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The second son of Jeremiah and Sarah Bates Bothwell was born in 1851 in Illinois, presumably Whiteside County. He was with his parents in the 1860 and 1870 censuses - in 1870, he was listed as a newspaper printer. In 1871, he went with older brother Benjamin out to Fillmore County, Nebraska, where he made a homestead claim on September 4. He went back to Illinois almost immediately, and got married to Marium or Mamie Fralick on October 5 in Clinton County, Iowa - which was just across the river from the home farm.
5113 - Jeremiah Bothwell- Marium Fralick - lic. Oct 3, marriage Oct 5, return Oct 16, 1871
EL Miller, minister
Perhaps he intended to take his new bride out to Nebraska, and perhaps he did, but they didn’t stay there long. He canceled his claim on 18 Nov 1872 and his mother, now divorced from Jeremiah senior, took it up.
In 1877, Jeremiah and Miriam bought a piece of property in Coloma, Whiteside County, which they sold a little more than a year later; in 1879, they bought a piece of property in Rock Falls - although I am not clear on exactly where all these places were, because the 1880 census has them still in Coloma. Possibly Rock Falls is in Coloma Twp or vice-versa. (For a complete list of all the Bothwells' land dealings in Whiteside County - deals.)
20 June 1877 James Patterson & wife Judith to Marium A Bothwell WD $300 81, 494
(all parties of Coloma, Whiteside Co)
Lot 3, Block 1 in Pattersons subdivision of the N ½ of the NW 1/4 Section 34 T 21 R 7 E
6 Aug 1878 Marium A Bothwell & Jeremiah W Bothwell husband of the village of Rock Falls, Whiteside Co
WD $200 81, 497
Lot 3, Block 1 in Pattersons subdivision of the N ½ of the NW 1/4 Section 34 T 21 R 7 E
30 Oct 1879 Samuel Bell & wife Maria of Line? Co, IA to Jeremiah W Bothwell of Rock Falls
WD $1200 95, 48
Lot 17, Block 9, Rock Falls
In 1880, he was still in Whiteside County, in Coloma Township, working in a coffin factory.
1880 Illinois, Whiteside, Coloma Twp - ED193, p23, l. 26.
Coloma Twp is right across the river from Sterling (where the coffin factory was)
Bowthwell, J.W. M 28 M Painter IL Ireland Ireland I thought it said printer
Mary F 26 M wife Canada Canada Canada keeping house
From "The History of Whiteside County Ills." , Bent-Wilson (1877) :p434~
"The Sterling Burial Case Company was organized in 1873, with a capital of $40,000, the works occupying an area of thirty-eight thousand two hundred and forty feet, at Nos. 413 to 423 inclusive, on Third street. The company manufacture coffins, caskets, and burial cases, the business amounting to one hundred thousand dollars annually."
In 1882, they did some more buying and selling, but by 1884 they had done with Whiteside County, and had moved to Burlington, Iowa (Des Moines County).
31 July 1882 Margretha Young & husband Peter of Arlington, Bureau Co, Ill
to Mariam A Bothwell, Sterling, Whiteside, Ill $1400 103, 409
Lot 1, Block 47 west of Broadway in city of Sterling
(Mariam to pay taxes for 1882)
14 Sep 1882 Jeremiah W & Marium A Bothwell of Rock Falls to James David WD $1000 103, 446
Lot 17, Block 9 in Rock Falls
2 Oct 1882Marium A Bothwell & Jeremiah W, husband of Sterling to David Wolf WD $1250 102, 351
Lot 1, Block 47 west of Broadway, Sterling
16 July 1884 Marian A Bothwell, Des Moines Co, IA to James David & wife Bridget
Release $1 105, 422
gives up interest in mortgaged property - book 106, p. 347 Whiteside - - promissory note for $736.25
1885 - in Burlington Iowa
Burlington Ia/ Mar 8-185
Dear Mother
I have been thinking of writing to you for some time.
How are you getting. the boys wrote me that you had been sick. did the things that Mamie sent you do you any good.
Our health is good except of course Mamie has those headachs which she allways had. How are the boys doing this has been an awful dull time for all kinds of business and they have done well if they have made expences. I quit the coffin business soon after I was out there and took charge of a furniture factory here.
You cant imagine the emigration there is going west this spring there are from 50 to one hundred familys with stock & baggage going through here daily.
are you still thinking of selling your farm. you asked me a good many times when I was out there what you had better do about selling but you know that is not easy for me to decide what would be best for you. all I wish and hope is that you can fix it some way to make your self comfortable. I am glad you have that much with which you can make use of for your self. don’t try to save it for your children but make the best of it you can for your self. I never hear from the old man. Yorks folks have moved into northern Nebraska
this is all for this time. Hope this will find you well. Mamie sends her love to you From your loving son JWBothwell
Jeremiah and his wife seem to have had a sad time of it - they never had any living children, but lost one or two babies.
1888 - letter from JA to Jennie Bratney
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
By 1892, he had moved on to Ottumwa, Iowa, where he was a grocer.
letterhead: office of JW Bothwell/ dealer in/ Groceries and Provisions/ Queensware, Etc/ Ottumwa, IA 5/10 1892
Dear sister & brother
We received your welcome letter a few days ago and were glad to hear from you. We are well hope you are all well. You spoke of WA getting a position with me. I wish I could give him employment but I am not situated so I can at present. I have a man who has been with me for a long time and given entire satisfaction and that is all I hire. There has been three months continuous Rain Rain Rain here and things look very gloomy. there is no business here at all. Hope Andy will not be out of employment long. I know he is a good man. We are already taking a copy to the that is thoroughly drummed here (over)
so it seems as though I am not in it this time. how is Ben getting along. I often think of all the difficulties and diferent names he is forced to use and yet will insist in doing business. I never hear from David JA and I correspond occasionally. I suppose you know Mamie's mother died in Feb I can't think of anything of importance Mamie sends her love Write soon
Bro JW Bothwell
He was still in Ottumwa when his father died in 1895 (the fact is mentioned in Jeremiah senior’s obit). And this appears to be him in the 1900 census in Ottumwa.
1900 Iowa Wapello Ottumwa (Center Twp) SD6, ED128. Sheet 10b Roll 463 Book 1 p. 227a
115 N Wood or Ward
Bothewell, Wesley J wm Aug 1853 46 m20 Il Il Il some kind of grocer
Miriam Jan 1858 42 m20 2ch/0liv Ia CanEast CanEast
Things get a little confused after this, because of a profusion of names. It would seem that in 1901 he moved to Colorado Springs; he still was a grocer.
1901 Colorado Springs City Directory
Jay W. Bothwell and Merium A. Bothwell, residence 517 S. Weber. Occupation: partner in Harrison & Bothwell, groceries and meats, 401 S.Tejon. (Other partner Richard K. Harrison.)
Note - there are two Richard Harrisons in Colorado Springs in the 1900 census. One, Richard K, 29, b. Canada, was a bookkeeper; the other just plain Richard, 33 b. Ky, was a delivery man. Either one could have been Jeremiah’s future partner.
He was still there in 1902, but in 1903, he apparently moved up to Denver and started a grocery with his brother David and David’s sons.
1902 CS City Directory
Jay W. and Miriam A. Bothwell, groceries and meats, residence 517 S. Weber
1903 Denver City Directory
David E , Jeremiah W. and Jeremiah jr and an Ed Bothwell working for the "Bothwell Bros. grocers"
Now the real confusion starts. Jeremiah’s other occupation was painter - remember he had worked in that coffin factory in Sterling, Illinois - and at the end of his life he was an automobile painter. So. In 1903 in Denver, there was also a William Bothwell, who was a painter. (I know the name is wrong, but the Bothwells seem not to have worried too much about names.)
1902-3 Denver City Directory
William Bothwell, roomer at 4044 Downing Ave. Occupation: Painter.
He seems to have gone back to Colorado Springs, perhaps in regard to some business problem.
1905-6 Colorado City Directory
Jay W. & Marian A Bothwell 903 Walnut
fragment of a letter to sister Jennie
letterhead: The Spaulding/ JA Himbaugh/ Colorado Springs [although this is front page, it is 2nd page of letter]
for you. that was two months after I asked him for the favor which he encouraged me in. Jennie I am sorry I ever asked you for the 30.00 not but I considered it as a great kindness which I never will forget but I feel that I have discommoded you by not being able to pay it back before now. I am in hopes I can pay you now before long. Jennie I am not the man I would be had I a pleasant home and I only came here to try and get a part of what belongs to me. The feelings and (fragment ends)
Back in Denver, meanwhile, there was a Jeremiah who was a painter. It could be David’s son Jeremiah.
1905 Denver City Directory
Jeremiah W. Bothwell resided at 2429 Stout. Occupation: painter.
This was where David was living.
1906 Denver City Directory
Jay W. Bothwell, resided at 2429 Stout. Occupation: cabinetmaker, Grauman-Riley Fixture Co. This was David’s address, so is this son or brother?
This particular Jay W. Bothwell (or maybe another one?) opened a studio at 734 19th Street, Denver, making pottery.
1906 May 13 - Denver Post
The article was upper left corner page 4 (according to an attached note, it was section 3), with photo, quite desirable positioning. I suspect it was done as a favor to an advertiser. (says Kearney)
"Cyrus Blenkarn is a hero of a play called "I'm the Middleman." He spent his live delving into the matters of the ancients, in an effort to discover the method used centuries ago to finish pottery.
"When his coal and wood had given out, and he was faint from hunger and thirst, he, one day, pulled from is kiln a vase that shown in the beauty of a former age. He laid bare the secrets to the world, and his fame was established.
"That was in a play. Cyrus Blenkarn was only the name of the hero. The play, the dreams of Cyrus Blenkarn and the mysteries of centuries ago, have been realized in Denver.
"In a little studio at 734 Nineteenth street, Jay W. Bothwell is making ancient Yaqui pottery. Delicate vases, bowls, goblets, and vessels of dainty shapes stand on his tables just as they stood hundreds of years ago in the Indian villages. But they are modern-500 (note, No. could be 600) of them are produced every day.
"Sixteen years ago, Mr. Bothwell was working as a polisher in a coffin factory in Sterling, Ill. One evening while the men were preparing to leave their work, an apprentice threw a rag soaked with oil and paint at a fellow workman. His aim was poor, and the rag fell into a bucket filled with waste paint of every color.
"Bothwell passed by the bucket and saw in it wonderful configurations and designs where the oil and paint had been stirred. Attracted by the changing colors, he stood and watched the paint for over an hour.
"An idea came to his brain, and he developed it. He spent sixteen years in his laboratory and gradually he worked something tangible. He found a method of applying an imitation marble or onyx finish to any substance. Now he can transform glass, tin, wood, or even leather into a beautifully lined piece of marble, and no two of his designs are alike.
"In his research he discovered the method of finishing pottery in the ancient ways of the Yaqui Indians. His process is a secret to all but himself, and every piece of work goes through his own hands. A company has been organized, known as "The Bothwell Marblizing and Constuction company," with offices in the Coronado building, and the pottery will shortly be placed on the market."
Certain details make it sound as though this is our Jeremiah - he did work in a coffin factory (letter to his mother), but he left it before 1890. I do believe our Jeremiah was in Colorado Springs at this time and this is someone else. It could be David’s son, who used some story told him by his uncle??? Or an altogether different Jay W. On the third hand, Colorado Springs isn't all that far from Denver - although maybe it was further in 1906 - could he have had 2 businesses?
He was still in Colorado Springs (or Colorado City as it was then) in 1910.
1910 Colorado City Directory-
903 Walnut - Jay W. & Marian A Bothwell - occupation syrup
1910 Census (ED 22, Sheet 9, Line 8 in precinct 8 of Colorado City, ward 3) - 903 Walnut, Colorado City
John W. Bothwell, age 47 b. Ill, ps b Ill, occupation manufacturer, maple syrup
N.A. Bothwell, age 39, mother of 2, none living. b Iowa, ps b England married for 15 years
It is interesting that he was in the syrup business. Brother David in Denver ran a pancake flour and maple syrup business, and I assumed, when I saw this, that Jeremiah was possibly operating a branch office. The odd thing is that David at this time calls himself a salesman, not a syrup manufacturer - although one of his sons does put down “syrup” as his occupation.
More confusion. In 1911 and 1912 and 1914, Jeremiah and Miriam were still at 903 Walnut Street (indeed, they were there for the rest of their lives), but sometimes Jeremiah used the name Jay W - AND there now appeared a James W, residing at the same address, who was a . . . painter.
1911 Colorado (Springs) city directory
903 Walnut - Jay W. & Marian A Bothwell occupation syrup
1912 Colorado Springs city directory
Jay W. Bothwell resides at 19 W. Huerfano, Colorado City. Occupation:carriage painter.
Jeremiah W. and Miriam Bothwell 903 S. Walnut, Colorado City.
James W. Bothwell resides at 903 S. Walnut. Occupation: co-owner of Bothwell& Sikes (with Roy C. Sikes) paint shop at 9 S. 5th in Colorado City.
1914 Colorado Springs city directory
Jeremiah W. and Miriam Bothwell reside at 903 S. Walnut, Colorado City.
James W. Bothwell resides at 903 S. Walnut. Occupation: co-owner of Bothwell& Sikes (with Roy C. Sikes) paint shop at 9 S. 5th in Colorado City.
I am thinking of the letter Jeremiah wrote to Jennie in 1892, when he asks about Benjamin and says, “I often think of all the difficulties and diferent names he is forced to use and yet will insist in doing business.” I am thinking that that would make a good description of Jeremiah at this stage of his life???
In 1920, Jeremiah, living at 903 Walnut, listed his occupation as automobile painter.
1920 census - El Paso County, Colorado -Vol. 18, Enumeration District 111, Sheet 2, Line 24. 903 Walnut
Jeremiah W.Bothwell 69 b. Ill, ps b. Ireland, occupation painter, automobile
Miriam A 55, b. Iowa, ps b. England
1920 - Colorado Springs -
ddressed to: BF Bothwell/ Enterprise/ Oregon
letterhead: JW Bothwell/ Fine Automobile Painting/ 2702 Colorado Avenue/ Colorado Springs, Colo/ July 16, 1920
Dear brother I admit receipt of your several letters and have no excuse to offer in not answering only neglect and no news that I would think would interest you in particular. I am sorry you are sick. You have had quite a ___(noise?) up since you were here. am glad to know you are doing so well that makes all the family on easy st. except myself. I suppose the verdict is that I am not a church member (which I will never be) I have no trouble in dealings or business only some of the dam church hypocrits. if they are allowed to go on in the way of law makers. dictating & telling me what I must do they are only making me more bitter and desperate.
I hope you will be better by the time this reaches you. I will try and write you oftener
Jerry
1921 Colorado (Springs) city directory
903 Walnut - Jeremiah W. & Miriam A Bothwell
1922 still in Colorado Springs
envelope addressed to: Mrs WA Bratney/ Portland/ Oregon (152 E 20 St)
letterhead: JW Bothwell/ Fine Automobile Painting/ 100 South 26th St/ Colorado Springs, Colo/ 5/22 1922
My dear sister
Yours of the 16th recd
Glad to hear from you. Enclosed find the last relic I have of our dear mother which I love so much but post at your request. I am so sorry to part with it but it belongs to you as well as to me I love our mother also our father. there were two sides - (over Parents) (next 2)
we had a good father too – He had a hard pull to raise and provide for us. I sure have a kind and loving heart for him. In some ways he was wayward as all of us - (me especially) but he was a good man at that - I as a man only can rialise (next 3) we are flesh love them both
no dear sister no devilish medium Eve talks to me. I believe in God Allmighty more than you do You don't give him credit which you owe him. the prophets who wrote 75 years after Jesus died is a farce - I hope you don't believe these Pups (?) false ignorant writers - God Allmighty is all important none else hope you are well love to all
Jerry
1922 (Colorado Springs City Directories)
JJ Bothwell, 312 N. Cascade [nothing further on him]
JW Bothwell (Miriam A.), Auto Painting, 903 S. Walnut
1923 City Directory - JW and Miriam A. Bothwell
In 1923 (Aug 11) Mariam died.
The newspaper carried a short death notice for Mariam A. Bothwell, 65, wife of J.W. Bothwell, who died at her home, 903 S. Walnut St., burial Fairview. She died 11 Aug. 1923.
cemetery indexes for El Paso County, Colorado
Instead of Jeremiah W. and Miriam A. Bothwell, the Fairview Cemetery at Colorado Springs has an entry for James W. and Marian A. Bothwell.
(info from Kearney)
In 1924 (Aug 30) Jeremiah W. Bothwell, 60, married Cora Ray, 47, on 30 Aug 1924 in Colorado Springs
1925 City Directory - Jeremiah W. Bothwell (Cora) auto painter, 107 S. 25th [no Miriam, Mary]
In 1925 (Jan 3) Cora filed for divorce:
(notes from Kearney) case no. 14870. She said the fraud perpetrated was that he said he was even-tempered, clean, and temperate when in fact he concealed his "real physical condition." She said he was violent and abusive in language, gave off obnoxious odors while intemperate and in fact had been "habitually intemperate for several years." She left him Jan. 3; no children were involved. Her name was changed back to Cora J. Brey [this is slightly different from the marriage record]. She asked for $100, plus attorney's fees and costs.
In 1925 (July) J.W. Bothwell sued Mary A. Bothwell for divorce on grounds of cruelty.
(note from Kearney) It appears the J.W. Bothwell who filed for divorce from Mary A. Bothwell in 1925 is unrelated to any of our family. I suspect he may be the one born in New York who was in S. Telluride in 1900.
This one might have been our Jeremiah - or it might have been the J.W. above.
1925 James W. Bothwell was buried 4 Oct 1925 . . .
note from researcher to Kearney . . . and Marian A.Bothwell was buried 14 Aug 1923. Neither have markers, so the info came from the sexton records. I was involved in Fairview book, and I know that while we proofed what we typed in from the sexton records, we also found errors when we walked the cemetery. As the Bothwells don't have markers, we wouldn't have had a doublecheck on the sexton records.
I did find a funeral notice in the paper, which also lists the man as James W. Bothwell. It doesn't list a home address, which would have helped us cross-ref with the city directories. However, the undertaker was Swan, which now does business as Swan Law, 501 N. Cascade, Colo Spgs., CO 80903. They have records from 1912 and will send you copies of what they have, however other researchers have said they are slow.
1926 city directory listed "Bothwell, Jas, died 3 Sep 1925, age 59."
The age is wrong for our Jeremiah, who would have been about 75 at the time, but it’s possible a mistake was made. It’s very odd that a month elapsed between death and burial.
I am not entirely sure that we have been following the same Jeremiah (or J.W.) through these years. Bothwell isn't a very common name, and it seems quite unfair that there should be all this confusion. Ah well.
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