| Bothwell Home | My Line | Jeremiah's children | Geographical | Other Bothwells | Miscellaneous | Home |
James Augustus Bothwell
1855 - 1940
Illinois - Nebraska - Oregon - California
Great grandfather James Augustus and his twin sister Jane Augusta were born on September 26, 1855 in Albany, Whiteside County, Illinois. He was in the censuses with his parents for 1860, 1865 (Illinois state census) and 1870.
1860 Illinois - Whiteside - Garden Plain Twp taken 24 July
Jer. Bothwell 40 m Ir farmer
Sarah 40 f Ir
Benj 13 m Il
Sarah A 11 f Il
Jeremiah 9 m Il
James 6 m Il
Jane 6 f Il
David 4 m Il
1865 Illinois State census -Whiteside County - Garden Plain Twp
Jerry Bothwell 1 M 40-50
1 F 30-40
3 M 10-20
2 F 10-20
1 M under 10
1870 Illinois - Whiteside - Garden Plain Twp no date given copy of microfilm - differs greatly from transc.
Bothwell, Jeremiah 52 M IR farmer father/mother foreign born/naturalized
Sarah 50 F IR " "
Jeremiah 19 M IL printer " "
Jane twin 16 F IL at home " "
James twin 16 M IL “” " "
David 13 M IL “” " "
notation 10/10 $2000/$4150
In 1872, his parents divorced and he moved to Nebraska with his mother and siblings, to Glengary Precinct, Fillmore County.
“Fillmore County is located about twenty-four miles north of the southern boundary of the State, and ninety miles west from the Missouri River. It is in extent twenty-four miles square, and lies between York and Thayer, Saline and Clay Counties.” This was a from a history of Nebraska sent to me by Kearney several years ago. I do not have complete bibliographic information. What I have is the following (which doesn’t make a lot of sense): Fillmore Cty Nebraska Sketches Prairie Precinct published in 1882 by The Western Historical Company. And I don't have page numbers because it was from a web-page.
He stayed with his mother for a while - she took up the land claim her other son Jeremiah had abandoned, but it was only 10 acres (?). In 1875, James took over a claim for himself.
“On October 9, 1875, her (Sarah’s) son, James A. Bothwell took over Henry Brown’s claim to the E ½ SW ¼ of Section 22. Brown became discouraged and left after living three years on his claim. James proved up on his homestead and received his deed on August 20, 1881. Richard Krupicka is the present owner of this homestead.” [Milligan Centennial Book]
Henry Brown is possibly related to Benjamin Bothwell’s wife Sarah Brown.
His mother’s claim was Glengary W ½ of SE ¼ Section 22 - 10 (?) acres; his brother Benjamin’s claim was for Glengary NW ¼ Section 22 - 160 acres. Brother David later bought a parcel of Section 23, so most of the family was fairly close together - but I don’t think they were altogether happy as farmers out on the plains. Benjamin moved back to Iowa for a while before settling for good in Nebraska, but all of them soon moved to various towns and became various types of entrepreneurs.
In 1880, James was still living with his mother (or she with him), but another family was living on the land as well. I suspect the Siebers did most of the actual farm work; James, like his father, preferred making his money in real estate.
1880 census - Fillmore Co, Ne - Glengarry Precinct - p. 511
James A Bothwell 26 single no occupation given
Sarah Bothwell 60 widow
also living in same place Frank Sieber 43 Bohemia farmer/ wife Bohemia/Frank 18 farmer Bohemia/ 3 more children 11-18 b. Bohemia/2 children ages 5, 2 b. Ne
Benjamin and his family were back in Nebraska - living next door, in fact. David had just recently married Stella McManus and lived nearby. Jennie and her husband were running a restaurant in Beaver City several counties to the west. Only young Jeremiah was in Illinois, working in a coffin factory. Old Jeremiah had remarried and was living across the river from the family farm, in Clinton, Iowa. He had started his downward economic slide, and was listed as (merely) a laborer.
In 1886, James was married to Sarah Tucker:
license 31 May 1886, ceremony 3 June 1886
James Bothwell 30 Sarah Tucker 17
b. Ill res. Fillmore b. England, res. Saline Co
F. Jeremiah M. Sarah Bates F. Thomas Tucker M. Elisabith Prang
as the bride’s parents were both deceased, consent was given by her brother Harry
performed at or near Tobias, Ne
signed J Yere Walter MG
witnesses: William Tucker, Saline Co
Florence Beaty, Saline Co
James and Sarah - she was called Sadie - had one daughter, Edith Nell, born 25 September 1887. (Sister Jennie’s first daughter - b. 1876 - was named Nella May). [Oddly enough, the Social Security Death Index has Edith’s birthdate as 29 Nov 1888 - but that doesn’t agree with the letters.] James mentioned in a letter to his sister in October 1888 that Sadie was not feeling well. The baby had summer complaint (?) in the summer, and lung fever in November. Sadie died sometime between 1888 and 1891. I believe Edith lived with sister Jennie, at least for a while - in one letter James asks Jennie to tell Edith to write to him.
Just heard from a family descended from the same family as James' first wife, Sarah Tucker. They are going to send me a copy of a Tucker history in which it says James was an undertaker and a furniture dealer in Tobias, NE, at the time of his first marriage (1871) and that Sarah Tucker died from complications giving birth to their second child, a son. No details yet on whether the child died or what. Will keep you posted.
email from Kearney 5 Jan 2004 - I have not heard any more about this since.
James apparently handled some business for Jennie, and the letters are mostly concerned with various papers she should sign, and accounts she should be aware of. One concerns the stone for their mother’s grave - she died in 1888. It sounds as though Jennie did not like the original inscription, and James encouraged her to have it changed.
1888 Apr 3 Strang Neb
Dr Brother
Yours of the 31inst and also the 3rd ult at hand and will say in regard the first, that I just saw the man a few minutes here and made no bargain with him but told him he might see you forks in regards it. but I am willing if you think it best we can do for the money to buy it. I notice he wants Parity? or bring to finish foundation stone which I trenched? and made commplete in place. the recept are all right. you need not mind in regard rev Jones recept don’t think we can go up there the 7th but may if we can get rate-exemption. We are all well except baby has been having summer? complaints some but not bad hope Jennie is better you said she was not well write
yours truly
JABothwell
PS Ben has sold his interest in Ma? [Ma’s?] land. tell Jennie not to make any bargains until she lets me know.
In 1888 (June 18) mother Sarah died
1888 Strang Nebr Oct 4th 1888
Dear sister
Your letter received and in regard to mothers monument I think as you said “Our Mother” Sarah Bothwell died June 18th 1888 age 72 year or what her age is as I do not know would be better than what is and I think there would be time yet. Will you attend it. have just what you think best and send to Des Moines I will be ___ We did not go on our visit as I put in coal and have been busy besides took I could raise on that business. baby is well but Sadie is not very. Sorry you are having such a time with sickness hope this will find you better. I write this in a hurry so excuse rush
Yours
James
1888 Strang Nebr Nov 27 1888
Dear sister
I thought I would write you a few lines today. Well on opposite side of this sheet you will see statement of affairs as they now stand. The corn has not been sold yet as soon as it is I will pay your Ballinc (balance?) your dure $30. is it not. the corn is gathered and I ordered it sold at once but if you are in need of money I will advance it but as you can see I am now behind Well (crossed out) is poor mother’s monument up yet?
Sadie and myself went back to Iowa in October & stayed (crossed out) she stayed one week I stayed two days We did not go to JWB I presume you know they had another child it was born the 7th inst and died next and he was feeling bad over it and Mariam was sick when he wrote. I wrote him before we went to Iowa that we might call on them & he wrote conditions so of course we didn’t go see them Hope you are all well we are baby is walking some and is much better. I believe I wrote you about her being sick with lung fever
your brother
JA
[back is JA Bothwell administrator in account with estate of Sarah Bothwell deceased]
Strang is a little town SW of Milligan, which is where the land claims were. It is still in Fillmore County. The next letter is from Ohiowa, which is a little town east of Strang - still in Fillmore County. Eventually, David and Benjamin would be living in Ohiowa as well, David running a cigar store, Benjamin - I’m not sure (I lost the notes) but I think running a hotel. Jennie, after at least 1882, was in Hastings, Adams County, Nebraska; her husband worked first as a blacksmith, later as a clerk in a restaurant/bakery.
1889 Oct 4 - Ohiowa Nebr
Dear sister
Enclosed you will find deeds to the farms for signature. you will notice the consideration is for $2000 which we made that way so Will Thomas could get better loan if he wished on the land but he really is to pay $1500 less the ninty? of 800 now on the Place. David say he is about to sell the house in Tobias at $550. I asked him to pay me back the taxes on it which he did. so you have got the taxes out of it for cost? and I sold our share of the rent on land to Will Thomas for note of $180 due Jan 1st and sold the note for $125 which is which is to divid? to us four. less the taxes for 1888 $8.75 and interest I paid in money $10.50 leaving $105.75 or $26.40 to your share above taxes and interest. as you probably know the ninty is $300 @ &% payable in May and Nov 1st there will be interest due in Nov again I enclose you Draft for your share. I hope this will be satisfactory to you. I have not determined what I will do yet
Your brother
JABothwell
You can see from this letter that James was a bit of a finagler when it came to money affairs. I’m not sure if what he did was actually illegal or merely sharp. Certainly his brother Benjamin thought he was an operator. Apparently he was known in Benjamin’s family as “Diamond Jim” and was considered “a wayward, swashbuckler, gambler, etc.” [letter from Henry Bothwell to K Scott Bothwell]. Of course, he was small beer compared to his cousins JR and Albert . . . .
In 1891, James married again.
15 Nov 1891 - Fairmont NE - Book 2, p. 366, #1683
James A Bothwell 36 Stella M Roberts 18
b. Il b. Il res. Tobias
F. Jeremiah M Sarah Bates F James Roberts M Harriet Helm
by TW Cole, minister
witnesses: TJ Clark
Mrs TJ Clark
He had become, sometime that year, a cashier at the German Bank in Bruning, Nebraska. The bank was reorganized in 1892, and, still cashier, he became one of eight people in control.
1892 - the German Bank in that town was reorganized on Dec. 31, 1892 at an annual meeting and control passed into the hands of eight persons, including J.A. Bothwell, who was the Cashier, and Frank Bruning who was elected president.
This was one of the defining points of his life. His obituary, 50 years later, mentions it.
Here is a picture of their house in Bruning:
The picture was taken after the family moved (obviously) but Aunt Dorothy identified it as the one they lived in in Bruning.
Their first son, grandfather Earl Vern Bothwell, was born 14 May, 1893 in Hastings, Nebraska - presumably they were on a visit to Jennie at the time? Their second son, Floyd, was born 14 September 1895. (Sister Jennie’s first son was Earlem James; her second was Elgin Floyd.) Now here is a thing I don’t understand. James was married again, and was starting a new family, but daughter Edith was not living with him. In 1895, she was still with Jennie. In 1900, she was living in the same town as him, but at a boarding house, not under his roof. Perhaps she was still living with Jennie, and was on a visit to her father, and didn’t stay with him because he also had his father in law in the house?? But it does seem strange
1895 May 8 - Bruning Neb
Dear sister
I will write you today I have been threatening to for a week I guess We are having awful nice weather here now I never seen crops look better than they do now abound Bruning. We have been having nice rains here how is it as Hastings I hope Nebraska in general will have a good this year. I went down to Tobias Sunday & Dave shows me a paper from Savana with an account of death of Uncle John & Aunt Margaret. Did you know they were dead. Uncle John died March 15 and Aunt Margaret the 22. just one week after that. Leaves Pa almost alone doesn’t it (over)
I feel sorry for him as I know he must feel very lonesome now. I haven’t heard from him since in Jany or Febr. he wrote me then that the Party holding mortgage was about to commence foreclosure on the $800 mortgage but I wrote him I could not do any thing now as I had all I possible carry over our self until fall & if then had a good crop here I could then do something & he could get a stay of 1 year and the end of stay I would buy it if it went cheap and if it sold for about all it was worth he better let it go and take the money & use it himself but I got no answer from him. how are all the children and is WA still working for Fisher? business has been better with us than usual for Past 30 day our deposits has increased over 25% at least will ___ hurried? close. Write soon & tell Edith to write me. I enclose draft for $8.00
Your brother James
Whenever you need your money I owe you just let me know & I will send it to you & indeed? to forget in my last letter to mention this & thought you might need it as you spoke about ____ interest money
1900 census - Thayer Co, NE -Bruning, Belvedere Precinct - V 38,ED 15, Sheet 1, Line 8
James A Bothwell
Stella 26 Il
Verne 7 Ne
Floyd 4 Ne
also father-in-law James M Roberts 59 Il
James A was county treasurer at the time of the census
1900 Nebraska - Thayer - Belvedere - p. 117 a couple of pages away from James Vol 38, ED 157, Sheet 2, line 50 boarding with George F Greenwood
Bothwell, Edith M boarder wf 1888 Sept - 11s Neb Il Eng
James resigned his post at the German bank when he became county treasurer, but he acted for them in an advisory capacity. (Is this a conflict of interest? Just asking.) He moved to Hebron, the county seat, after becoming treasurer, and later sold his stock in the bank to Frank Bruning and others. The dates are a little fuzzy though.
1901 Mar 11 - German Bank/ Bruning Neb
Dear sister
I herewith enclose you a release of Seneca & Clark Loan of $200 which sign before a Notary Public & return soon as convenient as it has to be recorded I collected 1 years interest bring to Sep 4 next on this & he ? too I enclose you statement
[then follows an accounting - at the end he mentions that Edith wrote]
Here is a picture of him as County Treasurer:
James is back row, center, just in front of the open door.
And here is a picture of their house in Hebron:
These pictures are all from a book called "Album of Thayer County, Nebraska" published by F.S. Mickey, Hebron, Nebraska (no date given).
(However the new courthouse was built in 1902.)
Daughter Dorothy June was born 10 June 1905 (Sister Jennie did not have a daughter named either Dorothy OR June, so). They were still in Nebraska at the time, but in 1907 he was acting as a real estate agent in Medford, Oregon. Jennie and her family moved out there as well - Jennie had bought an orchard as an investment (on his advice?), and when her son Earlem went to look it over, he loved the place, - and in 1909 Jennie wrote that Earlem & Grace had been in Oregon for more than a year, and that she was selling everything in Hastings and was preparing to join them in April.
In 1909, daughter Edith was married to Gordon Eberly in Medford, Jackson County, Oregon.
1909 Medford Oregon - 7/9 June 1909
Edith N Bothwell, 18 Gordon Eberly of Washington, 21
performed by minister at the home of Mr Conrad
in the presence of J.A. Bothwell and Earlem Bratney
In 1910, Estella, James’s wife, made a land claim in Jackson County (which is where Medford is), but James and Estella and family had moved to Los Angeles in time for the 1910 census, and remained there for the rest of their lives.
1910 May 17 - Land Claim (BLM homestead) in Oregon by Estella for three parcels totaling 160 acres in section 30, township 34 south range 2 west of the Willamette meridian in Jackson County, OR which is where Medford is located.
Cousin Elaine’s notes from the tax rolls show E.M. Bothwell continued to be shown as
a taxpayer in Jackson County (and on several of the entries she noted "E.M.Bothwell in L.A.") through 1923 when she disappears from the notes.
1910 census- ED 79 Sh 4A line 10 - Los Angeles (Twp) 34th Pct. - 429 Manhattan Place
Bothwell, James A head mw 52 m2 19 years married b Illinois, f b Ireland, m b England, speaks English, own income, reads, writes, owns house, free?
Estella M wife fw 36 m1 19ys 3 children, 3 living, Ill, Ill, WV . . .
Verne E son mw 16 s Nebraska, Ill, Ill, no occ, reads, writes, attended school
Floyd M son mw 14 s Nebraska Ill Ill no occ attended school
Dorothy daughter fw 4 s Nebraska Ill ...
Both sons served in World War I. Earl got married shortly after the war was over, and on May 20, 1918 his son was born. Floyd was still at home for the 1920 census, as was Dorothy.
1920 census - roll 41 ED 181 sheet 14 line 89 Los Angeles, S. Howard - taken 12 Jan
“real estate broker” - he also claims both his parents were English
Bothwell James A w 65 Ill La La South Howard 901
Estella 45 Ill
Floyd M 25 shipping clerk, milling company
Dorothy 14
1920 California Los Angeles Inglewood Hyde Park Precinct - SD8, ED61, Sheet 4a - taken 12 Jan. On Belmont (I think) Street 85-93
Bothwell, Earl V head om mw26m Neb Iowa Iowa electrician
Ethel wife 22 Cal Pa Neb cashier grocery
Kearney son 1 1/2 Cal Neb Cal.
Floyd eventually became a lawyer; he married Irene Mack, but they had no children. Dorothy married (first) Joe Masterton, who worked as a mechanic; after he died she married Les Carter. She also had no children - but she did have extremely talented poodle dogs, who could play the piano.
1930 California - Los Angeles - Glendale Twp (Ed19-967, SD15, Sheet 13b) - Apr 12
1249 Cordova Ave - l.17 - 333-326
Bothwell, James A head owns house worth $8500 yes radio no farm mw75 m 30 no yes Ill Nireland England - yes owner real estate not a vet
Estella M wife fw56 married 1st age 27 Il Ky Wva no occ
Masterton, Joseph R son-in-law mw29 married age 22 Il Il Il mechanic auto vet?
Dorothy daughter fw24 m at 17 Neb Il Il teacher piano
1930 California - Los Angeles - Beverly Hills Twp precinct 10 (dist 642) West Hollywood
ED19-842, SD16, Sheet 6b - 16 May - 8743 - 168-186
Bothwell, Floyd M head owns house worth $5500, yes radio, no farm, mw35 married age 28 Mass Kan Kan attorney at law, municipal yes vet of WW
Irene L wife fw34 m 24 Mass Mass
Times were tough in the 1930s and James lost a lot of money.
1930 letter to Nell
JA Bothwell watchman for trustee in bankruptcy (written)
(letterhead) Runnymeade Finance Company - bankrupt (written)
operating the world’s largest poultry plant
704 Spring Street crossed out, written:
Los Angeles Hart Street
Trinity 2098 Reseda Cal 12/13/30
My dear niece
I just got a nice? letter from dear Edith & she enclosed your letter and I was sure glad to get both letters? and answer? yours. This place is about 25 miles from my house 5115 Meridian Place Los Angeles and I am caretaker and watchman both of this place Runnymeade chicken canery (sic). Stay both day & night, 24 hour but no work ---- mighty luxurious as I am all alone. I don’t know just how long I be here but until US Courts order sale in Bankruptcy I am getting $4.25 per day and room to sleep in. They allowed me extra day last mo. so I am earning over $135 per mo. & I sure need it. Guess you know I almost lost my big house at Glendale would have but Floyd, Jose son-in-law put up $370 for me to pay interest & taxes back then I traded for a smaller 6 room house very nice one & big enough & got enough above my equity to pay back loan. I tell you Floyd has been so good to me lately I surely feel thankful and this job will put me on my feet again. I lost heavily in building houses two years ago when prices droped (sic) out & no sale with 3 house on hand. I hope to get on my feet again & start building again next summer I feel things will start up again you know Nellie I always was busy & doing things make lost money then lose it again I can’t be quiet I lost nearly $80,000 in a orange grove at one time well I am glad to note you are going in Wright? this means (blot) & you are going back to NY? again wish you success how is Grace Elgin & Earlem - I like to see you all. You know I was partial to Earlem thought lots of him Give them all my love & best wishes you know I feel lonesome & miss sister Jennie so much she was always so nice & good to me I am only one left of our family don’t understand why either well remember me to all the –others? hope Grace will get a good job I must close with love
your uncle James
PS I probably (sic) will be here all this mo & then? house at 5115 Meridian St Los Angeles. Nell I didn’t buck (back?) the stock game but lost just the same Many men did earn $1.00 they have no stock margins & many poor woman & man lost in this Runymeade all they had thank God I have equity in two small houses left yet & had such good health
1931 letter to Grace Bratney
letterhead (crossed out) American House Moving Company
written: 5115 Meridian St/ Los Angeles/ 12/23/31
Miss Grace Bratney / 369 E 29th St. Portland
My dear niece
I received you letter of 11th inst a few days ago from Edith at Arcadia and sure glad to get a letter & so good and kind one to. I wish I could come up there & see you all. sister Jennie children have all been nice and kind to me but I am not working now and can’t get the money to go. I am far from where I was 15 years ago financially and I do miss sister so much. I had so nice a visit last time I saw her. You know I am the only one left of our family and I just feel lonesome. Sometimes Edith drives over to see me she is so good to me I shouldn’t complain only I guess I lived to long as 15 or 20 years ago I could just pack my grips & go when I wanted to but so diferent now but I have had my share of good times money so I shouldn’t complain now. Wish you tell Erlem & Elgin & Maud hello from me and wish them Merry Christmas and I often think of them although I don’t write them. I out of work now for about past week hope to get (over)
I may get a trip with US Prisoners? from US Marshall for part of year not sure if I do will stop on return at Portland and see you this way it only costs me my meals. I have a house & some land left but can’t sell or get loans now on any such? now days. Things are so dull down here 1000s of people out of work & money too don’t see what they will do
I may drive out to Arcadia & see Edith next Sunday. Verne lives at Flintridge about 10 miles north of where I live and has no work now is a ? carpenter - & Floyd is working in Ao Laws? office last 3 or 4 years get good wages think $180 per month & hope he can hold it. Dorothy my youngest child lives at Burbank her husband is a auto mechanic but not steady work
Well I must close with love to you and all your bros & sisters good bye
your uncle
James
5115 Meridian at Los Angeles
However, my Dad remembers that when things were tough for them, James A would always manage to slip them some money.
James died 10 June 1940.
Los Angeles Times of June 21, 1940.
Tribute to Be Paid to Bank Founder
Funeral services for James A. Bothwell, 84, retired real estate broker and bank founder, will be conducted today at 3 p.m. at Pierce Bros.Chapel. Rev. Alden Hill will officiate, with interment following in Valhalla Cemetery.
Bothwell, founder of a bank in Brunning, Neb., died Wednesday at his home, 5115 Meridian St. He was a resident of Los Angeles 30 years and was a member of Al Malaikah Shrine. He leaves his widow, Mrs. Estella M. Bothwell, two sons, and two daughters.
Estella died in 1949.
Note from Kearney
Estelle got about the same amount of space in her obit, which ran in the Times on Dec. 13, 1949. She died at her home, same address, on Dec. 10. Listed as a 41-year resident of Los Ageles and a 50-year member of the Eastern Star, affiliated with the South Gate chapter. Noted she was 75 and the widow of James A., former banker and real estate broker, and was survived by one daughter, Mrs. Lester B. Carter, and sons Earl V. and Floyd M.
So that was great-grandfather James A Bothwell, aka Diamond Jim. He traveled a long way from Illinois - and seemed very happy to have done so. He apparently did not talk much about his past. Great-aunt Dorothy eventually got the genealogy bug - she was very proud of being a Bothwell - and when she started, she did not even know her grandfather’s name.
(But thanks to her, we did.)
Back to:
Top | Bothwell Home | father Jeremiah | mother Sarah Bates
To:
wife Estella May Roberts
Sideways to siblings:
Benjamin | Sarah Ann | Jeremiah | Jennie | David
Back to:
Lee's Genes Homepage
Comments, questions, corrections?
contact me at : lee@leesgenes.com