Thriller Thursday: Charles Buise Embezzles Stake Money and Flees

Shortly before the 1892 wrestling match between D. S. McLeod and Joe Acton, Charles Buise deposited $250 with the Chronicle to secure a bet on McLeod, $1000 against $1100. Washington Marion, a traveling salesman,  gave Charles Buise $500 to bet on McLeod, and Buise secured a bet of $600 for him.

San Francisco Chronicle, 22 January 1892 

Prior to the match, there was suspicion that the contest would not be a fair one. McLeod won the match.

 The Morning Call (San Francisco, CA), 11 March 1892

Charles Buise was the proprietor of the Hot Scotch saloon on Morton Street in San Francisco. After he collected his winnings, he did not give Washington Marion his share of the money.  He sold his saloon to his bartender, and headed to Portland, Oregon, where his wife was working as a song and dance performer. He was captured there several months later and was brought back to San Francisco. He was charged with embezzlement and placed in the San Francisco City Prison, but was released on $3000 bond.

The Morning Call (San Francisco, CA), 1 July 1892

After getting out on bail, Charles Buise left the United States and returned to his home country, Canada. He went to Victoria, British Columbia. The winning wrestler, McLeod, was also from British Columbia; he came from Nanaimo. I wonder if this was coincidental, or if there was some connection. Charles Buise had been born and baptized in Quebec City, and had lived in Montreal before he came to San Francisco (and had allegedly passed a counterfeit bill there in 1887). Although an attempt was made to capture him in British Columbia, he escaped and went to Montreal. When he found out that his wife was cheating on him with actor Waldo Whipple, he tracked them down in Butte, Montana, where he shot them and then shot himself.

San Francisco Chronicle, 27 January 1893

Although the above article states that Waldo Whipple also died, he actually survived his injuries. 

Charles Buise was probably related to Elizabeth Buise, who married my 3rd-great-grandfather John Bennet Winters. But since his mother Margaret McGillivray's death notice was transcribed in the Winters family Bible and she was not Elizabeth Buise's mother, I wonder if he is also related to me. I have many black sheep in my family. Considering all of Charles Buise's misdeeds, I figure he must be my cousin!

52 Ancestors: Week 30 "Challenging": Elizabeth Buise

I do not know much about Elizabeth Buise, the last (second as far as I know) wife of my 3rd-great-grandfather John Bennet Winters. John and Elizabeth were married by Robert Campbell on 18 May 1878 at Presbyterian Saint Gabriel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The church record stated that Elizabeth's parents were George Buise of Montreal and his wife Margaret White, and that they were deceased.

Marriage of John Bennett Winters and Elizabeth Buise, 18 May 1878. Presbyterian Saint Gabriel, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Ancestry.com. Quebec, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. Original data: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montreal, Quebec, Canada: Institut Généalogique Drouin. 

John died on 25 December 1879. Apparently he and Elizabeth had a child, because "Infant of the late John Winters" is listed on Find A Grave as being buried in Mount Royal Cemetery (the same cemetery as John). The date of death (or burial) was 31 July 1880. I have not yet found any more information about this infant.

I have never found Elizabeth Buise in census records, and I do not know what happened to her. I do not know when she was born, but she must have been of childbearing age when she married John Bennett Winters.

Elizabeth was probably related to Charles Buise (son of Margaret McGillivray, the "mystery woman" in the Winters family Bible) and his father, Charles Buise/Bews. Jane Buise, who was a witness at the wedding of John Bennet Winters and Elizabeth Buise, was probably also a relative. She may be the Jane Buise who was enumerated as a servant in the household of  Wales and Minnie Lee in Montreal in the 1881 Census of Canada, and who married William Edgar Jesse Smith on 23 August 1881. (Charles Buise was a witness at the wedding.) Charles Buise (son of Margaret) married Virginie Chebout on 23 February 1874 in Montreal; in the 1881 Census of Canada, she was also enumerated as Jane Buise.

The only George Buise or Bews that I have found is the George Bews who was enumerated in the 1825 Census of Lower Canada in Cap Sante, Hampshire. If he was Elizabeth's father, Margaret White may have been a second wife.

George Bews, Cap Sante, Hampshire, Quebec, Canada. Canada, recensement du Bas-Canada, 1825, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KHJD-6M4), citing p. 1685 1686, volume 3, MG 31 C1; Library and Archives Canada microfilm number C-718, Public Archives, Ottawa, Ontario; FHL microfilm 2,443,958.

On TheShipsList, I found a transcribed passenger list from a ship that sailed from Quebec City at 8:00 PM on 30 May 1834 and arrived in Montreal at 4:00 PM on 31 May 1834. Passengers 371 and 372 were named Buise and White. Perhaps they were Elizabeth's parents George Buise and Margaret White. Since they were not listed on the same line, perhaps they had not yet  married; maybe they left for Montreal together and married there.

Screen shot, 1834 Arrivals: Canada - 8th trip up, Quebec to Montreal, May 30th 1834, left at 8 PM and arrived at 4 PM, May 31st. TheShipsList.  http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/passengerlists/1834/cmay30.shtml

I would like to learn more about Elizabeth Buise for two reasons. One reason is that she was married to my 3rd-great-grandfather. The other reason is that I would like to figure out the connection between her and Charles Buise, son of Margaret McGillivray. Because Margaret's death notice was transcribed in the Winters family Bible, I think that she may be a relative, and perhaps that connection is what brought John Bennet Winters, his daughter Catherine Elizabeth Winters, and his son-in-law James Graham to Montreal. I do not know much about the family of Anna "Ann" Walker, my 3rd-great-grandmother and the previous wife of John Bennet Winters, and I know even less about my 2nd-great-grandfather James Graham. James Graham is my biggest brick wall, and would also  have been an appropriate choice for this week's 52 Ancestors theme, but I have already written about him and have not learned anything more about him since I wrote that post. Margaret McGillivray may have been related to Ann Walker or James Graham.

Church Record Sunday: Baptism of Charles Bews

Charles Bews baptismal record, 22 November 1847. St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Ancestry.com. Quebec, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. Original data: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montreal, Quebec, Canada: Institut Généalogique Drouin.

Charles Bews (also known as Charles Buise) was born on 21 May 1847. He was the son of Charles Bews and Margaret McGillivray. On 22 November 1847, he was baptized at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Quebec City by John Cook. Charles' father was not present at the ceremony.

52 Ancestors: #50 Halvor Eriksen Otterholt

My 3rd-great-grandfather Halvor Eriksen Otterholt was born on 28 June 1821 in Bø, Telemark, Norway, and was baptized on 1 July 1821. He was the son of Erik Halvorsen Sønstebø (also known as Erik Halvorsen Brenne) and Aaste Kittilsdatter. Erik was the sister of Kari Halvorsdatter Sønstebø; both are my 4th-great-grandparents through different lines of descent.

On 17 July 1845 in Bø. Halvor married Guro Hansdatter Askilt. They had seven children in Norway: Erik, born 25 April 1846; Hans, born 5 August 1847; Kittel or Kjetil (later known as Charles), born 11 September 1850; Torkel, born 6 September 1852; my 2nd-great-grandmother Aaste, born 3 February 1854; Anne, born 25 February 1858; and Kari, born 7 September 1861.

In 1865, Halvor and his family lived on the Otterholdt (or Otterholt) farm in Bø. He was listed as a Gaardbrgr og Selveier (farmer or owner, freeholder).

In 1867, Halvor and his family immigrated to the United States. In 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), there is a quote from a letter written to Leland Otterholt by Aaste Lie: "The Otterholts were a prosperous people. Halvor loved the horses and bet on them but lost. Being proud, he decided to emigrate to America with his family." Although there may have been other reasons for the family's emigration, I suspect that there is at least a grain of truth to that statement. The family left Norway from Skien, Telemark on the Rjukan, and they arrived in Quebec, Canada on 30 May 1867.

Halvor and his family settled in Canisteo, Dodge County, Minnesota. About 1868, Halvor and Guro's last child, Johanna, was born. The family was enumerated in Canisteo in the 1870 United States census. Halvor was a farmer. His real estate had a value of $800, and his personal estate had a value of $340. In the United States, he was usually known as Halvor Erickson. Some of his children used the surname Halvorson, and some used the surname Otterholt.

By 1875, the family had moved to Swenoda, Swift County, Minnesota. In 1880, they lived in West Bank, Swift County, Minnesota. Halvor became a citizen of the United States on 18 May 1880.

Halvor applied for a land patent through the Homestead Act of 1862, for 80 acres of land located in the south half, northwest quarter, section 32 of Township 120 North of Range No. 41 west of the Principal Meridian, Swift County, Minnesota. He had settled on the land in June 1873 and built a house and a stable, and dug a well. His patent was issued on 25 July 1882. His son-in-law Jorgen Jorgensen Boe (my 2nd-great-grandfather) received his certificate the same day, for nearby land. Halvor later applied for an additional land patent, for 80 acres of land located in the east half, northeast quarter, section 31 of Township 120 North of Range No. 41 west of the Principal Meridian, Swift County, Minnesota. His patent was issued on 1 April 1892.

Halvor died on 14 January 1898. He was buried in Big Bend Lutheran Church Cemetery in Milan, Chippewa County, Minnesota.

Telemark county, Bø, Parish register (official) nr. 6 (1815-1831), Birth and baptism records 1821, page 100-101. http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20051011061114.jpg

Telemark county, Bø, Parish register (official) nr. 7 (1831-1848), Marriage records 1845, page 289. http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20051011050327.jpg

Telemark county, Bø, Parish register (official) nr. 9 (1862-1879), Migration records 1868, page 382. http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20051011051208.jpg

Passenger list, Rjukan, 1867. Passenger Lists, 1865–1935. Microfilm Publications T-479 to T-520, T-4689 to T-4874, T-14700 to T-14939, C-4511 to C-4542. Library and Archives Canada, n.d. RG 76-C. Department of Employment and Immigration fonds. Library and Archives Canada Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Available from Ancestry.com. Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.

Halvor Erikson naturalization, 18 May 1880. Swift County District Court, State of Minnesota. From Halvor Eriksen land entry case file no. 4485, 1882.

Halvor Eriksen, Swift County, Minnesota. Certificate no. 4485. United States Bureau of Land Management, 25 July 1882.

52 Ancestors: #37 Charles Halvorson, Minnesota State Senator

Kittel (or Kjetil) Halvorsen Otterholt, the brother of my great-great-grandmother Aaste Halvorsdatter Otterholt, was born on 11 September 1850 in Bø, Telemark, Norway. He was the son of Halvor Eriksen Otterholt and Guro Hansdatter Askilt. He was enumerated with his family in the 1865 census of Norway, living on the Otterholdt farm in Bø.

On 20 April 1867, he and his parents and siblings left Norway from Skien, Telemark on the Rjukan and arrived in Quebec, Canada on 30 May 1867. The family settled in Canisteo, Dodge County, Minnesota. They were enumerated there in the 1870 United States census. Kittel was listed as a farm laborer. He also clerked in a drug store from 1869 to 1873.

Kittel changed his name to Charles Halvorson. On 9 January 1878, he married Julia Baronette Olson in Dodge County, Minnesota. In 1879, they moved to Montevideo, Chippewa County, Minnesota. Charles was a bookkeeper for two years.

Charles and Julia's first child, daughter Ella Gurina, was born on 11 January 1880. Sadly, she died three weeks later. A second daughter, Ella Josephine, was born on 5 November 1880. In 1881, Charles became a partner in the general store Stone & Halvorson in Lac qui Parle Village, Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota.

On 24 November 1884, daughter Cora Elizabeth was born in Dawson, Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota. In December 1884, Stone & Halvorson left Lac qui Parle Village and split into two stores: Stone & Halvorson in Madison, Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota and Charles Halvorson in Dawson, Minnesota. The Madison store was only open for a short time.

Daughter Olga Beatrice was born on 13 January 1887. Daughter Effie Amanda was born on 31 December 1889. Twin sons were born on 19 June 1893, fifteen minutes apart: Charles Stanford and Walter Stanton.

In 1897, Charles' modified Queen Anne style home in Riverside, Dawson was built. It had seven stained glass windows and a wrap-around porch with columns. It cost $10,000 to build and was one of the finest homes in the area.

On 8 November 1898, Charles was elected to the Minnesota State Senate. He was a Republican and represented District 18, Chippewa and Lac qui Parle counties. During the 31st legislative session (1899-1900), he was chair of the Illuminating Oils committee and also served on the Forestry and Fire Protection, Internal Improvements, Public Parks, Railroads, State Prison, and Temperance committees. During the 32nd legislative session (1901-1902), he was chair of the Retrenchment and Reform committee and also served on the Forestry and Fire Protection, Grain and Warehouse, Public Lands, Public Parks, State Prison, and Temperance committees. His term ended on 5 January 1903.
   
On 27 February 1906, there was a fire in the Dawson business district. Charles' store there was burnt and did not reopen. However, he had other business enterprises. He was a partner in the men's clothing store Halvorson & Olson in Montevideo, Minnesota until 1908.

On 17 April 1909, Charles was appointed to the Minnesota State Board of Control. He replaced Leonard A. Rosing, who had died. Charles' term expired on 3 April 1911.

Charles was considered an honest, honorable, and dedicated man. He died in Hennepin County, Minnesota on 25 June 1913 and was buried in Grace Lutheran Cemetery in Dawson, Minnesota.

Telemark county, Bø, Parish register (official) nr. 8 (1849-1861), Birth and baptism records 1850, page 22. http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20051011050470.jpg

Passenger list, Rjukan, 1867. Passenger Lists, 1865–1935. Microfilm Publications T-479 to T-520, T-4689 to T-4874, T-14700 to T-14939, C-4511 to C-4542. Library and Archives Canada, n.d. RG 76-C. Department of Employment and Immigration fonds. Library and Archives Canada Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

The Legislative Manual of the State of Minnesota. State of Minnesota, 1901. Page 124.

The Legislative Manual of the State of Minnesota. State of Minnesota, 1901. Page 125.

 The Legislative Manual of the State of Minnesota. State of Minnesota, 1901. Page 671.

Journal of the Senate of the Thirty-Sixth Session of the State of Minnesota. St. Paul, Minnesota: McGill Warner, 1909. Page 1223.

Sixth Biennial Report of the Board of Control of State Institutions of Minnesota. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Syndicate Printing Co., 1912. Page 27.

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.

References
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.
Journal of the Senate of the Thirty-Sixth Session of the State of Minnesota. St. Paul, Minnesota: McGill Warner, 1909. Available from Google Books.
The Legislative Manual of the State of Minnesota. State of Minnesota, 1901. Available from Google Books.
Minnesota Legislative Reference Library: Legislators Past and Present
Ronningen, Johan. "Charlie Halvorson." Telesoga 29(1) (May 2008): 26-28.
Sixth Biennial Report of the Board of Control of State Institutions of Minnesota. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Syndicate Printing Co., 1912. Available from Google Books.
Telelaget of America. Telemark to America: Volume II: Settlements. 2nd ed. Telelaget of America, 1992, 2009.

52 Ancestors: #32 Jorgen Jorgensen Boe

My great-great-grandfather Jorgen Jorgensen Boe was born on 18 November 1850 in Bø, Telemark, Norway and was baptized on 24 November 1850. He was the son of Jorgen Pedersen Boe (Bø) and  Ingeborg Torsdatter Vatner. In 1865, he lived with his father's brother Gregar Pedersen Bø and Gregar's family on the Bø farm in Bø, Telemark. The 1865 census gives his occupation as Tjenestedreng (servant boy, farm hand).

In 1866, he left Norway with his parents and most of his siblings. They left from Christiania (now Oslo) on the Vanadis on 12 May 1866 and arrived in Quebec, Canada on 2 July 1866. The family then settled in Canisteo, Dodge County, Minnesota, where they were enumerated in the 1870 United States census. On 17 December 1873 in Rock Dell, Olmsted County, Minnesota, Jorgen married his second cousin Aaste Halvorson (Halvorsdatter) Otterholt. By 1875 they lived in Swenoda, Swift County, Minnesota with their daughter Kari (born 5 April 1874). In 1880 Jorgen and his family lived in Big Bend, Chippewa County, Minnesota. By this time two more children had been born: John (my great-grandfather, born 15 March 1876) and Hans Adolph (born 5 February 1878).

On 13 August 1880, Jorgen applied for a land patent under the Homestead Act of 1862, for 40 acres of land located in the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 34 of Township 120 North of Range No. 41 west of the Principal Meridian, Swift County, Minnesota. His application was commuted when he paid cash for the land on 8 June 1882. He received his certificate on 25 July 1882. Jorgen and Aaste's son Theodore Jorgen was born on 16 July 1883.

In 1885 the family was enumerated in Lac qui Parle, Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota. Jorgen and Aaste's youngest child, Hannah Gurina Boe, was born on 23 May 1886. In 1895 Jorgen, his wife, his sons, his daughter Hannah, and his parents lived in West Bank, Swift County, Minnesota. In 1900 Jorgen, his wife, and three youngest children were still living in West Bank. He was listed as a farmer.

Jorgen died in West Bank, Swift County, Minnesota on 17 December 1900 and was buried in Big Bend Lutheran Church Cemetery in Milan, Chippewa County, Minnesota.

Telemark county, Bø, Parish register (official) nr. 8 (1849-1861), Birth and baptism records 1850, page 25. http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20051011050473.jpg

Jorgen Boe. 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.

 Jorgen J. Boe, Swift County, Minnesota. Certificate no. 5060. United States Bureau of Land Management, 25 July 1882.

Founding of Quebec City - Anniversary

The Quebec Settlement : A.—The Warehouse. B.—Pigeon-loft. C.—Detached Buildings where we keep our arms and for Lodging our Workmen. D.—Another Detached Building for the Workmen. E.—Sun-dial. F.—Another Detached Building where is the Smithy and where the Workmen are Lodged. G.—Galleries all around the Lodgings. H.—The Sieur de Champlain's Lodgings. I.—The door of the Settlement with a Draw-bridge. L Promenade around the Settlement ten feet in width to the edge of the Moat. M.—Moat the whole way around the Settlement. O.—The Sieur de Champlain's Garden. P.—The Kitchen. Q.—Space in front of the Settlement on the Shore of the River. R.—The great River St. Lawrence. The works of Samuel de Champlain in six volumes.Toronto, The Champlain Society, 1925, reprinted 1971 by University of Toronto Press, volume II, p. 39. Image available from Wikimedia Commons.

Quebec City was founded 406 years ago today. In 1608, Pierre Dugua de Mons sent Samuel de Champlain to New France. Champlain arrived on 3 July 1608 and established a settlement at Quebec. He and his crew built a wooden fort, the Habitation, a few days after they arrived.

Margaret McGillivray, the "mystery person" in the Winters family Bible who may be a relative, lived in Quebec City. She was from Beauport. She married her husband Charles Bews/Buise in Quebec City, and their son Charles was baptized in Quebec City. In 1866, my Boe ancestors sailed from Norway to Quebec City before heading to Minnesota. In 1867, my Halvorson-Otterhold ancestors also sailed from Norway to Quebec City, and went to Minnesota as well.

I visited Quebec City in July 2011. The pictures below were taken on that trip.

 

Samuel de Champlain statue

The Citadel

References
The Founding of Quebec
History of Quebec City
Champlain's Itinerary: Chronology

Mystery Monday: Margaret McGillivray

The Winters family Bible contains a transcribed death notice for Margaret McGillivray, the wife of the late Charles Buise. The only date given was the 26th inst." I eventually found the original death notice, which had been published in the Montreal Daily Witness, 27 January 1880.

My 3rd-great-grandfather John Bennet Winters married Elizabeth Buise at St. Gabriel Street Presbyterian Church in Montreal on 18 May 1878. According to the record of their marriage, Elizabeth's parents were George Buise and Margaret White, and they were both deceased at the time of her marriage. John Bennet Winters died in Montreal on 25 December 1879. He and Elizabeth Buise were not married long. It is likely that there is some connection between Elizabeth Buise and Margaret McGillivray's husband  Charles Buise, but since John and Elizabeth were not married long, I wonder if there is another reason that Margaret McGillivray's death notice was transcribed in the Winters family Bible. Maybe Margaret McGillivray was related to John Bennet Winters, to John's previous wife Anna "Ann" Walker, or to James Graham, husband of John and Ann's daughter Catherine Elizabeth Winters. Maybe she introduced John and Elizabeth. I do not know why the Winters family moved from the Chicago, Illinois area to Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Maybe they knew someone there, possibly Margaret McGillivray.

 Margaret married Charles Bews at Presbyterian Saint Andrew's Church in Quebec City, Quebec on 25 March 1847. The marriage record stated that Margaret was a spinster and was from Beauport. Their son Charles was born on 21 May 1847 and baptized on 22 November 1847 at Presbyterian Saint Andrew's Church in Quebec City. The record noted that the father was absent. Margaret was buried on 28 January 1880. Her burial is noted in the records of Anglican Christ Church Cathedral, Montreal. John McGillivray witnessed the burial.

I have not yet been able to find more information on Margaret McGillivray. I have found some information on her son Charles Buise,who lived in Montreal until about 1889, but I still do not know how this Buise family is connected to Elizabeth Buise, or if Margaret McGillivray is related to me in some way.

Margaret McGillivray Buise death notice, transcribed in the Winters family Bible

Margaret McGillivray Buise death notice, Montreal Daily Witness, 27 January 1880