Skip to main content

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

Labels:
Location: Cowlitz County, WA, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

John Bos II Part 8, 1920s 12 sept

John Bos II Part 8 1920s John Bos II mini-pedigree from Ancestry.com 1920 age 65  Federal Census John & Wilhelmina Bos 1920 census Oak Harbor, Island County WA In this census, we find John R. Bos and his wife Wilhemina living in Oak Harbour.  He is age 65, she is 71 years old, living with their single son Peter, age 34.  Again, the date of immigration for both is 1882, they are both naturalized in 1900.  The census indicates none of them have any occupation, but that seems hard to believe.  There were many dairy farms in Oak Harbour, I wonder if they considered farming an occupation? Oak Harbor, Island County WA Google Maps The red arrow points to Swantown area of Oak Island The yellow circle is Seattle. 1920s Toys The  first twenty years of the 20th century saw the introduction of the  Teddy Bear, the Raggedy Ann Doll, and Crayola Crayons , merely advancements of existing popular toys, dolls and...
Post a Comment
Read more

John Bos II Part 4, 1880s

John Bos II Part 4,  1880s John Bos II mini-pedigree from Ancestry.com 1880 24 March 1880, age 25 Birth of son Christian His son Christian Johannes Bos was born on 24 March 1880 in Arnhem, Gelderland, Netherlands.  This was his second of eight children born.  He would immigrate with his parents, marry Francine Kaufers or Kamps or Kemps.  He must have moved his family with his parents because he died in Island County Washington in 1946.  He has never fought in any war according to the 1930 census, although there is a WWII draft card with his signature on it (bonus points). Perhaps I am wrong in assuming he met and married Frances in Montana.  Nope, I was wrong.  I found a marriage certificate showing they were married 1905 in King, Washington.  By the 1940 census, he was a gas station attendant at his son Charles' station. You can visit his Find a Grave Memorial here . photo added by Clint Dunn on 11 November 200...
Post a Comment
Read more