(permission applied for)
Margaret | Sarah Jane | Lavinah | John R | Charles Edward | George W | Dinah | Anna | Albert | Frank
We are not entirely sure that Margaret is a daughter of William and Dinah. At any rate, she was born in Canada about 1830; she is with the family on the 1850 census; she married Benjamin W Ellis in 1856 in Dubuque and she is mentioned in the petition to have William’s will proved in 1885 - but not in the will itself. And that is all we know about her.
I did find a B. W. Ellis in St Louis in 1860:
1860 Missouri, , St. Louis, 10th Ward p. 435
BW Ellis 42 m lumber merchant 100 NH
Margaret 30 NH (it was a ditto, so)
Emma 8 Mo
Julia 6 Mo
William 4 Mo
Sarah Blackwell 20 Ill
Catherine Welch 35 servant Ireland
The older daughters, Emma and Julia, were born before Margaret married Benjamin, but he may have been married before??? Sarah Blackwell could have been Sarah Bothwell, Margaret’s sister visiting from Illinois. ??? On the other hand, there is a connection between Ellises and Blackwells back in New England.
Other possibilities found in later censuses:
This one is interesting because the Bothwells were in Vermont in 1838-40. And because this Margaret says she was born in Ireland.
1870 Vermont Chittenden Burlington p. 419
Ellis, Benjamin F 45m bookstore Vt
Margaret 37 Keeping house Ireland
Emma J 17 at home Ohio
Julia H 15 at home Ohio
Margaret N 9 New York
Benjamin 4 Vermont
1880 Massachusetts Middlesex Cambridge
Ellis, Benjamin W 56 Vt coal dealer
Margaret 50 Ireland Scotland Scotland
Julia H 24 Ohio Vt Ire
Margaret B 19 New York
Benjamin W 14 Vt
Edwin S Sales nephew 38 Vt grain dealer
1900 Massachusetts Plymouth Bridgewater (Bridgeport?) ED1092 Sheet 5a stamp 82
Ellis, Benjamin 75 m50 b. Mass - but no one else with him.
on same page Mary G 58, Maud 31 both with children
- I could find no other Benj. matching him or son in New England.
1910 Massachusetts Suffolk Boston supplement 221 (158) SD119, ED1593, ward 28th pct
161 Townsend St.
Ellis, Benjamin W head mw44 m1 21 Vt Vt Vt
Lottie M 42 4ch/3liv Ma Can Me
Mabel B 18
Benjamin M 17
Charlotte B 15
Ellis, Margaret B mother 79 wd 6ch/2liv Ire-Eng Scot-Eng Ire-EngBack to:
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Sarah Jane was “the little old lady from Dubuque” in every essential matter. She was born in Canada 27 May 1840; she moved west with her family, finally arriving in Dubuque in 1854. She lived at home, never married, and for at least part of her life was a music teacher. She continued to live in the family home after her parents died. Her sister, Levina, and family moved in with her for a time, but at the end she was alone, with a boarder.
1850 census - with parents in Galena, Illinois
1860 census - with parents in Dubuque, Iowa
1870 census - with parents in Dubuque, Iowa
1880 census - with parents in Dubuque, Iowa
1900 Iowa-Dubuque-Dubuque 4th Ward - (Bk 2, p. 17 - 1st image)
Turner, Fred L head wm Oct 1832 67 m33 Md Ire Md
Lavina wife July 1842 57 m33 2ch/2liv Il Ire Canada (Scotch)
Bothwell, Sarah J sister May 1841 59 s Canada (Scotch) Ireland Canada (Scotch)
Turner, Fred L jr May 1873 s Iowa MD Il
Lewis, Nancy E lodger Jan 1843
1910 Iowa - Dubuque - Dubuque 4th w - Julien Twp (SD3, Ed126, Sheet 6b) Locust St
Bothwell, Sarah J head fw 67s Can Scot Can
Lewis, Nancy lodger 67 m 0/0 Me Me Me
Sarah died in 1911.
Death Certificate #663 - Township Julien, Town Dubuque
Bothwell, Miss Sarah J. , age 71, single, b. Canada, father William Bothwell b. Ireland
mother Dinah Manson, occ. household, informant Fred L. Turner, Chicago Ill
died 5 June 1911, cause of death: epithelioma squamosa, doctor ER Jackson
buried Linwood - undertaker CW Walton
Sarah Jane’s will - Will - Book 111, p. 211
I, Sarah Jane Bothwell, of the City and County of Dubuque, and State of Iowa, being of lawful age and of sound and disposing mind and memory, do hereby make publish and declare this as and for my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former will by me made, that is to say:
First; I give and bequeathe unto my nephew Fred L. Turner, all of the personal property of which I may die possessed, my intention being that he shall take same free of any debts and charges.
Second: I hereby appoint my brothers, George W. Bothwell, and Albert J. Bothwell, and my nephew, Fred L. Turner, the executors of this my will and exempt them, and each of them from giving bonds or security as such, and exempt them from the necesity of filing any inventory of my personal estate or of having same appraised, and in case either or any of them fails to qualify as such executor, or fails, after being appointed and having qualified, to complete the administration of said estate, the remaining one or ones shall continue to act as such executor or executors, and without bond and with the same powers as are give to said three executors.
Third; I give and devise all of the real estate of which I shall die possessed to my said three executors above named in trust with the following powers and for the following purposed: They are to have the complete power to sell, dispose of and convey said property at such price and on such terms as they in their judgment shall determine, and all without any order of any Court, and our of the proceeds realized from the sale of said property they are first to pay all debts which I may be owing at the time of my death and all expenses in connection with my funeral and burial, and the costs and expenses of administration of my estate, and they are to divide and distribute the remainder of the proceeds so realized from the sale of said real estate, as follows:
To my brothers, John R. Bothwell, George W. Bothwell, Albert Bothwell and Frank Bothwell, each one sixth (1/6th) thereof;
To my two nephews, George Turner and Fred L. Turner, each one twelfth (1/12th) thereof, the share given to said George Turner, however to be subject to the provisions of the Fourth Clause of this will.
To my nephew Edward M. Bice, one sixth (1/6th) thereof.
Fourth; In the event that my said nephew, George Turner shall nor be living at the time when said executors make distribution of the proceeds of said real estate, or in the event that he shall not within one year from the date of my death file in the Court where my estate is pending a notice in writing that he claims the share intended for hem, then, or in either of said events the share herein proved for him shall go to his brother, my nephew, Fred L. Turner, hereinbefore mentioned.
Fifth; In the event that my said nephew Edward M. Bice, shall not be living at the time when my said executors make distribution of the proceeds of said real estate, then and in that event, the share herein provided for him shall go to my nephew hereinbefore mentioned Fred L. Turner.
Sixth; In the event that my said brother, George W. Bothwell, shall not be living at the time when my said executors make distribution of the proceeds of said real estate, then and in that event the share herein provided for him shall go to my said brother herinbefore mentioned Frank Bothwell.
Seventh; My said executors are also exempted from giving bonds as trustees
signed 24 April 1911
OBITUARY
Tuesday 6 Jun 1911
Miss Sarah J Bothwell, passed away at her home. 873 Locust, Monday afternoon. She had been in poor health for over a year. Miss Bothwell was born in Canada 27 May 1840. Soon afterwards her parents moved to Galena, Illinois. In about 1853 the family removed to Dubuque, where Miss Bothwell has lived ever since. She was one of eight children, three of whom with her parents have gone before her. Four brothers survive her, John R., George W., and Frank of California, and Albert of Wyoming. Also three nephews, George and Fred L. Turner and Edward M Bice and one niece, Miss Margaret Bothwell.
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Levina was born in Galena in 1842. She married in 1867, and spent the rest of her life (except for her final days at the sanitarium in Battle Creek, Michigan) in Dubuque.
1867 Feb 26 - Levina Bothwell 24 - George S Turner 33 married - S G Skees clergyman
Book 3, p. 122 - Dubuque - no further info on license
1870 Iowa, Dubuque, Dubuque roll 389 - 192 Dubuque
Turner, George L 36 m bank teller 5000 real 1000 personal Md
Levina 26 Ill
Anna Bothwell 18 Ill at home
1880 Iowa Dubuque Dubuque 3rd ward
George L Turner mw 45 m Md Ire Ire bookkeeper
Lavina 36 Il Ire Ire keeping house
George L 9 Ia Md Il at school
Frederick 7 Ia Md Il at school
Mary Cadman servant 20 Ia Ire Ire
1900 Iowa-Dubuque-Dubuque 4th Ward - (Bk 2, p. 17 - 1st image) SD3, ED108, Sheet 1
873 Locust Street
Turner, Fred L head wm Oct 1832 67 m33 Md Ire Md
Lavina wife July 1842 57 m33 2ch/2liv Il Ire Canada (Scotch)
Bothwell, Sarah J sister May 1841 59 s Canada (Scotch) Ireland Canada (Scotch)
Turner, Fred L jr May 1873 s Iowa MD Il
Lewis, Nancy E lodger Jan 1843
I have no idea why George senior was suddenly transformed into Fred - surely just a mistake on the census-taker/s part?
George senior was a bookkeeper. He died in 1901, and Levina died a few months later, in February 1902. She was in the big fire at the sanitarium in Battle Creek.
OBITUARY
This was supplied to me by Kearney Bothwell, so I don’t have the publication data, sorry.
Thursday, 20 Feb 1902
The many friends of Mrs L. Turner, wife of the late Geo L Turner, will be grieved to learn of her death, which took place this morning at 2 o'clock at Battle Creek , Michigan, where she had been taking treatment in the hope of restoring her health. The night of the fire in the sanitarium, she was carried unconscious from the fifth floor, down the fire escape by her son and two attendants, without regaining consciousness, she passed peacefully away unmindful of the terrible disaster that had happened.
Mrs Turner's maiden name was Lavina Bothwell. She was the second daughter of Mr and Mrs William Bothwell of this city. She was born 23 Aug 1842, in Galena, Illinois, coming to Dubuque with her parents when a child. In the year 1867 deceased was united in marriage with Geo L.
Turner, who passed away on the 19th of Dec last.
Two sons, one sister, Miss Sarah Bothwell of 873 Locust street, this city and four brothers survive deceased. The remains will be shipped to this city from Battle Creek for interment
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John R - the R apparently stands for Randolph - was born about 1844 in Illinois, presumably Galena. He had, as I said earlier, a complicated life - he was in fact one of the bad eggs in William’s family. Most of this information comes from my brother Kearney, although I did do some.
In 1860, John is listed in the census in Illinois as a teacher (at age 16). He is also listed with his father in Galena.
A John R. Bothwell was rejected for military service 29 Oct., 1861, by Mustering Officer, 12th RGT Iowa Vol Infantry. Assuming it is the same John R. Bothwell, he apparently was able to enlist in the Union army and served on Grant's Staff. After the war, he joined the regular army and was in the 5th Infantry in Colorado. In the 1930 census, he says he was a veteran of the Civil War.
He married Alicia Turner on 17 Oct 1865 in Stephenson County, Illinois.
In 1870, he and his wife, Alice, are listed in the census at Fort Lyon, Colorado Territory, along with their 3-year-old daughter, Maggie.
1870 Colorado - Bent - Ft Lyon p. 94b - 24 Aug
Bothwell, JR 26 - 1st Lieut 5th Infy Il / Alicia 26 Housewife Il / Maggie 3 Colorado
Kearney says the daughter was Margaret Manson Bothwell, born 14 Jun 1868, in Colorado, died 25 March 1943 in Los Angeles County, California.
This is from Kearney: Alice Turner was the daughter of a prominent Illinois politician named Thomas Johnston Turner. (and I have not found a relationship between her and Levina’s husband, George L. Turner). Here's what I was able to find out about him: Born in Trumbull County, Ohio, April 5, 1815; family moved to Butler County, Pa., in 1825; to Lake County, Ind., in 1837 and to Freeport, Ill., in 1838. Admitted to the bar in 1840, practice in Freeport. Served as a judge of the probate court of Stephenson County in 1842; postmaster of Freeport in 1844; State district attorney in 1845. He established the first weekly newspaper (The Prairie Democrat) in Stephenson County, Elected to the Thirtieth Congress (March 4, 1847-March 3, 1849 as a Democrat). Elected to the State house of representatives in 1854, serving as speaker; elected first mayor of Freeport, Ill., in 1855. Was a delegate to the 1861 peace convention in Washington, D.C. in an effort to devise means to prevent the impending war. He enlisted in the Union Army May 24, 1861, and served as colonel of the Fifteenth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, until his resignation due to ill health in 1862. He was a member of the constitutional convention in 1863 and unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate in 1871. Then moved to Chicago to resume the practice of law.
Obviously a good father-in-law for a young Army officer and possibly an explanation for the reported split between Alice and John after his court martial, as described in the NY Times article. Kearney did not supply publication information on this NY Times article.
Kearney's information continues: In Nov. 1870, John was court martialed on charges of making and presenting for payment a false and fraudulent claim against the United States, misappropriating for his own benefit money and property of the government, and conduct unbecoming an officer. He was convicted and cashiered. He then went to Chicago where he got a job as a reporter on the Chicago Times in 1871, until he was fired in 1873. He then went on to be editor of the Chicago Morning Courier briefly, then traveled to St. Louis, Baltimore, and several other cities, before reaching the New York City area.
In 1880, he appears in the census in East Orange, Essex Co., NJ as publisher of the Daylee News. Living with him were his daughter, Minnie, by his first wife, except that the daughter’s name was Maggie, a gardener, William G. Manning, and a housekeeper, Rosa Rogers, and his second wife, Sally, who died in New York in 1890. (He and his second wife were married in the same New York community (Pelham Manor) as Albert John and his first wife, Margaretta.)
1880 New Jersey. Essex, East Orange p. 547
Bothwell, John R wm38 publisher Daylee News Il Scot Va (sic)
Susan 36 keeping house Mass Mass Mass
Minnie 11 at school Ny Il Mass
Manning, William 20 servant (gardener)
Rogers, Rosa 35 servant (house keeper)
The second wife was Susan Howard Allen, born in Rhode Island, died about 12 Dec 1890, New York, NY. They apparently adopted a child (who could be this Minnie) named Mary Isabel Reed who was born 29 Aug 1868 in NY and died 27 Feb 1959 in Los Angeles County, CA. Mary Isabel married John Upson Sanders and had 6 children. He was the son of a former Northern Pacific Railroad attorney who later became a US Senator from Montana.
He entered into a partnership with Prof. William B. Clark as Clark & Bothwell, brokers, on Nassau St. in New York City, apparently in 1880. In 1882, they were charged with misappropriating funds (more than $222,000) from several mining companies they represented (Bothwell was treasurer of the corporation.) They were sued by the Stormont Silver Mining Co., the San Bruno Copper Co., and the Satamo Gold Quartz Mining Co. Clark blamed everything on Bothwell, who apparently left New York for Chicago (Sally apparently stayed in New York).
In Sept., 1883, the Atchison, Ks., Globe relayed a report from the Rawlings, WY, Dispatch that John R. Bothwell of New York had contracted for a railroad survey from Ft. Washakie to Yellowstone Park and that he reportedly had the backing of a London syndicate.
On Dec. 25, 1883, the Butte, MT, Daily Miner reported:
'NEW YORK, Dec. 22--The directors of the Wyoming, Yellowstone & Pacific railway company elected the following officers: President, T.D. Shoemaker; vice president, S.H. Wallace; secretary, H.M. Munsell; treasurer, James D. Powers; managing director, John R. Bothwell. It is stated the company will begin next spring the construction of an extensive railroad system in Wyoming and adjacent territories."
There also is one reference in a Fresno newspaper of 1884 to a Bothwell mine in Fresno County, which I find interesting because there is a group photo of Albert, George, JR et al was taken in Yosemite, which is very near Fresno.
(permission applied for)
Kearney thinks the photo was taken in Madera County, California, somewhere near Grub Gulch (now only a marker on the side of the road) where a Mr. Bothwell had built a stamping mill for the third richest gold mine in the county's history. K. thinks the "Mr. Bothwell" involved was George (who had built stamping mills before, in Nevada). He thinks the photo dates to about 1883. He thinks the Bothwells are - front, left to right - Albert, Frank, George and John R. One of the men in the back is a Melvin Bothwell, but we don't know who he is.
Bothwell next shows up as a promoter involved in the project to build a canal to bring irrigation water to Box Elder Co., UT. The irrigation project was started by Alexander Toponce, who partnered with a sheepherder named John W. Kerr to form the Corinne Mill Canal and Stock Co., but they were unsuccessful in developing the canal. In 1889, promoter John Bothwell of Kansas City secured financing for the canal from Quaker societies in the British isles. Construction began in Sept., 1889. As a result of the canal, the town of Bothwell in Box Elder Co. was named after John R. Bothwell.
Kearney found an article in the Ogden Standard (26 June 1889) containing an interview with JR, which gives an idea for the sort of operator he was. link to Ogden Standard Article
Bothwell is briefly mentioned in two articles in the Nevada State Journal in 1889 and 1891 as President of the Bear River Canal Co., which, according to the Dec. 13, 1889 issue, had a paid up capital of $2 million! It also mentioned he was the brother of George W. Bothwell, who formerly operated in mines in the Lewis, Linder Co., area.
On 8 Mar 1890, he was granted a land patent for 640 acres in Natrona County, Wyoming. (doc#848). In 1896 (18 Jan), a Margaretta Gray Bothwell (and I don’t know who she is) got a patent for 318 acres in the same county. (doc#27). In 1908, a Maggie Bothwell got a patent for 160 acres in Weston County (doc#1108). I don’t know who she is either - but John R did have a daughter named Maggie.
In 1890, his second wife, Susan, died in New York City, around Dec. 12.
The canal was completed in 1891 and a newspaper article at the time reported John was leaving for Germany to undertake "some large engineering work."
He is difficult to find in the censuses - and because of his checkered career, one is never quite sure it is him. In 1900, there is a likely candidate in Missouri:
1900 Missouri, Jasper, Carthage, 5th Ward (SD13, ED62, Sheet 4a) taken 4 June p. 128
1227 S. Main Street
Bothwell, John R head wm Aug 1846 53 m4years Il Scot Vt mine operator
Jean Wellindra? wife wf Nov 1867 32 1ch/1liv Can(Eng) Eng Can
John Randolph son Nov 1896 3s Oh Il Can
Garrett, Julia Ann servant wf May 1865 35s NJ Ire Ire
The third wife was Jean Alexandra Ballam. She was born 5 November 1862 in Canada, and died 29 Aug 1956 in Ventura County, California. Their son, John Randolph, born Nov 1896 in Ohio, died in 1926. According to my brother Kearney, John Randolph (the son) served in the British army in WWI, got a medal for gallantry, and resigned his commission because of wounds. Died in the car wreck in Arizona and is buried in Inglewood in the plot with Albert.
In 1906, the Ada, OK, Evening News mentioned that John Bothwell went to Ft. Worth on a business trip. "Don't know if this is the same John Bothwell, but it sounds like an interesting avenue to pursue," says Kearney.
After that, he seemingly disappears from public notice. I have not been able to find him in 1910 or 1920. According to his sister's will, he was in California at the time of her death in 1911, but he (so far) has proved elusive in the census records.
In 1910, John and Alexa's son was enumerated in the census in Colorado, where he was living with a family named John and Emma Bateman and listed as a nephew.
John R was still alive in 1930.
1930 California Santa Clara Palo Alto SD10 ED43-20 Sheet 10a (81) Apr 15 line 14 - 2415 ? St Bothwell, Randolph rents 45 mw85 m21 Il Scot Vt writer indep vet of Civil War
Alexandra wife fw 63 m23 Eng Can, Eng Can, Eng
He died 25 Mar 1943 in Los Angeles County, California. Or maybe not: another source says John Randolph Bothwell died in San Francisco Co. on Oct. 12, 1933. Jean Alexandra Bothwell died in Ventura Co., CA, Aug. 29, 1956.
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Little is known about Chas. E. He was born about 1846 in Illinois. He appears in all the censuses up to and including 1880, but the information therein is not particularly revealing. He apparently never married, and he apparently was not as flamboyant as his brothers - his occupation is usually clerk (instead of mine operator, or stockman). He did receive a land patent for 160 acres in Custer County, Colorado on 1 Oct 1875. He died sometime between his father’s death in 1885 and his mother’s in 1895. He is buried in Linwood Cemetery in Dubuque.
George was born about 1848 in Illinois, presumably Galena. He was with the family in Galena and Dubuque until at least 1865. In 1870 he was in Colorado, with his brother Charles
1870 Colorado - Huerfano - Huerfano River (Butte Valley, Colo Terr) p. 318 - 11 Aug
Bothwell, CE 24 mw farmer Il
Geo W 22 $400 Il
He was not content to work for others, like his brother Chas., but instead set to work for himself.
He got a land patent for 160 acres (with Margaret Merrill???) in Custer County, Colorado on 1 April 1876, and called himself a mineral borer (or broker?).
1880 Colorado, Custer, Silver Cliff Twp, District 33 (SD12, ED33) p. 26
Main Street - Pond House?
Bothwell, George W boarder wm 32 mineral borer? Il Scot English Canada
He was married to Lilly Danforth, probably sometime in 1880. This info from Kearney. I don't know the source.
George was involved in mining in Nevada. Kearney found several newspaper references to him having mines in Lander, NV, and Bernice, NV, and owning an ore mill in Bernice. All were dated between 1882 and 1884.
I haven’t found him in 1900, but he was in California by 1910, and he stayed there for the rest of his life, apparently. He took out several land patents in the Imperial Valley in California in 1910.
Doc#01405 George W Bothwell and Helen C. Sevier - 18 Aug 1910 - 240 acres
Doc#01407 George W Bothwell and William J Sander - 8 Dec 1910 - 160 acres
Doc#01694 Loly D Bothwell and Thomas Cory - 14 Dec 1910 - 120 acres
1910 California - San Bernadino - Ontario Twp p. 33a (image 5/100)
Bothwell, George W 62 m1 30yrs Il Ire Can farmer
Lillie 55 m1 30yrs 0ch/0liv Il Mass NY
Danforth, Ruth 85? wid 4ch/1liv Ny Us Us
plus hired man William Johnson & 2 servants (Marjorie Anderson & Mary Bertrant)
1920 California - San Bernadino - Ontario - SD9, ED163, Sheet 2b - 6 Jan
156 fm Bothwell, George W mw71 m Il Scot Canada
Lilly D 61 Il NY Mass
houseman, companion didn't copy their names, sorry
1930 California San Bernadino Ontario SD12 ED36-46 Sheet 6a p. 251 Apr 18
Bothwell GW head owns 5000 mw81 wd 32 Il N Ire Eng Can
Truesdale, Emma S servant fw 81 wd 30 Pa Ny NyBack to:
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Dinah is on the 1850 census as a 1-year old, but she is not on the 1860 census, nor is she mentioned in any of the obits. Therefore she probably died young, poor thing.
Anna was born in Illinois, presumably Galena, in 1851. In 1874, she married Charles Bice.
1874 Dec 29 - Anna Bothwell 24 - Charles M. Bice 25 - Book 4, p. 48 - no further info on license
Newspaper (I forgot to write page and date - and name of newspaper!)
Bice Bothwell wedding
the marriage of the handsome and accomplished Miss Anna, only remaining daughter of Wm. Bothwell, Esq., to Mr. Charles M. Bice, a bright and promising attorney from Clinton Iowa . . .held at residence of brides’s father, NE corner of Grand View and Southern Avenue . . . Rev LA Ostrander
Among those present were Mrs. Fred Benson, Mrs Webster, Mrs. Col. Henderson, Mr and Mrs Wing, of Monticello, and cousins of the bride, Mrs. George L Turner, Miss Ella Amaden, Miss Sadie Provost and Miss Patterson.
future home - Clinton.
I have no idea why the newspaper called Anna “the only remaining daughter” - Sarah outlived Anna by nearly 20 years, and Levina was still alive too (and present at the wedding - she is Mrs George L Turner) - to say nothing of the elusive Margaret Bothwell Ellis. Anna and Charles are mentioned in one history of Clinton County, Iowa (I don’t have the bibliographic information, sorry), but I only noted down their marriage date and the name of their son, Edward M. I am not sure how long they lived in Clinton, Iowa, but in 1880 they were in Kansas City.
1880 Missouri Jackson Kansas City 5th ward (LDS site list)
Charles M Bice mw31 Can Ny Can attorney
Anna 25 Il Ire Can
Anna died some time before 1895 (she is mentioned as deceased in her mother’s obit), and was buried in Linwood Cemetery, Dubuque.
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Albert J. is the other really bad guy in the family. Born about 1854 in Illinois, he was still at home in Dubuque when his brothers went off to seek their fortunes - but he didn’t let his late start handicap him. By 1880, he was in Colorado, calling himself a stockman. He apparently had over 1000 acres in Colorado and Wyoming, and he, alas, was the model for the bad guy in the movie Shane.
1880 Colorado - Custer - Wet Mountain p. 313 (ED33, pl 39) - 18 June line 8 30-31
Bothwell, Albert wm 26 stockman Ia Ia Ia
It was in 1889 that he led the gang that lynched Jim Averill and Ella Watson (Cattle Kate). There are several websites devoted to this affair.
This one is a brief summary http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/WWbothwell.htm
This one is a longer summary, written by George W. Hufsmith who also wrote a book called The Lynching of Cattle Kate http://www.cattlekate.com/story.html
This one is by a great nephew of Ella Watson - it has pictures (of the area) and a very detailed account. http://www.geocities.com/splasher_50/aunt.html
Watson and Averill homesteaded on land that Albert had been using to graze his cattle. He tried several times to buy them out, but they refused. Then Watson made the mistake of buying some cattle of her own. Albert used them as a causus belli: he claimed she had stolen them. And we all know what happens to cattle rustlers.
from brother Kearney: Albert was arrested, but the county prosecutor ruled the original inquest illegal and a second inquest turned the matter over to the courts. A grand jury was convened in Oct. 1889 to investigate the lynchings but since by then all the witnesses had died or disappeared, the jury was dismissed and the defendants freed with no charges. No trial was ever held. Bothwell added the homestead of Jim and Ella to his ranch and later went on to become a member of the Executive Committee of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association. In later newspaper accounts, Ella became "Cattle Kate" and the whole affair was part of the background incorporated into the plot of the movie "Shane."
He married Margaret Church in about 1891, according to the census.
1900 Colorado - Arapahoe - Denver 9th ward (SD 24 ED 72 Sheet 3 stamped 68) 4 June
1560 Lincoln Ave - several families - line 6
Bothwell, Albert J head wm Feb 18, 1854 46 m9 Il Ire Can stock grower 0months unemp.
Margaret G wife wf May 24, 1868 m20(crossed out)9 2ch/2liv Oh Ky Pa
Church, Katherine G step-daughter May 6, 1881 19s NY NY OH
Henry S stepson April 12, 1883 17s NY NY OH
1902-3 Denver City Directory
Albert J. Bothwell, president of the Western Breeders Association, residence 1601 Franklin, Denver.
I can’t find him in 1910, but in 1920 he is in California with two young daughters:
1920 California - Los Angeles - Los Angeles SD8, ED228, Sheet 12b? - 13 Jan
Bothwell Albert J mw64 wd. Iowa unknown unknown no occ
Edith 13 daughter, Missouri, Iowa, unknown
Ada 13 daughter ditto
The daughters are in Missouri in 1910, but with no sign of Albert around. They are boarders.
1910 Missouri Holt Benton Twp - Bothwell Ada and Edith both 4 - boarders
(permission applied for)
Albert died 1 March 1928 in Los Angeles County, California. According to Hufsmith: A story persists around the valley today that Al Bothwell died utterly insane. Maybe it's wishful thinking - maybe it's not! I have found evidence either way. He was still trying to accumulate property until the very end. His final land acquisition was back in Colorado: 80 acres in Weld County on 1 Feb 1928 (doc# not given) - this was just a month before his death (although I have not confirmed his death date).
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The youngest child of William and Dinah was born in Iowa (presumably Dubuque) in about 1856.
He was still in Dubuque in 1879 (listed in the city directory), but by 1880 he had joined his brothers in Colorado.
1878-9 - Dubuque Directory pub Pyne
Bothwell Wm res 21 Hill
Frank ditto1880 Colorado, Custer, Silver Cliff Twp p. 28 SD12, ED33 - line 5
Bothwell, Frank wm 23 brick maker Iowa Ire English Canada
For the next 30 years, I have found no trace of him. He apparently married in 1896 - but for the second time. I have no idea who his first wife was, nor of what he was doing during those 30 years. In 1910, he was in California with his second wife and a son.
1910 California - Stanislaus - Modesto p. 50a (image 73/184)
Bothwell, Frank mw 53 m2 14yrs Iowa Ireland Canada farmer dairy farm
Emma 52 m2 14yrs 1ch/1liv - all Canada
Harry? 15 Cal Iowa Can
1920 California - Contra Costa - Pittsburg SD3, ED13, p. 4b
Bothwell, Frank head mw 56m Iowa Ireland Canada laborer redwood factory
Anna wife fw 58 (or 38) m Iowa Oh Il
Evelyn dau 11 Cal Iowa
1930 California San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles SD13 ED40-14 Sheet 1b (3201) Apr 2
1419 Park St. Bothwell, Frank r 20 mw73 m35 Iowa US Iowa proprietor X store
Anna wife 49 m19 Iowa Oh Il
It is not clear to me that all these Frank Bothwells are the same man, but it was the best I could do. I do not know when or where Frank died.
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Onward to one of the aunts or uncles:
Sarah | James | Margaret | Jeremiah
Comments, questions, corrections?
contact me at : lee@leesgenes.com