Robert James Jago was born in 1888 in California to Richard Benjamin
Jago, and mother Dora S. (maiden name unknown). His father is recorded
as having been born in Massachusetts, or possibly in Europe, and his
mother either in Kansas or Massachusetts. Richard and Dora were
divorced in Sacramento on June 28, 1889. Shortly after, Dora and baby
Robert moved to Boise, Idaho. In November 1893 while working as a cook
at a rooming house, the lamp Dora was carrying exploded, covering her
in oil. She was engulfed in flames, and died 4 days later (Idaho
Statesman Nov 19, 1893). Robert was then adopted by George D. Ellis and
Telitha Arnett Ellis in Boise, Ada County, Idaho. He can be found
growing up in Boise in the 1900 and 1910 census records, listed as
Robert Ellis and Robert J Ellis. There is a short paragraph about
Robert mentioned in a biography of his adopted father George Dabney
Ellis, written in 1913, (Reference "History of Idaho" By Hiram Taylor
French, and available by searching on the Internet). The paragraph
describes George & Telitha recognizing his natural artistic talent, and
sending young Robert to Edinburgh, Scotland in 1911 to study art,
completing his studies in Paris and then returning to Boise. Some time
between 1913 and 1920 Robert and his wife May B McKim (married 20 June
1909 in Boise, Idaho) relocated to southern California where he began
working as an art director in films. In the 1930 census, his occupation
is listed as Building Contractor and he is residing on Woodland Lane in
Los Angeles. Robert and May Ellis had no children. Robert died of
Pneumonia 20 May, 1935.
