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This knol written and copyright 2009 by Will Johnson, wjhonson@aol.com, Professional Genealogist
This Knol is part of my series "Sexy Blonde Male Actors"
The numbers next to the headings below, indicate the position of that person in Adam West's Ahnentafel (Ancestor Table) with Adam himself in position 1.
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Adam's parents were Otto West Anderson and his wife Audrey V Speer. Audrey's birth index entry is extant and her middle name appears to be Volenne or perhaps Velma. The name is handwritten, small, and hard-to-read. Adam is said to have a younger brother named John. Although cited on some genealogies, it is doubtful if the "Neil" and Audrey Anderson living in 1930 in Seattle are this couple, as they have no children in their household, unless perhaps they left their son with a relative while they tested the Seattle waters.
Adam apparently grew up mostly in the Walla Walla area, and is said to have attended high school in Walla Walla for his freshman and sophomore years. It was about this time, that his parents divorced. This could explain why he transferred to complete his high schooling at Lakeside school in Seattle. It is not known to me, whether his father Otto remarried, but his mother Audrey certainly did, but possibly after Adam had already moved out of the house. Adam went to Whitman College in Walla Walla where he received a B.A. in Literature. If he went to college directly from high school he would have gotten his B.A. in perhaps 1950 or 1951, provided his birthdate above is correct. Since Whitman is so far away from Seattle, it's likely he lived on campus, so had effectively moved out of his mother's house already.
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His mother Audrey's next husband was Paul George Flothow (1895-1953), a native of Omaha, whom she married Aug 1949 in Clatsop County, Oregon. Whether they lived there in Clatsop or not, Paul died 21 Sep 1953 in Seattle. Audrey's next and last marriage was to the Finnish immigrant Henry Silvo (1892-1968).
Adam lived for a time in Hawaii, but in 1959 moved to California and took the stage-name Adam West. His first national appearance being in the film "The Young Philadelphians" which starred Paul Newman and Barbara Rush. Watch his performance as a man compelled into a marriage he didn't want.
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Adam West appeared in several bit parts and guest spots, until he landed his seminal role as "Batman" on the TV-series of the same name. Watch a short clip from Batman here. Watch a 1987 Interview with retrospective. His Wikipedia biography claims that "He is currently best known for his voice work in the animated series Family Guy." Adam West 2001 Interview (he walks out at time 2:43). Also, watch a short clip of Adam West in 2007 when he came to Santa Cruz, California.
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John and Anna had nine children, with Otto being the second-youngest, although two of Otto's elder siblings had died young, before the 1900 census. Otto's mother Anna died when he was about 13 years old, her husband John who evidently never remarried, surviving her by ten years. Both in 1910 and 1920, the family is enumerated in the US Federal Census living in Berney Precinct, Walla Walla County.
Sometime between 1920 and 1927, Otto married Audrey Speer, possibly in or around Walla Walla, Washington, where she had been born and where he was living in 1920 (but then single). Otto and Audrey had at least two children: William and John, the elder one later going by the stage-name "Adam West".
Rhoda McClure states in her write-up of Adam West's genealogy, that William West Anderson was born in Seattle, although many other websites state that he was born in Walla Walla. The primary source for his birth location is being sought.
If the family had moved to Seattle for a time, they eventually moved back to Walla Walla as Adam West is supposed to have gone to High School there for his freshman and sophomore years, and later to Whitman College. An online family tree claims that Otto and Audrey divorced in 1943 (place not specified). And Adam's Wikipedia entry states that he enrolled in Lakeside School in Seattle, so it would seem that Audrey and Adam moved back to Seattle about this time. Audrey later married Finnish-immigrant Henry Silvo (1892-1968) and they lived in Clatsop County, Oregon where she died in 1969. Otto died in 9 Oct 1984 in Walla Walla and was a resident of that place per his entry in the Washington State Death Index. His burial location is not yet known by me.
1910 Census of Berney, Walla Walla County, Washington
1920 Census of Berney, Walla Walla County, Washington
Washington State Death Index, "Otto W Anderson died 9 Oct 1984, age 81 died in Walla Walla"
Audrey's birth index entry has now been located and her middle name appears to be something like Volenne or perhaps Velma. It is not yet known how many siblings Audrey may have had, but she did have at least one named William Clifford Speer who died as a baby, age 4 months and 2 days in Walla Walla from pneumonia. By 1930 William and Ina had moved to a place called Attalia, still in Walla Walla County, but of course by this date, Audrey has already married and is living somewhere else not yet identified, but possibly in Seattle.
Sometime between 1920 and 1927, Audrey married Otto West Anderson. They had a son William born in 1928. Some authors claim that the "Neil" Anderson with wife Audrey living in Seattle in the 1930 census is them. If it is however, then William their son, must be living elsewhere, as there are no children in that household.
If the family had moved to Seattle for a time, they eventually moved back to Walla Walla as Adam West is supposed to have gone to High School there for his freshman and sophomore years, and later to Whitman College. An online family tree claims that Otto and Audrey divorced in 1943 (place not specified). Since Adam West is said to have enrolled in Lakeside School in Seattle to complete his high schooling, then perhaps it was around this time that, following her divorce, Anna would have taken her children and moved to Seattle.
Audrey's next husband was Paul George Flothow (1895-1953). In 1930 he is living with his prior wife Lillian in Seattle. Either they divorced or Lillian died by Aug 1949 when Paul then marries Audrey in Clatsop County, Oregon. Whether they lived there in Clatsop or not, Paul died 21 Sep 1953 in Seattle.
Audrey next married Finnish-immigrant Henry Silvo (1892-1968) and they probably lived in Clatsop County, Oregon where she died in 1969. Otto died in 9 Oct 1984 in Walla Walla and was a resident of that place per his entry in the Washington State Death Index. His burial location is not yet known by me.
Anna died while some of the children were still young, on 15 Dec 1916 in Walla Walla County. John evidently never remarried, and died on 4 Jun 1927 in Walla Walla County, possibly in Berney where he was yet living in the 1920 census. She is buried in Mountain View Cemetery.
1910 Census of Berney, Walla Walla County, Washington
1920 Census of Berney, Walla Walla County, Washington
Lyman's History of Old Walla Walla County, Embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin Counties - Volume 1 Author: Lyman, William Denison, 1852-1920 [Chicago] : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.,1918 PageA PageB
1910 Census of Berney, Walla Walla County, Washington
1920 Census of Berney, Walla Walla County, Washington
Lyman's History of Old Walla Walla County, Embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin Counties - Volume 1 Author: Lyman, William Denison, 1852-1920 [Chicago] : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.,1918 PageA PageB
In the later part of 1900 or early in 1901, William married Ina Hunter, apparently a native of Washington and then aged about 20 or 21. They had a son William Clifford Speer who died "aged 4m2d" on 11 Feb 1905 of pneumonia in Walla Walla County, Washington.
They had at least one more child Audrey V Speer on 25 Jul 1906 in Walla Walla County. Her middle name is hard to read and appears to be Volenne or perhaps Velma.
William and Ina are living on 9 Sep 1918 in the small town of Waitsburg, still in Walla Walla County. By 1930 they have moved to another small town Attalia. William died 8 Jul 1950 "age 76" in Walla Walla County but was at that time a resident of Yakima County. Ina died 16 Nov 1957.
1900 Census of Hadley, Walla Walla County, Washington
World War I Draft Registration Card
1930 Census of Attalia, Walla Walla County, Washington
Washington State Death Index
James Speer and his wife Elizabeth already had five children by the time of the 1880 census: Sarah 11, Margaret 9, Willie 7, Mary 2, and George at five months.
1900 Census of Hadley, Walla Walla County, Washington
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This knol written and copyright 2009 by Will Johnson, wjhonson@aol.com, Professional Genealogist
This Knol is part of my series "Sexy Blonde Male Actors"
The numbers next to the headings below, indicate the position of that person in Adam West's Ahnentafel (Ancestor Table) with Adam himself in position 1.
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1 Adam West
Adam West, the actor was born 19 Sep 1928 as William West "Billy" Anderson in Washington State. Most websites, claim that he was born in Walla Walla, both sides of his family did live there at around that time, so it's entirely possible. The primary source for his birthdate has not been located. The birthdate I have used here is as reported in his Wikipedia entry.Adam's parents were Otto West Anderson and his wife Audrey V Speer. Audrey's birth index entry is extant and her middle name appears to be Volenne or perhaps Velma. The name is handwritten, small, and hard-to-read. Adam is said to have a younger brother named John. Although cited on some genealogies, it is doubtful if the "Neil" and Audrey Anderson living in 1930 in Seattle are this couple, as they have no children in their household, unless perhaps they left their son with a relative while they tested the Seattle waters.
Adam apparently grew up mostly in the Walla Walla area, and is said to have attended high school in Walla Walla for his freshman and sophomore years. It was about this time, that his parents divorced. This could explain why he transferred to complete his high schooling at Lakeside school in Seattle. It is not known to me, whether his father Otto remarried, but his mother Audrey certainly did, but possibly after Adam had already moved out of the house. Adam went to Whitman College in Walla Walla where he received a B.A. in Literature. If he went to college directly from high school he would have gotten his B.A. in perhaps 1950 or 1951, provided his birthdate above is correct. Since Whitman is so far away from Seattle, it's likely he lived on campus, so had effectively moved out of his mother's house already.
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His mother Audrey's next husband was Paul George Flothow (1895-1953), a native of Omaha, whom she married Aug 1949 in Clatsop County, Oregon. Whether they lived there in Clatsop or not, Paul died 21 Sep 1953 in Seattle. Audrey's next and last marriage was to the Finnish immigrant Henry Silvo (1892-1968).
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| Adam West as Kermit in the Bewitched episode "Love is Blind" |
Adam lived for a time in Hawaii, but in 1959 moved to California and took the stage-name Adam West. His first national appearance being in the film "The Young Philadelphians" which starred Paul Newman and Barbara Rush. Watch his performance as a man compelled into a marriage he didn't want.
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Adam West appeared in several bit parts and guest spots, until he landed his seminal role as "Batman" on the TV-series of the same name. Watch a short clip from Batman here. Watch a 1987 Interview with retrospective. His Wikipedia biography claims that "He is currently best known for his voice work in the animated series Family Guy." Adam West 2001 Interview (he walks out at time 2:43). Also, watch a short clip of Adam West in 2007 when he came to Santa Cruz, California.
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2 Otto West Anderson
Adam West's father Otto West Anderson was born 25 Jan 1903 in Washington (possibly in Walla Walla County) to John P Anderson, and his wife Anna Fredericka Gamberg, both Swedish immigrants. The uncertainty about his birth location is due to the fact that although his parents had at least three children listed in the birth index, on either side of him, he himself does not seem to appear. Could John and Anna have moved somewhere for a short time? Or been on a trip when she gave birth?John and Anna had nine children, with Otto being the second-youngest, although two of Otto's elder siblings had died young, before the 1900 census. Otto's mother Anna died when he was about 13 years old, her husband John who evidently never remarried, surviving her by ten years. Both in 1910 and 1920, the family is enumerated in the US Federal Census living in Berney Precinct, Walla Walla County.
Sometime between 1920 and 1927, Otto married Audrey Speer, possibly in or around Walla Walla, Washington, where she had been born and where he was living in 1920 (but then single). Otto and Audrey had at least two children: William and John, the elder one later going by the stage-name "Adam West".
Rhoda McClure states in her write-up of Adam West's genealogy, that William West Anderson was born in Seattle, although many other websites state that he was born in Walla Walla. The primary source for his birth location is being sought.
If the family had moved to Seattle for a time, they eventually moved back to Walla Walla as Adam West is supposed to have gone to High School there for his freshman and sophomore years, and later to Whitman College. An online family tree claims that Otto and Audrey divorced in 1943 (place not specified). And Adam's Wikipedia entry states that he enrolled in Lakeside School in Seattle, so it would seem that Audrey and Adam moved back to Seattle about this time. Audrey later married Finnish-immigrant Henry Silvo (1892-1968) and they lived in Clatsop County, Oregon where she died in 1969. Otto died in 9 Oct 1984 in Walla Walla and was a resident of that place per his entry in the Washington State Death Index. His burial location is not yet known by me.
Sources
1900 Census of Small, Walla Walla County, Washington1910 Census of Berney, Walla Walla County, Washington
1920 Census of Berney, Walla Walla County, Washington
Washington State Death Index, "Otto W Anderson died 9 Oct 1984, age 81 died in Walla Walla"
3 Audrey V Speer
Adam West's mother Audrey V Speer was born in Walla Walla County, Washington 25 Jul 1906 as the daughter of William Felix Speer and his wife Ina Hunter. Most websites only identify Audrey's father as "W F Speer". However I have now identified him as that same "William Felix Speer" who was living in 1918 with his wife "Ina Speer" in the small town of Waitsburg, Walla Walla County. William Felix Speer, was a native of Oregon, most likely born in or near Eugene, Lane County. His wife Ina Hunter is variously given as born in Oregon or in Washington.Audrey's birth index entry has now been located and her middle name appears to be something like Volenne or perhaps Velma. It is not yet known how many siblings Audrey may have had, but she did have at least one named William Clifford Speer who died as a baby, age 4 months and 2 days in Walla Walla from pneumonia. By 1930 William and Ina had moved to a place called Attalia, still in Walla Walla County, but of course by this date, Audrey has already married and is living somewhere else not yet identified, but possibly in Seattle.
Sometime between 1920 and 1927, Audrey married Otto West Anderson. They had a son William born in 1928. Some authors claim that the "Neil" Anderson with wife Audrey living in Seattle in the 1930 census is them. If it is however, then William their son, must be living elsewhere, as there are no children in that household.
If the family had moved to Seattle for a time, they eventually moved back to Walla Walla as Adam West is supposed to have gone to High School there for his freshman and sophomore years, and later to Whitman College. An online family tree claims that Otto and Audrey divorced in 1943 (place not specified). Since Adam West is said to have enrolled in Lakeside School in Seattle to complete his high schooling, then perhaps it was around this time that, following her divorce, Anna would have taken her children and moved to Seattle.
Audrey's next husband was Paul George Flothow (1895-1953). In 1930 he is living with his prior wife Lillian in Seattle. Either they divorced or Lillian died by Aug 1949 when Paul then marries Audrey in Clatsop County, Oregon. Whether they lived there in Clatsop or not, Paul died 21 Sep 1953 in Seattle.
Audrey next married Finnish-immigrant Henry Silvo (1892-1968) and they probably lived in Clatsop County, Oregon where she died in 1969. Otto died in 9 Oct 1984 in Walla Walla and was a resident of that place per his entry in the Washington State Death Index. His burial location is not yet known by me.
Sources
Washington State Birth Index4 John P Anderson
John P Anderson (Otto's father) was born 16 Jul 1853 in Sweden, the son of Andrew Bengston and his wife Bula Johnson. John immigrated to the United States in 1872, living first in Illinois for three years. It is not yet known if he came with any other members of his family or alone. In 1887, John is enumerated on the Special Washington State Census, living in Walla Walla County. Between 1889 and 1890 he married Anna Fredricka Gamberg in Washington, probably in Walla Walla County. She was also a native of Sweden, who had immigrated to the United States in 1884. In 1900 the family is living in the small town of "Small" in Walla Walla County, where Anna states that she is the mother of 6, 4 of them still living. The four known children by this time are: Bessie, Fredrick Victor, Melvin Oscar, and Carl Alfred Anderson. Arthur and Mabel died as infants. John and Anna were to have three more children: Bangt Peter Anderson, Otto West Anderson, and Alice M Anderson, the youngest. In 1910 they are living in the small town of Berney, still in Walla Walla County.Anna died while some of the children were still young, on 15 Dec 1916 in Walla Walla County. John evidently never remarried, and died on 4 Jun 1927 in Walla Walla County, possibly in Berney where he was yet living in the 1920 census. She is buried in Mountain View Cemetery.
Sources
1900 Census of Small, Walla Walla County, Washington1910 Census of Berney, Walla Walla County, Washington
1920 Census of Berney, Walla Walla County, Washington
Lyman's History of Old Walla Walla County, Embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin Counties - Volume 1 Author: Lyman, William Denison, 1852-1920 [Chicago] : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.,1918 PageA PageB
5 Anna Fredricka Gamberg
Anna was born in Sweden on 9 Sep 1863. She immigrated to the United States in 1884. It is not yet known if she came with other family members or alone. In 1889 or 1890, she married John P Anderson, probably in Washington state where they are living together in the 1900 census of the small town of "Small" in Walla Walla County, Washington. They had at least or exactly six children together, two of whom are currently unknown and died as infants. Anna died while some of the children were still quite young, on 15 Dec 1916 in Walla Walla county. Her widower John, outlived her by ten years, dying on 4 Jun 1927 in Walla Walla county. She is buried in Mountain View Cemetery.Sources
1900 Census of Small, Walla Walla County, Washington1910 Census of Berney, Walla Walla County, Washington
1920 Census of Berney, Walla Walla County, Washington
Lyman's History of Old Walla Walla County, Embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin Counties - Volume 1 Author: Lyman, William Denison, 1852-1920 [Chicago] : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.,1918 PageA PageB
6 William Felix Speer
William Felix Speer (Audrey's father) was born 3 Jun 1874 in Oregon (probably in Eugene, Lane County where the family is living in 1880). His parents were James Speer a native of Pennsylvania and his wife Elizabeth Unknown, a native of Missouri. Elizabeth is given as "Elizabeth Jane Garred" in one online tree, but this is an unusual surname and needs evidence. James and Elizabeth had at least six children, but James died 6 Dec 1884 per his probate papers in Lane County, Oregon. Elizabeth remarried in 1887, evidently in Lane County, Oregon to James M Beaston. They had at least three more children by 1900.In the later part of 1900 or early in 1901, William married Ina Hunter, apparently a native of Washington and then aged about 20 or 21. They had a son William Clifford Speer who died "aged 4m2d" on 11 Feb 1905 of pneumonia in Walla Walla County, Washington.
They had at least one more child Audrey V Speer on 25 Jul 1906 in Walla Walla County. Her middle name is hard to read and appears to be Volenne or perhaps Velma.
William and Ina are living on 9 Sep 1918 in the small town of Waitsburg, still in Walla Walla County. By 1930 they have moved to another small town Attalia. William died 8 Jul 1950 "age 76" in Walla Walla County but was at that time a resident of Yakima County. Ina died 16 Nov 1957.
Sources
1880 Census of South Eugene, Lane County, Oregon1900 Census of Hadley, Walla Walla County, Washington
World War I Draft Registration Card
1930 Census of Attalia, Walla Walla County, Washington
Washington State Death Index
7 Ina Hunter
Ina E Hunter was born 27 Feb 1879 in Washington, the daughter of Peter Hunter and his wife Miriam Adams. About 1900 she married William Felix Speer in Washington, probably in Walla Walla County. They had a son William Clifford Speer who died as a baby, and a daughter Audrey born 25 Jul 1906. In 1918, they are living in the small town of Waitsburg, Walla Walla County. Audrey left sometime between 1920 and 1927 when she married Otto West Anderson in Walla Walla County. Ina and William are living in 1930 in the small town of Attalia, Walla Walla County. William died 8 Jul 1950 "age 76" in Walla Walla County but was at that time a resident of Yakima County. Ina died 16 Nov 1957, and is buried at Mountain View (aka IOOF) Cemetery, Walla Walla County, Washington.8 Andrew Bengston
Born in Sweden. Died in Sweden9 Bula Johnson
Born in Sweden. Died in Sweden. Possibly "Johnsdattir" instead of Johnson.10 Mr Gamberg
Born in Sweden11 Mrs Gamberg
Born in Sweden12 James Speer
James Speer was born about 1834 in Pennsylvania. In 1880 the family is enumerated living in South Eugene, Lane County, Oregon where James is listed as a farmer. Note that also living with the family this year is a woman "I S Monohan" born in 1824 in Pennsylvania and listed as "sister".James Speer and his wife Elizabeth already had five children by the time of the 1880 census: Sarah 11, Margaret 9, Willie 7, Mary 2, and George at five months.
Sources
1880 Census of South Eugene, Lane County, Oregon1900 Census of Hadley, Walla Walla County, Washington
13 Elizabeth Unknown
Elizabeth was born about 1850 in Missouri. In 1880 the family is enumerated living in South Eugene, Lane County, Oregon. They already had five children by this time.14 Peter Hunter
Lived in Washington state.15 Miriam Adams
Lived in Washington state.Wjhonson's Knols - Total Pageviews - Independent Counter