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Nicholas Willard Bos Part 1


1892 -- birth
1897 -- Historical Insight Barnum Brown
1900 -- living Oak Harbor


When Nicholas Willard Bos was born on July 8, 1892, in Cowlitz, Washington, his father, John, was 37 and his mother, Willhelmina, was 43. He married Grace M. Westerdyke Bos on August 29, 1917, in Coupeville, Washington. They had three children in 13 years. He died on September 19, 1970, in Mount Vernon, Washington, at the age of 78, and was buried there. -- Ancestry.com

Nicholas Willard Bos
mini pedigree, Ancestry.com


 1892 Birth

"Nicholas Willard Bos was born on 8 July 1892 in Cowlitz Washington to Wilhelmina Usi Bos age 43 and John Bos age 37."

I am not able to find any birth record for this man.  I have gone through Island County records found on Ancestry and Family Search, but there is no record of his birth.  The sources available to confirm this date for his birth is his death record, the censuses, the draft registration cards for both WWI and WWII, the marriage records.  So, while I don't have any primary evidence, I have 70 years' worth of secondary sources.

In 1891, coroners, physicians, and midwives were to "return" births and deaths to the county auditor. Many went unrecorded. In 1907, the State Center for Health Statistics assumed this responsibility. -- (Family Search, 2018)
Have you figured out the problem?  I searched the county of his future residence, not the county of his birth.  Typical mistake, but one I've caught.  I'll leave this experience here to help remind you to avoid the same.  The end result is still the same, no primary source for his birth.  

1897 age 5 

Historical Insight Dr. Barnum Brown, Fossil Hunter

"Nicholas Willard Bos of Oak Harbour Washington may have eargerly read the daily news hoping to hear more about Dr. Barnum Brown's fantastic fossil discoveries in 1900."

During one of his earlier digs, Dr. Brown discovered
a shepherd’s hut that was entirely made from fossils.
August 9, 1934. Credit: Getty Images
from Ancestry.com


1900 age 8

He was a little boy living with his parents John and Wilhelmina Bos, and his older siblings Chris, Cora, Peter, John, Minnie, Girtie.  His one and only job -- that is officially listed, here -- is attending school.  But, since his father was a farmer, I am sure he had his farming chores to do, as well.
The home is on Oak Harbour Washington.
Location of Oak Harbor, Washington
Location of Oak Harbor Washington
within Island County
within Washington State
(Wikipedia, 2018)

A postcard view of the north side of Water Street from Locust Street to Church Street.  Taken between 1900 & 1908, the photo shows a (then) modern, up to date town with mainly brick commercial buildings fronting on a brick street with concrete sidewalks.  The IOOF (Independent Order of Odd Fellows) had a meeting hall on the upper level of the building shown on the right.  The building on the far left (gray & not colored) was the 3 story Kuebeler Hotel.   Because of the large amount of wagons & buggies in town, this photo was probably taken on a Saturday.  This was the day most people, especially farmers, went to town to do their shopping.  Most of the buildings shown in this photo still exist on Water Street. -- (Oak Harbour Public Library, 2018)  


Resources


For a thumbnail history of Island County, check out this website:  http://www.historylink.org/File/7523/

For a history of Dutch colonists arriving at Oak Harbor 1894, see this website:  http://www.historylink.org/File/5432

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Location: Cowlitz County, WA, USA

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