52 Ancestors: Week 36 "Working for a Living": John Boe

When my great-grandfather John Boe was 19 years old, he worked as a farmer on his parents' farm.

1895 Minnesota state census, Swift County, population schedule, West Bank township, page 1. Ancestry.com. Minnesota, Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.Original data: Minnesota Historical Society. Minnesota State Population Census Schedules, 1865-1905. St. Paul, MN, USA: Minnesota Historical Society, 1977. Microfilm. Reels 1-47 and 107-164.

By 1900, John was working as a salesman. He may have changed occupations at the time of his first marriage (to Signe Olson, on 21 March 1897). He remained in Swift County, Minnesota until at least 1901, but by 1904, he was living in Mason City, Cerro Gordo, Iowa, where he worked as a traveling agent.

R. L. Polk & Co.'s Mason City Directory 1904. Mason City, Iowa: R. L. Polk & Co. Page 51. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. 

By 1908, John's first marriage had ended and he had married my great-grandmother Kathleen Graham. They lived in St. Louis, Missouri, where he worked for Weber Implement Company.

Gould's St. Louis City Directory 1908. Page 220. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

In 1910, John and his brothers Hans Adolph and Theodore formed the Boe Brothers farm machinery company. John was president of the company.

Williston City Directory 1911-1912. Williston, ND: North Dakota Directory Co., 1911. Page 31. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. 

Williston Graphic, 30 June 1910, page 10

Williston Graphic, 26 January 1911, page 3

In 1913, Hans Adolph Boe relocated to Alexander, McKenzie County, North Dakota, where he worked in the implement business. That same year, Theodore Boe relocated to Arnegard, McKenzie County, North Dakota and opened a farm machinery business there. John remained in Williston, and changed the company name to the John Boe Machinery Co.

Williston Graphic, 13 March 1913, page 6

Williston Graphic, 5 June 1913, page 4

In March 1915, John and his family moved back to St. Louis, Missouri, and John rejoined Weber Implement Co. By October 1915, he was working for Mitchell-Lewis Motor Co. In February 1918, John became president of the Mitchell Automobile Corporation of Missouri, which changed its name to the St. Louis Motor Car Company in late 1918.

 St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 29 December 1918, page 11

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 22 June 1919, page 10

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 28 December 1919, page 8

In the late 1920s, the company failed, and the Boe family moved to Sarasota, Florida for a year. They then returned to St. Louis. John worked as a factory representative for Marmon Car Co. and for Buick; he was the zone sales manager and covered several northwestern states.

John left his family in 1929, probably because Anna Mae Gamble was pregnant with their daughter Jane (who was born that year in Minneapolis, Minnesota). They were living in Minneapolis in 1930, supposedly married (they actually married on 22 August 1934 in St. Joseph County, Indiana). John worked as a salesman in the farm machinery industry.

1930 United States Census, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, Ward 7, population schedule, enumeration district 27-129, sheet no. 54A.  Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.

By 1938, John and his third family had moved to Algona, Kossuth County, Iowa. John managed the Buick dealership there.

Algona Upper Des Moines, 10 May 1938, page 5

By 1940, John's third wife and their daughter were living in Beverly Hills, California. John was in Minnesota. He had been unable to find a job in the automobile business. On 1 April 1940, he started a new job selling living protection. He worked on commission.

 Letter from John Boe to his daughter-in-law Margaret Boe, 29 April 1940

John had left Minnesota and gone to California by 27 June 1940, when he died in Norwalk State Hospital in Norwalk, Los Angeles County, California.

Census Sunday: Mr. and Mrs. Sexy

I came across this census record, and the names of one couple caught my attention: J.N. Sexy and Mrs. Sexy. I thought that was an unusual surname!

1925 Census of Iowa. Ellsworth, Hamilton County, Iowa. Available from Ancestry.com. Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

52 Ancestors: Week 16 "Live Long": Walter Floyd Boe

The Week 16 theme for Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors Challenge is "Live Long". One ancestor that came to mind was my great-grandmother Ellen Victoria (Dahlquist) Anderson (8 September 1886 - 26 April 1986), who lived to the age of 99. But since I have already written about her, I  decided to write about another relative who also lived to the age of 99: Walter Floyd Boe, my maternal grandfather's half-brother.

Walter Floyd Boe was born on 5 June 1901 in Minnesota. He was the son of my great-grandfather John Boe and his first wife Signe Olson. On 31 August 1901, Walter was baptized in the Lutheran Church in Benson, Swift County, Minnesota.

Baptism, Walther Floyd Boe. 31 August 1901. Trinity and Our Savior's Lutheran, Benson, Minnesota. Ministerial records, combined, 1900-1917. Available from Ancestry.com. Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. ELCA, Birth, Marriage, Deaths. Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Chicago, Illinois.

By 1905, the Boe family was living in Mason City, Cerro Gordo, Iowa.

Iowa state census, 1905. Mason City, Cerro Gordo, Iowa. Available from Ancestry.com. Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. 

Shortly afterward, Walter's parents separated. He, his mother, and his sisters Lillian and Gladys were in California by 1914, when his half-sister Vivian Brazier was born in Tehama County. His half-sister Cecil Brazier was born in Butte County, California in 1916.

In 1920, Walter and his mother and sisters were living in Stockton, San Joaquin County, California. Walter was using the surname Brazier. He was working as a machinist.

1920 United States census, Stockton Ward 3, San Joaquin County, California, population schedule, enumeration district 173, sheet no. 18B. Available from Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

On 24 December 1929, Walter married Vilo Ulala Christiansen in Los Angeles, California. They were married by Bishop Albin Hoglund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. At the time of their marriage, Walter worked as a locomotive fireman for the Southern Pacific Railway.

California, County Marriages, 1850-1952, index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8NY-WRV), Walter Floyd Boe Brazier and Vilo Ulala Christensen, 24 Dec 1929; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 2,074,770.

California, County Marriages, 1850-1952, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-29942-4027-43?cc=1804002), Walter Floyd Boe Brazier and Vilo Ulala Christensen, 24 Dec 1929; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 2,074,770.

In 1930, Walter and Viola lived in Los Angeles with Vilo's mother, Emma (Jones) Christiansen. Walter was working as a locomotive engineer.

1930 United States census, Los Angeles City, Ward 13, Los Angeles County, California, population schedule, enumeration district 19-764, sheet 12A. Available from Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.

In 1931, Walter's listing in the Los Angeles city directory indicated that he was an engineer in the Garfield Building.

Los Angeles, California City Directory, 1931. Available from Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011

By 1939, Walter and Vilo were living in Fresno, California with Walter's mother and half-sister Cecil.

Polk's Fresno (California) City Directory, 1939.Los Angeles, CA: R. L. Polk & Co. Available from Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

By 1940, Walter and Vilo were living in Chowchilla, Madera County, California, and had had two of their daughters. Two more daughters were born later. Walter was working as an electrical engineer at a creamery.

1940 United States census, Chowchilla, Madera County, California,population schedule, enumeration district 20-1, sheet no. 1B. Available from Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

Walter eventually returned to his birth surname, Boe. He and his family moved to Butte, Chico County, California. In 1983, he was listed in the city directory as a junk collector.

1983 Chico (Butte County, Calif.) City Directory. R. L. Polk & Co. Available from Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

Walter's wife Vilo died on 19 August 1990. Walter died on 15 February 2001. They are buried in Glen Oaks Memorial Park in Chico, Butte County, California.

 Photo by Adriana at Find A Grave

Sympathy Saturday: Great-Grandfather's Sister-in-Law Killed in Automobile Accident After Visit

Floy Gamble, the sister of my great-grandfather John Boe's third wife Anna Mae Gamble, was killed in an automobile accident on 25 July 1938 in South Bend Township, Blue Earth County, Minnesota. She had been visiting John and Anna Mae at their home in Algona, Kossuth County, Iowa. As she headed home, she apparently fell asleep at the wheel and drove into a ditch.

Floy was born in Indiana in March 1884. She was the daughter of Henry Harrison Gamble and Louisa Tilford.

Her funeral took place in Martinsville, Morgan County, Indiana. John and Anna Mae Boe traveled to Indiana for the funeral. John returned to Algona on August 1; Anna Mae stayed longer, probably to spend time with her family.

Until I found the news report of Floy's accident, I had not known that my great-grandfather had lived in Algona. I think he only lived there for a year or two.

Kossuth County Advance, 28 July 1938, page 1

Kossuth County Advance, 4 August 1938, page 1

52 Ancestors: #35 John Boe

My great-grandfather John Boe was born on 15 March 1876, in Swift County or Big Bend, Chippewa County, Minnesota. He was the son of Jorgen Jorgensen Boe and Aaste Halvorson (Halvorsdatter) Otterholt, who were second cousins and who were both immigrants from Bø, Telemark, Norway. In 1880 he lived with his parents and siblings in Big Bend. In 1885 the family was in Lac qui Parle, Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota. In 1895 the family was living in West Bank, Swift County, Minnesota.

On 21 March 1897, John married Signe Olson at his family's home in Swift County, Minnesota. The couple was married by O. E. Solseth. Their daughter Lillian Ruth was born on 12 February 1898. Their son Walter T. was born on June 1899. In 1900, the Boe family was living in Benson, Swift County, Minnesota. Son Walter T. died on 26 September 1900. Another son, Walter Floyd, was born on 5 June 1901. By 1904, the family had moved to Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. The same year, John attended the St. Louis World's Fair (Louisiana Purchase Exposition) with his brother Hans Adolph "Duff" Boe and his mother Aaste (Halvorson) Boe. At the fair, he met Kathleen Graham (my great-grandmother), the woman who would become his second wife. John and Signe's last child, their daughter Gladys Dorothy, was born in Mason City on 15 June 1905.

John and Signe separated, but according to family lore, never actually divorced. John married Kathleen Graham, and by 1907, they were living in St. Louis, Missouri. He became a father to Kathleen's daughter Vivian, who took his surname. Their son John (my maternal grandfather) was born in St. Louis on 28 April 1908. Their daughter Florence Kathleen was born on 22 November 1909 in Williston, Williams County, North Dakota. In the 1910 United States census, the family was enumerated in St. Louis, in the household of John's mother-in-law Catherine Elizabeth (Winters) Mapplebeck. John was working for Weber Implement Co. as a salesman for the Mitchell car. In 1911, the family was in Williston, North Dakota. John and his brothers Hans Adolph "Duff" and Theodore Jorgen "Ted" formed the Boe Brothers farm machinery business. He was president of the company. Two more children were born in Williston: son James Jorgen on 27 September 1911, and daughter Theodora Catherine on 9 February 1914. In March 1915, the family moved back to St. Louis, and John rejoined Weber Implement Co. He was working for Mitchell-Lewis Motor Co. by October 1915. John and Kathleen's last child, daughter Geraldine Edith, was born in St. Louis on 29 July 1916.

John became president of the Mitchell Automobile Corporation of Missouri in February 1918. In late 1918, the company changed its name to the St. Louis Motor Car Company. John remained president of the company. The company failed in the late 1920s. The Boe family moved to Sarasota, Florida for a year, and then returned to St. Louis. John worked as a factory representative for Marmon Car Co. and for Buick. He was the zone sales manager and covered several northwestern states. He must have met his third wife, Anna Mae Gamble, while traveling for business. She was living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. John left Kathleen (but according to family lore, never divorced her). On 27 June 1929, John and Anna Mae's daughter Jane Ann was born in Minneapolis. According to her birth record, she was a legitimate child, and John and Anna Mae were listed as married in the 1930 United States census. However, their marriage actually took place on 22 August 1934 in St. Joseph County, Indiana. If the family lore about John never divorcing his previous wives is true, John was a bigamist twice over.

On 29 April 1940, John wrote a letter to his daughter-in-law Margaret, my maternal grandmother. She had written to him to let him know that he was going to be a grandfather. He said that he would love to see them, but he couldn't afford many trips because he had not been doing very well for the last few years. He had not been able to find a job in the automobile business because of his age. On April 1, he had started a new job selling living protection. He worked in small country towns, had to pay his own expenses, and he was paid on commission. He said he had not been doing well so far. At the top of the letter, he had written the location "North Branch, Minn." At the bottom of the letter, after his signature, he had given another location: Lindstrom, Minn. At this time, his wife Anna Mae and daughter Jane were living in Beverly Hills, California. Although he had said that he could not afford many trips, John was in California by 27 June 1940, when he died in Norwalk State Hospital in Norwalk, Los Angeles County, California. His death certificate stated that he had been in California for a year, had been in the hospital for 10 minutes, and had been a resident of the community for 10 minutes. His body was sent back to Minnesota and he was buried in Big Bend Lutheran Church Cemetery in Milan, Chippewa County, Minnesota.

Williston, North Dakota city directory, 1911

John and Kathleen Boe and family. Photo from Boe (Bø) and Halvorson-Otterholt; Shared Roots in Telemark. Compiled by Melvin and Alpha M. (Boe) Brodshaug, 1984. Published by Arlene (Boe) Christensen and Marjorie (Boe) Bergee. Printed by Anundsen Publishing Co., Decorah, Iowa.

American Garage & Auto Dealer, August 1919

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 29 December 1918

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 22 June 1919