Description

Esther Cordelia (Ross) Wray Hoggan (b. 1897 – d. 1979) was born November 9, 1897 in Kentucky. She was the daughter of William W. Ross (b. 1859 – d. 1920) and Margaret Julia Gaines (b. 1867 – d. 1930). (In the 1910 Census, her first name is shown as Esta. In the 1920 Census, her father’s  first name is shown as Win.) She had two brothers, both born in Kentucky:  Thomas (b. 1893) and Marion W. Ross (b. 1907). 

Warren Dwight Baker (b.1870 - d. 1941) was born in Michigan. His father was born in New York and his mother was born in Ohio.

Warren was Prescott's Superintendent of Public Schools for several years.

Wiilliam W. Ross, Esther's father, was a territorial pioneer and the druggist and owner of  the W.W. Ross Drug store in Prescott, Arizona.

When she was 17, Esther was chosen by Arizona Governor Hunt to christen the battleship USS Arizona at its launching in New York City, New York. With her parents, the governor and various Arizona dignitaries she traveled by train to New York City for the christening on June 19, 1915. The events included the battleship christening in New York City, a visit to the home of Thomas Edison and a White House reception with President Woodrow Wilson. The USS Arizona was sunk at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

She married James Garrett Wray in Prescott, Arizona on June 19, 1924. On April 4, 1968 in Los Angeles, California, at age 65, she married William George Hoggan (b. 1893-d. 1972). She is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in San Diego, California.

Sources: Arizona Weekly Journal-Miner September 9, 1914, April 21, 1915, July 21, 1915; US Census 1920; Arizona Births and Christenings 1900-1917.