bonnie Lynn, was born on 8 November 1949 in Los Angeles. She married actor Michael O’ Keefe on 27 April 1991 (she was 41 and he was 36) and divorced in 2000 following an announcement on 9 November 1999.
Son David John was born on 14 July 1952. He married Harriet Anne (Annie) Perkins, born 2 May 1948 in Holden, Massachusetts and died 21 December 2007 in California. Together they co-founded Vital Designs. The couple had had two sons: Bay Leaf Raitt, born on 5 July 1975 in Mendocino, California; and Arlen Perkins Raitt, born on 31 October 1981 also in Mendocino. David subsequently had one son, Ely Cole, born 13 December 1993 in Mendocino, with his second wife, Kelly Lay-Hernandez. Son Bay married Elizabet J. Jeffers on 4 May 2013 in Snohomish, Washington.
John Raitt, of course, found fame and fortune as a Broadway singer and his career is well publicised in the press. His children, grandson and nephew were also successful in their music careers - see Illustrious Raitts - Entertainers.
In Spring 2005, a Memorial Bench to Walt and Mary Raitt was commissioned and dedicated to honour their service to the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. The plaque on the bench in the rose garden reads:
In Memory of Walt and Mary Raitt (1914-1995) (1917-2003)
Two lives worth celebrating, remembering
With warm hearts, soaring spirits
Served Pacific 1964-1992
At the dedication on 22 May 2005, their daughter Sally Galiste composed and read a tribute to them. Below some of the highlights about Walt Raitt and his family life are given.
Walt was quite athletic, especially in younger years. Football and track were his main sports in high school and college. In his middle years he played handball, tennis, badminton and enjoyed swimming. Then he took up golf, which became his primary pursuit later in life. He was an avid armchair sports fan and could be found at home watching football (college and NFL both), listening to baseball, and reading basketball or tennis in the newspaper - all at the same time! Both Walt and his wife Mary were gardeners, with a large rose garden lovingly tended to which yielded beautiful, fragrant roses often clipped and displayed in their home. They both shared shared a love of music, especially old-time jazz, big bands and of symphony music. They had season tickets to the local symphony which performed in Stockton. For many years a baby grand piano sat in their living room. Mary studied music in college and could play the classics; Walt could read music but played many songs by ear, as he was musically gifted.
Music came naturally to Walt and his brother John. Of course we are all familiar with John Raitt, famous Broadway singer and actor of many Rodgers and Hammerstein original compositions, some written exclusively for John. At Christmastimes over the years, when Walt and John's families came together, family gathered around a piano at either of their homes in which Christmas carols were belted out with gusto. Either Walt or John's wife, Marge, would play piano as all sang loud and clear Holiday favourites.
Walt and John exemplified true brotherhood throughout their lives. I never saw them quarrel - although I'm sure they did from time to time. Their conversations were so loud and boisterous you needed to stand back to avoid being "blasted"! Walt and John's families grew up together, sharing vacations, holidays and special moments in life. More often it was visits at John and Marge's gorgeous two-story "mansion" in Beverly Hills, California, complete with swimming pole, tennis court and situated on their own hilltop with sweeping vistas of the area. Right to the end these two brothers were very close. At Walt's memorial service in Stockton in 1995, John sang and spoke eloquently but candidly about his older brother Walt.
Family was paramount in Walt's life. Camping, cabining and other types of vacations and get-aways included their children until grown, and then included their grown children and grandchildren to places such as Yosemite National Park. New Brighton Beach, San Clemente, the Russian River, Lake Tahoe, and many more. Special anniversaries and annual birthdays were always celebrated. Walt especially liked to make a big fuss over these milestones in his kids and grandkids lives. So when Walt and Mary celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June 1989, their kids and grandkids had a turn at making a big fuss about it with a garden party and tons of family and friends toasting their lives together. For Walt's 80th birthday a big surprise party was held right after Christmas 1984 which was, in his opinion, the best party ever. The entire John Raitt family attended, including Steve, Bonnie, Dave and even Marge. It was, in his opinion, the happiest and best party he'd ever enjoyed. We are so grateful he lived long enough to be celebrated, since he was gone five weeks later, dying suddenly on the evening of February 1st having contracted a massive bacterial infection that could not be stopped.
Walt was a man of great enthusiasm and deep devotion. He was thoroughly committed to his work with the American Friends Service Committee and for most of his adult life was an active member of the Society of Friends (Quakers). Later in life he switched to the Unitarian Church in Stockton, where his memorial service was held after he passed away. He is honored at this church in their Memorial Rose Walk, dedicated in 1996 with his name at the top of the plaque. His rosebush, justly, is the "Peace" rose. Walt's convictions towards human rights and justice in the world was his life-long endeavor, and he put his whole heart into it. He anguished over what some of us do to our fellow human beings, and ardently supported Amnesty International. Walt strongly wished that the United Nations might help bring peace to our world's peoples, though he was well aware of the UN's faults. His doctoral thesis was titled “American Ideology and the United Nations: A Study in Ambivalence”. And both Walt and Mary supported efforts locally in Stockton to shelter the homeless. Walt volunteered after retirement from UOP at St. Mary's Interfaith Dining Hall. They both endorsed and donated to the local environmental justice organization, Peace and Justice.
As part of the dedication, Sally also wrote and read the little prayer given below at right (the Memorial Bench is at left). The photos at bottom show Mary and Walt on the occasion of their 50th Wedding Anniversary in June 1989 (left) and Mary Raitt and daughter Sally Galiste.
Walton Archie Raitt (1914-1995)
Walton was the eldest son of Archibald John Raitt and Stella Eulalie Walton, born on 28 December 1914 in Santa Ana, California and died on 1 February 1995 in Stockton, California. Walton grew up in Fullerton, California and is found in the Fullerton Union High School Yearbooks from 1930 (when he was 16) to 1933. He was a member of the School’s Pleiad Society as well as the Boys’ Glee Club. In 1931, while in the Junior School, he had a role as a Flower Vender in the three-act light opera ‘The Firefly’. In 1932 the Glee Club had a busy year with many musical and choral engagements, while in 1933 he was in the cast of the School’s Senior Play ‘White Collars’, a three-act comedy, in the role of Tom Gibney. Walt (as he was known) was also in the Fullerton High track team and in 1933 the team proved to be the best Fullerton had had for years and Lettermen included brothers Walt Raitt, sprinter, and John Raitt, weight man.
Walton married Mary Page, born 2 September 1917 in Houston,Texas, on 24 June 1939 in La Habra Heights, California. Mary, who died in Stockton, California on 13 March 2003, was the daughter of Kirby Page (born 7 August 1890 in Fred, Tyler County, Texas, died 16 December 1957 in Orange County, California), an ordained social evangelist minister, and Mary Alma Folse (born 28 September 1890 in Houston, Texas, died 30 October 1978 in St Joaquin County, California. Kirby and Alma, as she was named in most records, were married on 2 September 1914 in Houston, Texas. Alma's father was Louis Drozan Fonse, born December 1948 in Louisiana - as were both his parents - and he died about 1902. Alma's mother, Minnie Annie Heard was born on 11 March 1869 in Alabama and married Louis about 1890, perhaps in Texas since Alma was born there. Kirby Page was the son of James Andrew Thomas Page (born 16 April 1862 in Louisiana and died 6 July 1931 in Fayette County, Texas) and Julia Isabella Pounds (born 30 August 1866 in Louisiana and died 23 September 1947 in Los Angeles, California) who married in 1884.
Walton’s (undated) WW2 Draft Registration Card, serial number 996, Order number 2449 gives his name as Walton Archie Raitt and his age as 25. His wife Mary Page Raitt’s address is given as PO Box 247, La Habra, Orange, while his was given as 409 Prospect St, New Haven, New Haven, Connecticut - however this is crossed out and at the bottom of the card is given 1324 Pass Ave, Burbank, California (interestingly his telephone number is left standing as New Haven 7-3131). The card gives his date of birth as 28 December 1914 in Santa Ana and his employer's name as Yale University Student and place of employment as Divinity School, Yale University, New Haven, New Haven, Conn. A note at the bottom of the card states - For Civilian Service Only - this may refer to his Burbank address perhaps. The place of registration was Connecticut. The Registrar’s report, dated 16 October 1940, gives a description of him: he was 5ft 8in tall, weighed 165 lbs and had brown eyes, black hair and a light complexion. Interestingly, the Registrar, Margaret W. Quillian, was the Registrar for the Divinity School, Yale University, New Haven.
After leaving High School, Walton attended the private University of Redlands in Redlands, California - graduating with honours in sociology in 1937. He then attended Yale University Divinity School in New Haven, Connecticut - graduating Bachelor of Divinity with honours in 1941. Following in his father's footsteps, he became the YMCA Secretary in the San Fernando Valley. Continuing to be active with the YMCA at Pasadena City College for five years, he then moved to Stockton as the Executive Secretary for the Student Christian Association at College of the Pacific from 1948-1950. In 1952 he became Staff Director with the American Friends Service Committee in Pasadena, and in 1961, he joined the Faculty of Mount San Antonio College, Walnut, California where he taught history and political science. In 1964 Walt transferred his family back to Stockton again, when he became an Assistant Professor at the University of the Pacific until 1967. He received his PhD in government and international relations in 1968 from Claremont Graduate School, in Claremont, California and the same year became Associate Professor at the University. He was made Acting Chair in 1970, then Full Chair of the Political Science Department in 1974, a post he held until his retirement from the University in 1985. Right from the start of his teaching career with the University of the Pacific, Walt helped found the Model United Nations programme as part of the University's International Relations Department, of which he was director until 1979. That year, an official honour for 15 years of service was bestowed on Walt by the President of the University of the Pacific. However, Walt's most outstanding award was receiving the Dag Hammerskjold Award in 1969 for his contribution to the understanding of the United Nations.
In the 1920 and 1930 censuses Walton is at home with his parents and brother. In the 1920 census for Santa Ana Ward 4, Orange, California we have Archie J. Raitt, 27, carpenter in a dairy business; wife Stella E., 26; sons Walton A., 5; and John, 2. In the 1930 census, the family is in Fullerton, Orange, California; Archie J. Raitt, 37, secretary YMCA; Stella E., 37 (mother born Canada); Walton A., 15; and John E., 13. Walt and Mary are not yet found in the 1940 census - presumably they were either still in California or possibly had already moved to New Haven, Connecticut. In 1982 Walton A. Raitt, professor at the University of the Pacific, is to be found residing at 7919 Misty Lane, Stockton, San Joaquin County, California along with Mary, assistant librarian at the same University.
Walt and Mary Raitt had four children: Judith Ann, Ronald James, Heather Ellen and Sally Suzanne.
Daughter Judith Ann Raitt was born on 28 October 1940 in the city of Santa Ana, California and died on 10 August 2017. She married Larry Mavity (born 1940, died 3 January 2020 in San Diego) in February 1961. The couple had two children: Kimberly Dawn born 3 July 1961 in Pasadena - she married Steve Fischer in October 1986 and divorced about 2006; and Keith Mavity born 15 March 1965 in Barstow, San Bernardino.
Son Ronald James Raitt was born on 13 September 1943 in the city of Glendale, California and married Penelope J. Trotter on 5 August 1972 (born as Penelope June Hooghkirk on 23 August 1949 in Ipswich, Mass. Ronald seems to have adopted his wife's surname since the 1976 San Diego City Directory for 1976 lists Trotter-Raitt, Ronald J. and Penelope. The couple had a son named Christopher Trotter-Raitt born 23 June 1973 in San Diego.
Daughter Heather Ellen Raitt born 2 June 1946 in the city of Altadena, California, died 27 October 2011 in Oakland, Alameda. She never married and had no offspring.
Daughter Sally Suzanne Raitt was born on 5 January 1953 in the city of Pasadena, California and married Richard V. Galiste (born 12 September 1947 in the city of Sacramento, California) on 24 July 1971 in the city of Stockton, California. The couple have two adopted children: Victor Ambrosio Galiste born 6 May 1986 in Manilla, Philippines; and Valerie Cheri Galiste born 25 April 1988 in Leyte, Philippines.
