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Chase County Kansas Historical
Sketches
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George & Etta Bofee George William and Marietta "Etta" Ranbarger Bofee had six or seven children: living were five daughters and one son. Cora, Pearl, Mary Bernice, Frances, Opal Alice and son, George Dewey.
Related lines: Bofee, Ranbarger, Heathman, Hodges, McCabe and Biehler
George had worked for the railroad before becoming ill and suffered with that illness for eighteen months. Etta became ill with tuberculosis and entered the County Poor Farm. She died at the farm Dec 08 1908. Her obituary states she was buried at the GAR cemetery in Elmdale. The Elmdale records do not show a listing for Etta Bofee. The children were then put up for adoption.
The 1910 Chase County Census shows George is living with Halsey and Edna Carpenter in Matfield Green. By 1911, George Bofee and Mary Mitchell are listed on the Bride and Grooms of Chase County obtaining a license for marriage. The children were dispersed among Chase Countians. Some were taken in as orphans and others adopted.
So who was George Bofee and Etta Ranbarger Bofee?
It was very hard finding information on George Bofee. On the 1900 Index he is listed as Grorge Bafu. He was located on the Dist 59, Jefferson, Jackson, Kansas 1900 Census. It shows the following:
George was born Oct 1871 in Iowa. George's father was born in Canada or Vermont, and his mother was born in Iowa.(See Charles Boffee under Extended Families) He is listed as Age 28. Married for eight years. That fact places his marriage in abt 1892. It is known that George and Etta were married at Holton, Jackson, Kansas.
Marietta Bofee is shown as "Etta", wife, born May 1872 age also, 28, married 8 years, mother of four children and four children living. Etta was born in Illinois. (See Marietta Ranbarger under Extended Families)
Cora Bofee
Cora Bofee, daughter, female, born May 1894 age 6, born in Kansas. Cora could not be located on the 1910 census. On the 1895 Circleville, Jackson, Kansas census Cora is listed as Cora age 1, born in Kansas. Her family is listed with the last name spelled Baffee instead of Bofee.
Pearl
Pearl Bofee, daughter, female, born Jul 1895 age 5, born in Kansas. Pearl Bofee married Earl Watchous in 1913. In 1910, Pearl, age 15, born in 1895, was residing as an orphan child, with the Thomas T Haney and Lina J Haney family, at Diamond Creek, Chase, Kansas. Pearl was born in Kansas. Another orphan boy was also living with the Haney's but not a Bofee.
Dewey
George D "Dewey", son, born, Mar 1897, Age 3, born in Kansas; On the 1910, Diamond Creek, Chase, Census, Dewey Boffe is listed as a orphan child living with Mary E Way and family. He is listed as age 14 born in Kansas but no information is listed for his parents states of birth. The next information to be found on Dewey is taken from the 1920 Census. He was residing in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with the Military and Naval Forcrs. He was a Corporol, enlisting from Drumright, Creek County, Oklahoma. He is listed Age 22 born in Kansas. Family have stated that Dewey died early in life.
Bernice
Mary B "Bernice", daughter, born Apr 1900, Age 2/12, born in Kansas.
In the 1910 Diamond Creek, Chase, Kansas, Census Bernice is living as an orphan in the home of Wallace A and Minnie Wood. She was age 10. This family also had another stepson Albert living with them. These were good hearted people. No other information could be located on Bernice.
Frances
We will call Frances Bofee the traveler. Frances was born in 1902 in Kansas. On Dec 31st 1909 Mr and Mrs Joseph H Saxer of Buck Creek adopted the little seven year old Frances Bofee. This is recorded in the Jan 7, 1910 Chase County Leader. It states: "Frances Bofee was adopted on Dec 31st by Mr and Mrs. J H Saxer of Buck Creek. The little girl is seven years old."
On the 1910 Falls Township, Chase, Kansas Cenus Joseph is listed as a 58 year old man with his wife Katherine as 56. Joseph was born in Germany and Katherine in New York but her parents were both from Germany. They also had adopted another boy, named Edward prior to adopting Frances. Joseph and Katherine had another grown son who was still living. Shortly thereafter, Joseph and his family returned to New York.
On the 1920 Alden, Erie, New York, census we find Joseph and Katherine with Frances living in New York. We do know that Frances married a Mr. Cook.
All indications leads to the 1930. Dist 501-750 Chicago, Cook, Illinois, census which shows Elwood Cook, head, born in Illinois, and his father born in New York and his mother born in Illinois.
Elwood, Age 27, is residing on South Nagle Avenue and works as a Records clerk for the Railroad Office. He was married at Age 21. His wife Frances is also Age 27, being married at age 21.
That fact places the marriage abt 1924. Also residing with Elwood and Frances is a daughter, Janette, age 4 and 1/12 years old, born in New York; and son Elwood Jr, Age 1 and 1/12 years old, born in Illinois. Frances lists her place of birth as Kansas, her father's birthplace as Kansas, and her mother's birthplace as Kansas. It would stand to reason that was what she had been told or remembered. The census for the Saxer family in both 1910 and 1920 shows the same information, yet the fact is different. Other information gathered from family sources states that Frances died with the surname of Jones. She also had a son by the name of Joe Cook.
Opal Alice
Opal being the youngest, was born in 1907, and her mother dying in Dec 1908 left the youngest very much a baby. She was adopted by James W Cope and his wife, Jessie Fremont (Shaft) Cope. The Copes had another daughter of their own Olive Jessie ten years older than Opal. Opal married Dean Stanley Bumgardner on May 15 1922, Opal died Jul 28 1971 while living in Florida. Dean brought her body back to Eureka where she was interred. He returned to Wichita. Dean expired on Jun 16 1978 in Wichita. He had married a second time on Sept 05 1972 to Pearl Olson Criswell. She survived him.
Opal and Dean had the following children:
Dale of Matador, Texas
Alvern (Mrs Jack Dyer) of Conroe, Texas
June (Mrs Floyd Cheever) of Wichita
Virginia (Mrs Donald Walker) of Aurora, Colorado
Nadean (Mrs Gerald Black) of Bloomington, California.
Extended Families:
Charles and Amanda Bofee
Charles and Amanda Bofee are listed on the Lick Creek, Davis, Iowa 1870 cenus. Charles Bofee is Age 29, a laborer, born in Canada; Amanda, Age 16 is keeping house and born in Iowa.
Between 1878 and 1880 Charles and Amanda and their four children leave Iowa and settle in Mill Creek, Pottawatomie, Kansas. Charles has jumped in age remarkedly. He is listed as age 46, a farmer, born in Vermont, and both parents are listed as being born in Vermont. Amanda, listed as his wife is listed as Age 22, keeping house and born in Indiana. Their children are as follows:
George William, Male age 8, son, born in Iowa. (See George William Bofee above.)
Charles Henry, Male, Age 7, son, born in Iowa
In 1910 Henry is listed on the Pottawatomie Indian Reservation, Jackson, Kansas. He is living with Waitman Douglas and Amanda Douglas. He is listed as a step-son to Waitman Douglas, Age 35 Possibly this is mother Amanda. Waitman, Age 53 and Amanda, have been married four years. Amanda is Age 53, married for the second time, had four children and four are living.
On the 1920 Jefferson, Jackson, Kansas Census, Henry remains at age 35. On this census he is listed as the head of the house, farmer, born in Kansas, his father born in Vermont and his mother born in Indiana. His mother is listed as Manda Douglas, Age 62, born in Indiana, father born in Indiana, Mother born in indiana. Waitman Douglas, is listed as Father in law, Age 58, born in Kansas, father born in Kansas, and mother born in Missouri. Waitman's occupation is listed as railroad labor. Family information states that Henry was born with dwarfism.
On the 1930 Kansas Census we find that Henry and his mother, Amanda and Waitman have moved. They are located in Dist 18 at Neuchatel, Nemaha, Kansas. Waitman Douglas is listed as the head of the family on this census. Waitman Douglas' age has change to Age 75. It lists that he was 45 when he got married and that he was born in Tennessee, his father in So Carolina, his mother was born in Kentucky. Amanda is listed as Mandy, his wife, age 76 and Age 50 when she was married. Her birthplace was listed as Illinois, father born in Illinois, and mother born in Illinois. Henry Remains Age 35!, single, born in Kansas, father born in Illinois, mother born in Illinois. Living next door is his sister and her family Arvilla Amanda Hodges. (See Arvilla Amanda Bofee under extended families).
R J, Female, Age 5, daughter, born in Iowa
J A, Female, Age 2, daughter, born in Iowa
Andy, male, age 3/12, The month of March is indicated for birth month, son, born in Kansas.
Arvilla Amanda
On Mar 9 1881, Arvilla Amanda Bofee was born in Circleville, Jackson, Kansas daughter of Charles and Amanda Bofee. Amanda married James M Hodges on Jun 06 1896 at Holton, Jackson, Kansas. James M Hodges was born 12 Aug 1862 in Knoxville, Knox, Tennessee and died 31 Oct 1929 in Onega, Ks. Amanda died 29 Sep 1939 at Sebetha, Nemaha, Kansas. They had the following children:
Levi William Hodges, born 14 Sep 1898 in Circleville, Jackson, Ks
Marie Ellen Hodges, born 26 Feb 1900, in Circleville, Jackson, Ks
Mabel Ella Hodges, born 16 Jan 1902 in Circleville, Jackson, Ks
John James Hodges born 09 May 1904 in Delia, Ks
Anna Florence Hodges, born 25 Feb 1913 in Circleville, Jackson, Ks
Lee Waitman Hodges, born 29 Sep 1916 in Leclede, Ks. Notice that Lee's middle name is used after his grandmother, Amanda Bofee Douglas's husband, Waitman Douglas.
Jesse Charles Hodges born 14 Oct 1920 in Circleville, Jackson, Ks
Velma Violet Hodges, born 16 Apr 1923 in Circleville, Jackson, Ks
and Opal May Hodges, born 24 Sep 1926 in Circleville, Jackson, Ks
We find Arvilla Amanda on the Dist 18 1930 Neuchatel, Nemaha, Kansas, census next to her mother Amanda and her brother, Henry. Arvilla Amanda's husband, James Hodges had died in Oct. 1929. She is listed with Annie, Lee, Jessie, Velma and Opal.
Marietta Ranbarger Bofee
Marietta or "Etta" was born in Russeville, Illinois, the daughter of Daniel and Angeline Winkles Ranbarger. Her father, Daniel Ranbarger, born in Frankfort, Kentucky. Her mother, Angeline Winkles, was born in Hutsonville, Crawford, Illinois. It is not know when Etta came to Kansas but she possibly came with or to be with her sister "Maggie", Margaret E. Ranbarger Heathman, because we find the two families both located on the 1900 Census in Jefferson, Jackson, Kansas and on the 1880 Census both girls are living in Illinois with their father.
Daniel and Angeline Ranbarger
Their father, Daniel Ranbarger has been located on the 1850 Lawrence County, Illinois census living next to his father, John Ranbarger, age 60, born in Kentucky, his mother Elizabeth, Age 63, and brother John, Age 20, George W, age 18, Sister Hannah, Age 15, brother Miles, Age 06.
Daniel was married to Mary Jane Gordon in Lawrence County, Illinois on Feb 10 1848. On the 1850 census, Mary is listed as Age 22, born in Illinois. Daniel and Mary have a daughter, Elvira, Age 1, born in Illinois, and also listed within the household is Mary's 15 year old brother, Allen Gordon, farmer, born in Illinois.
Daniel again married Angeline Winkles on Sep 17 1857 in Lawrence County, Illinois. Possibly Mary had died. On the 1860 Russelville, Lawrence, Illinois census. Elvira is not listed. Daniel is listed at Age 40, occupation as Physician born in Kentucky,
Angeline is listed as age 32, born in Kentucky. Also listed with the family is Jefferson Ranbarger, Age 17. This could not be Daniel and Mary's son since Jefferson was born in 1843 and Daniel and Mary were married in 1848.
On the 1870 Russelville, Lawrence, Illinois census, Daniel and Angeline have six children. Daniel is listed as Age 42 and Angeline is listed as Age 28. Their children are: Jasper age 10, Elizabeth, Age 8, Daniel age 6, David age 5, Nancy age 3, and Belle age 1. All the children are born in Illinois.
On the 1880 census Angeline is not listed but Daniel is listed with the children. Daniel Ranbarger age 52, Farmer, born Kentucky. Daniel M age 15, born Illinois, David Age 15, born Illinois, Maggie E age 13, born Illinois, Lallie B Age 11, Marietta, age 9, Cora M, age 6, and Harriett, age 4. All are born in Illinois. In the fall of the 1880, after the census, Daniel married Nancy Watts on Sep 17 1880, in Lawrence Co, Illinois.
Margaret "Maggie" Estelle Ranbarger Heathman
Margaret Estelle Ranbarger married Lincoln Heathman, son of Homer and Sara A Woolheater Heatman on December 25, 1885. Margaret Ranbarger was born in 1870 according to her death certificate, with daughter Dora giving the information, at Russelville, Illinois. (Verna Heathman McCabe, oldest daughter, says Terre Haute, Indiana.) However, the census in 1880 shows her to be born in 1867 in Illinois. Margaret died January 16, 1923 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Her father was Daniel Ranbarger, born in Frankfort, Kentucky. Her mother Angeline Winkles, was born in Hutsonville, Crawford, Illinois. (See Daniel Ranbarger under extended families).
Lincoln Heathman, son of Homer and Sarah A. Woolheater Heathman, was born March 5, 1861 in Circleville, Kansas. There children were as follows:
Ruby Homer Heathman was born to Lincoln and Margaret November 28, 1885, died of dropsy July 21, 1889.
Mildred LaVern "Verna" Heathman born December 8, 1890 married James Bernard McCabe, of Bazaar, Chase, Kansas, on September 13, 1905. James B was the son of Barney and Jane McCabe. Verna died February 26, 1967.
Herman Leroy "Roy" Heathman born March 24, 1888, married Hattie McCracken in Chase County, Kansas in 1912. Roy died March 20, 1961.
Reva Heathman, born July 31, 1893, married Ed Allen, died in Osage City, Kansas.
Juanita Heathman born June 8, 1896, married Clarence Christianson January 26, 1911, died February 2, 1965.
Dorothy Heathman was born June 19, 1900, married Gesture Paulson. Second husband was (first name unknown) Lamond. Last contact was in Phoenix, Arizona in 1923 when her mother died.
Lincoln Heathman died very suddenly from lung trouble accelerated by being accidently hit by a broken belt at the elevator a few days prior to his death. Margaret Ranbarger Heathman later married William Biehler sometimes spelled Beiler. They moved to Prairie Hill vicinity in Chase County in the early 1900's, around 1905. On Jul 28 1916 in the Chase County Leader the death of William Beiler is reported: "William Beiler, father of Mrs. James McCabe of Bazaar, and Mr. Roy Heathman of Homestead, died at his daughter's home.
Lincoln Heathman Lineage:
Homer Heathman
(The following taken from "1885 Portraits and Biographies of the Governor and President of U.S." Jackson, Jefferson and Pottawatomie Counties, Kansas.)
Homer Heathman. The history of the Sunflower State is inseparably connected with that of its pioneers. They were a peculiar race of men, possessing more than ordinary courage and hardihood, and came to this region expecting to endure many hardships and privations. They had their full measure of these and also the dangers attendant upon the political issues of that time when Kansas was made a battlefield in determining the question of freedom and slavery.
Mr. Heathman pressed the soil of Kansas in 1857 while it was still a Territory, and has been a resident of Jackson County for the long period of thirty-two years. The scenes which he has witnessed, the changes and the vicissitudes through which he has passed, if properly written up would make a tale more strange than fiction. As having made for himself a worthy record, he is deserving of more than a passing mention in a work designed to perpetuate the names of the early settlers of Jackson County.
The subject of this sketch, a native of Medina County, Ohio, was born October 18, 1831, and is the son of George and Elizabeth (Curtis) Heathman, who were natives respectively of Maryland and Connecticut. The father served in the War of 1812, and was by occupation a farmer.
The paternal grandfather, George Heathman, was of Scotch birth and ancestry and emigrated to America in time to do valiant service as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He fought in the battle of Brandywine and was wounded in the leg by a bayonet. After the war he settled on a farm in Maryland, where he lived a number of years, then emigrating to Ohio located among the earliest pioneers of Medina County. He became a prominent man and there spent his last days.
George Heathman, the father of our subject, spent his boyhood and youth on his father's farm and obtained his education in the primitive schools of Maryland. He was married in his native state and shortly afterward removed to Medina County, Ohio, being like his father also one of its pioneers. He improved a farm from the wilderness, sojourning in Medina County until 1839. That year he removed to Hancock County and again taking up new land built up a homestead which he occupied until 1852.
Then pushing on further westward he settled in Allen County, Indiana, where he remained until his death which took place in February, 1864, after he had arrived at the advanced age of seventy-three years. The wife and mother survived her husband until 1869, dying at the age of seventy-seven. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the father was active in the Master's vineyard, being an ordained minister. He was greatly assisted in his pious labors by his estimable wife, who was a devoted Christian.
George Heathman was likewise a leading man in politics, belonging to the old Whig party. He was personally acquainted with the Mormon, Joseph Smith, and was strenuously opposed to that religious sect, especially their practice of polygamy.
To the parents of our subject there was born a family of nine children, the record of whom is as follows:
Lorinda became the wife of Erastus Root and settled in Trumbull County, Ohio;
David and Hiram both died in Wisconsin about 1884;
Elias died in Dayton, Ohio;
Bradley is a farmer by occupation and a resident of Rush County, this state;
Amanda married David Brundage of Allen County, Indiana, and is now deceased:
Homer, of this sketch, was the next in order of birth;
Erastus is conducting a hotel in Jackson County, Kansas;
Mary became the wife of Mathias Markly and died in Hancock County, Ohio.
The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood days under the parental roof on the old homestead in Ohio, and when twenty-one years old started out for himself and began operating on rented land in Hancock County, that state, being thus occupied four years.
He then removed to Whitley County, Indiana, where he farmed one year on rented land, then coming to Kansas pre-empted land in Jefferson Township, Jackson County. Two years later he rented a mill of Rufus Oursler, which he operated until 1868, and which was the first mill in the county. There came to this mill people from one hundred miles away. When withdrawing from the milling business, Mr. Heathman returned to his farm upon which he lived until 1872.
Removing then to Holton he operated a mill there for six years, after which he returned to Circleville and operated a mill until 1885. In 1888 he put up the Windsor Hotel where he now officiates as "mine host." He has become widely and favorably known to the people of this region and is popular both with his fellow citizens and the traveling public.
Mr. Heathman was first married February 10, 1852, at the bride's home in Hancock County, Ohio, to Miss Sarah A. Woolheater, a native of that county. They became the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living:
George is a harness-maker of Blue Rapids, this state;
William, a tinner by trade, sojourns in Holton;
Jane is the wife of C. A. Cooper, of Marshall County;
Lincoln is farming in the vicinity of Circleville;
Ella is the wife of Frank Newell of Denver, Colorado;
Frank and Flora are at home with their father.
Mrs. Sarah Heathman departed this life in 1883.
Mr. Heathman in 1885 contracted a second marriage, with Miss Anna D. Brown, and to them there has been born two children, a daughter, Laura, and a son, Vaden. Mr. Heathman takes an active part in politics, voting the straight Republican ticket and has held the office of Township Trustee. He has some town property besides his hotel and lives comfortably, without undue anxiety for the future. He served in the State Militia during the late war.
Sarah Woolheater Heathman's father's name was George Woolheater Jr., born 1808 in Pennsylvania. Mothers name was Letty, born in 1824 in Ohio. Sarah's grandfather George Sr. was born in 1785 in Pennsylvania. His wife and Sarah's grandmother, Mary, was born in 1778 in Pennsylvania. Both Georges were farmers of means. Sarah's brothers and sisters were all born in Ohio. Their names were Mary, born in 1836, John, born in 1844, Hannah, born in 1846, and Elizabeth, born in 1849.
by Lorna Marvin
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