Earl Askam, Olin Francis, Kansas Moehring

There are many articles on Askam in newspapers and trades. Below are a few highlights:

1917 newspaper article about new second Lieutenants for the 23rd Infantry and Earl L. R. Askam is on the list.
Earl was a member of brother Perry Askam's traveling troupe which performed the "Desert Song" in various towns and cities during 1928-1933. The troupe was booked through the Fanchon and Marco company.
1930 newspaper article: "Earl Askam, brother of Perry Askam, light opera star, has been temporarily borrowed from the stage to play in ... "Madam Satan", Cecil B. De Mille's current Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer comedy with music. Earl Askam has for several years been a featured singer in his brother's productions."
1939 newspaper article: "Production of Verdi's "Aida" in Hollywood Bowl ... will be a massive affair. An all-Metropolitan Opera cast will sing the principal roles in the Verdi opera." Earl is mentioned as a baritone in the cast.
March, 1940 newspaper article: Earl Askam, brother of Perry the singer and himself something of a warbler in other days is one of several featured character actors signed for De Mille's "North West Mounted Police".
The San Jose News carried a funeral notice in their April 8, 1940 edition: Excerpts: "Earl Askam Dies; Funeral Services At Mountain View." "Askam was brought up in Mountain View, where his parents, the late Dr. and Mrs. Oliver Perry Askam, settled ... Dr. Askam was a well known physician in Santa Clara County. (Earl) Askam took his fist singing lessons while attending the University of Santa Clara ..."
June, 1940 newspaper article about Rod Cameron taking over a role that Askam was to play: "Death brought him his first role, that of "Corporal Underhill" in Cecil B. DeMille's "Northwest Mounted Police." Earl Askam, a former stage star and war hero was to have played it, but he died recently of a heart attack, and young Cameron (whose real name is Rod Cox) was summoned for it."

The Family Search website (free), Ancestry.com (subscription), the California Death Index and the death certificate provide more info on Askam:

1900 census summary and census takers worksheet - 38 year old Oliver P. Askam (born Ohio; occupation "Physician"), his 36 year old wife Helena M. (born Washington), 9 year old son Earl L. (born Washington) and 5 year old son Oliver P. Jr. (born Washington) lived in Fremont, Santa Clara County, California: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M9GN-DYN
World War I draft registration dated May 30, 1917 - 26 year old Earl Leslie Rengstorff Askam was born May 10, 1891 in Seatle, Washington. He was living at the Lenox Hotel, W. 45th Street, New York, New York. His occupation was "Candidate Reserve Officer Training" and his employer was the United States and location of Plattsburgh, New York. He also lists prior military service of 2nd Lieut & Driver - American Infantry Ambulance, 3 1/2 years in California and France. There is some other scribbling but it was unreadable: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-26586-11885-93?cc=1968530
1930 census summary and census takers worksheet - 34 year old Earl L. Askam (born Washington), 35 year old wife Wally (born Germany), and 31 year old brother Parry O. Askam (born Washington) were renting at 1784 N. Los Palmas Avenue, Los Angeles. Occupations of both Earl and brother Perry were "Singer & actor - Theater"; and they both answer "Yes" and "World War I" to the are you a military veteran question: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XCVM-LQM
1940 census summary and census takers worksheet - 49 year old Earl L. R. Askam (born Washington) and 52 year old wife Wally (born Germany) owned their home at 4507 Longridge Avenue, Los Angeles. His occupation was "Actor-Motion Picture Production", and in the 1939, he worked 26 weeks and earned $5,000.00+: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9H2-BWP
Death certificate - 41 year old Earl Leslie Askam was born May 10, 1898 in Seattle, Washington. He passed away on April 1, 1940 at 4883 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, and cause of death was coronary thrombosis. His occupation was "Vocal - Actor", and parents were Oliver Perry Askam (born Ohio) and Helena Ringstorff [sic] (born California). Wife (and death certificate informant) was Wally Askam, and they lived at 8461 Kirkwood Drive, Hollywood, California. Funeral director was Vernon F. Steen and removal/burial to Oakhill Cemetery, San Jose, California.
California Death Index mirrors the death certificate - Earl Leslie Askam was born May 10, 1898 in Washington, Mother's maiden name was Ringstorff [sic], and he passed away April 1, 1940 in the Los Angeles area. (That 1898 birth year appears to be incorrect - 1900 census indicates he was born circa 1891): https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VG58-K32
The April 3, 1940 Los Angeles (California) Times newspaper had a death notice - excerpts: "ASKAM of 8461 Kirkwood Drive, Hollywood. Earl Askam, beloved husband of Wally, father of Earl M., brother of Perry Askam. Remains forwarded to San Jose, Cal., for military services and interment ...": https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103791252/death-notice-for-actor-earl-askam/
Earl Askam obituary in the April 3, 1940 Los Angeles (California) Times: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103790678/obituary-for-earl-askam-aged-41/
October, 1941 delayed birth certificate which was requested by Earl's wife Wally Ella Askam. His full name was Earl Leslie Rengstorff Askam; birth date and location were May 10, 1891 in Black River Junction, Washington; and his parents were Doctor Oliver Perry Askam and Helena Margaret Rengstorff: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-22029-1285-48?cc=1463676

Find A Grave website confirms that Earl Askam is interred at Oak Hill Memorial Park, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/185230420/earl-leslie_rengstorff-askam

Olin Caldwell Francis was born in 1891 in Mooreville, Mississippi. He was a World War I aviator and fighter pilot, and there are a few traces of his military career:

February 25, 1918 Aerial Age Weekly publication has Olin Caldwell Francis appointed as Second Lieutenant and reporting to Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas.
July 11, 1918 Air Service Journal has Second Lieutenant Olin C. Francis reporting to Scott Field, Belleville, Illinois.
Fold3 military records has Second Lieutenant Olin C. Francis on a September 14, 1918 military passenger list on the S. S. Louisville which departed New York City to France. His wife is Letha Francis, 4040 Flore Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri.
Fold3 military records had a ship transport log - Second Lieutenant Olin C. Francis is among about a thousand military personnel that left Brest, France on February 23, 1919 on the S. S. Oriana (Cunard Line) and arrived in New York on March 6, 1919.

His overseas duty was brief as World War I ended with the signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918.

Olin's movie career began circa 1921 and he starred in a few silents before transitioning to character / heavy roles. However, his movie workload was near zero circa 1929 - 1930, and when the 1930 census was taken, his occupation was "Salesman - Life Insurance".

In talkies, he wound up in lesser, mostly uncredited roles portraying B film gang members, henchmen, barkeeps, and such. His meatiest B western performance occurred in TAKE ME BACK TO OKLAHOMA (Monogram, 1940), one of Tex Ritter's best Monograms. Francis plays "Mule Bates", a released convict who's hired by Karl Hackett to handle the reins in a stagecoach race ... as well as killing off hero Tex. But he winds up going straight and assisting Ritter, sidekick 'Slim' Andrews and Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys.

His last film appearance was circa 1941 ... and then he disappears from the movie business. He identified himself as an actor in the 1940 census. However, the occupation on his 1952 death certificate was "Police Officer - Air Craft".

He passed away at Culver City Hospital, Culver City, Calfornia on June 30, 1952 from a heart attack and complications from heart disease and obesity. His passing was noted in the July 9, 1952 issue of Variety: "Olin Francis, 60, legit and screen actor for 40 years, died June 30 in Hollywood. He was a charter member of the Screen Actors Guild."

Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Olin Francis: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0290274

The Air Force Association website lists "Lt. Olin C. Francis WWI Fighter Pilot USAA": http://secure.afa.org/afm/logbook/index_results_new.asp?last_name=f&Nav=2

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Margaret Herrick Library, Janus Barfoed Collection has a couple stills with Olin Francis in 1920s films: https://digitalcollections.oscars.org/digital/collection/p15759coll17/search/searchterm/%22olin%20francis%22/field/all/mode/all/conn/and/order/subjea/ad/asc

The Family Search website (free), Fold3 military records, Newspapers.com, Newspaper Archive, California Death Index, and the death certificate provide more on Olin Francis and family:

1900 census summary and census takers worksheet - 37 year old J. Nathan Francis, his 32 year old wife Nessie C., 9 year old son Olin Francis, and two younger children (both daughters) lived in Nettleton, Lee county, Mississippi. All five family members were born in Mississippi. Father J. Nathan Francis was a "Teacher (school)" and Olin was listed as "at school": https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9XW-4NN
1917 World War I draft registration dated June 5, 1917 - 26 year old Olin Caldwell Francis was living in Memphis, Tennesee, and was a locomotive fireman on the Frisco Railroad. He was single and born September 13, 1891 in Moareville / Mooreville, Mississippi: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-25095-117300-11?cc=1968530&wc=MM18-J38:n394065054
Fold3 had a couple military transport logs for Second Lieutenant Olin C. Francis. One was a September 14, 1918 military passenger list on the S. S. Louisville which departed New York City to France. His wife was Letha Francis, 4040 Flore Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri. There was also a ship transport log - Second Lieutenant Olin C. Francis was among about a thousand military that left Brest, France on February 23, 1919 and arrived in New York on March 6, 1919 on the S. S. Oriana (Cunard Line).
1920 census summary and census takers worksheet - 28 year old Olin C. Francis (born Mississippi) and his 25 year old wife Letha V. (born Wisconsin) were renting in Shreveport, Caddo County, Louisiana. His occupation was "Aviator - Aerial Company": https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVQF-DDG
AP syndicated story in the October 27, 1926 Oakland (California) Tribune: "Film 'Villain' Weds New York Singer. Hollywood, Oct. 27. Marriage of Olin Francis, who plays the leading 'heavy' roles with Harold Lloyd's film company, and Miss Francis Hanrion, New York concert singer, was announced here today. The ceremony took place at Riverside."
1930 census summary and census takers worksheet - 38 year old Olin C. Francis (born Mississippi) and his 32 year old wife Francis O. (born Kansas) were renting in Los Angeles, California. His occupation was "Salesman - Life Insurance", and he was a World War I veteran: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCV4-6TY
1940 census summary and census takers worksheet - 49 year old Olin Francis (born Mississippi) and his 72 year old mother Nessie (born Mississippi) owned their home at 3737 Kelton, Los Angeles, and lived there in 1935. Olin's occupation was "Film Actor - Film Studio", and he reported that in 1939, he worked 13 weeks and earned $1200.00: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K9CR-G47
World War II draft registration - Olin Caldwell Francis was still residing at 3737 Kelton Ave, Los Angeles, and his mother Nessie Francis was living with him and was his contact. His birth date and location was September 13, 1891 and Mooresville, Mississippi. Employer was the Screen Actors Guild in Hollywood: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-16386-58215-13?cc=1861144&wc=MMRW-1TG:n1651868218
Death certificate - 60 year old Olin Caldwell Francis was born September 13, 1891 in Mississippi. He was divorced; occupation was "Police Officer - Air Craft"; he was a World War I veteran; and parents were James M. Francis and Nessie Caldwell, both born in Mississippi. He was hospitalized for five days and passed away at the Culver City Hospital, Culver City, Calfornia on June 30, 1952 from myocardial infarction and arteriosclerotic heart disease complicated by obesity. Burial at Inglewood Park Cemetery. Home address was 3737 Kelton Avenue, Los Angeles. Death certificate informant was Hilton Luke (husband of Olin Francis' sister Leona).
The California Death Index mirrors the death certificate - Olin Caldwell Francis was born September 13, 1891 in Mississippi, Mother's maiden name of Caldwell, and he passed away on June 30, 1952 in the Los Angeles area: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPDX-3H3
July 3, 1952 Los Angeles (California) Times reported that there was a funeral delay due to difficulties contacting Olin Francis' two sisters who were traveling on vacation - they were "Mrs. C. A. Patterson and Mrs. Leona Luke, both of Culver City": https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20564187/olin_francis/

Find A Grave website confirms that Olin Francis is interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, California: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/92201137/olin-caldwell-francis

Carl Fredrick "Kansas" Moehring wasn't from Kansas. He was born in St. Marys, Ohio in 1896. And he was in Hollywood circa 1913 as a rider and stunt man in westerns and action films. There are newspaper reports about a severe spinal injury that he suffered while working on a 1913 film at Universal.

The Lima (Ohio) Daily News from November 21, 1913 had a lengthy article on that injury and the possibility that Moehring would be paralized / disabled. The headline read "LIMA YOUTH SERIOUSLY HURT IN CALIFORNIA. CARL MOEHRING JUMPS FROM SADDLE ON BACK OF RUNAWAY BRONCHO". Following are a few excerpts from the article including a mention that his parents had moved from Ohio to Kansas (and perhaps that's when he picked up the "Kansas" moniker):

His parents were "Mrs. and Mrs. Henry J. Moehring, formerly of Lima and St. Marys ..." and "Carl Moehring ... (was) one of three Lima youths (that) ran away ... and started for the west. They went at first to Independence, Kan., where Carl's father was employed ..." and "Carl continued on to California where he secured employment with the Universal Film company."

He did recover from the spinal injury and continued stunting and riding.

Stunt men employed in Errol Flynn's CAPTAIN BLOOD (Warner Bros., 1935) were highlighted in an "Overheard In Hollywood" column in late 1935 newspapers. Names listed in the article: "Among them are Artie Ortego, Gene Alsace, Kansas Moehring, Jack Silver, Harry Dean, Si Slocum, Tom Steele, Blackie Whiteford and Jerry Pine."

By the 1940s - and perhaps due to age or injuries - he exited stunt work and did minor roles as a henchman, barfly, townsman, etc. In 1950s television, look closely and you might spot him in background roles in COWBOY G-MEN, BRONCO, MAVERICK, CHEYENNE, SUGARFOOT, LAWMAN, other shows.

Moehring's movie and television career spanned about forty years, from early 1920s - early 1960s.

The Family Search website (free), Ancestry.com (subscription), and California Death Index provide more information on Moehring and family:

1900 census summary and census takers worksheet - 27 year old Henry J. Moehring (born Ohio), his 31 year old wife Minnie C. (born Ohio), 6 year old daughter Gretchen (born Ohio), and 4 year old son Carl F. (born Ohio) were living in St. Mary's village, Auglaize County, Ohio: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMCW-PQ6
1910 census summary and census takers worksheet - 36 year old Henry J. Moehring (born Ohio), his 34 year old wife Minnie C. (born Ohio), 16 year old daughter Gretchen (born Ohio), 14 year old son Carl (born Ohio), and 9 year old son Walter W. (born Ohio) resided in Lima, Allen County, Ohio: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLN6-KHB
World War I draft registration dated June 5, 1918 - 21 year old Carl Moehring was born July 23, 1896 in St. Marys, Ohio. He was living at 400 So. 11, Independence, Kansas; employer was the United States of American, Nitro, West Virginia; and contact was his father, Henry J. Moehring, Independence, Kansas: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K66F-DNJ
1920 census summary and census takers worksheet - residing in Independence, Montgomery County, Kansas were 48 year old Henry J. Moehring (born Ohio), his 45 year old wife Minnie (born Ohio), 24 year old daughter Gretchen (born Ohio), 22 year old son Carl (born Ohio) and 19 year old son Walter (born Ohio). The family was renting at 400 South Eleventh Street, Independence, Kansas. Father Henry's occupation was "Boiler maker - Own business" and Carl was "Actor - Moving Pictures": https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFXN-TDY
May 10, 1923 Los Angeles marriage license of 26 year old Carl Fredrick Moehring (born Ohio) and 20 year old Velma May Edwards (born Oklahoma). First marriage for him and second for her (she was widowed and maiden name was Velma May Hutchinson). Occupations of both were "Motion Pictures - Universal City": https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8N3-37F
1940 census summary and census takers worksheet - 44 year old Kansas Moehring (born Ohio) was divorced, renting, and living alone at 5280 1/2 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, and he lived in Los Angeles in 1935. He reported his birth place as Ohio, occupation was "Cowboy stuntman - Motion Pictures", and in 1939, he worked 30 weeks and earned $1200.00: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K9CC-6F5
1942 World War II draft registration - Kansas Moehring reported his birth info as July 23, 1896 in St. Marys, Ohio. He still lives at 5280 1/2 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, and "Central Casting Corp." was listed as his employer as well as contact: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V4D4-MQ6
California Marriage Index with Kansas Moehring marrying Carrie Smith / Carrie E. Warnack on December 12, 1961 in Los Angeles County:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V6XQ-7LL
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V62Z-Z6M
California Death Index has dual records for Carl F. Moehring and Kansas Moehring. He was born 7/9/1897 in Ohio, Mother's maiden name of Ersig, and he passed away in the Los Angeles area on 10/3/1968. Note the birth date discrepancy vs. his World War I and II draft registrations (which have a July 23, 1896 birth date):
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPHS-17L
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPDG-2MR

Find A Grave website has Carl F. Moehring, nickname of "Kansas", interred at Mount Hope Cemetery, Independence, Montgomery County, Kansas: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110645201/carl-f-moehring

Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Kansas Moehring: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0595415