Representative Joseph S. Boise View All Years

HON. JOSEPH S. BOISE.

MR. SPEAKER—Your committee appointed to draft resolutions commemorating the life, character and public service of the Honorable Joseph S. Boise, Sr., of Montgomery County, a member of the twenty-fourth general assembly, beg leave to report the following memorial:

Joseph S. Boise, Sr., was born during the two terms of James Monroe, the fifth president of the United States, on February 8th, 1824, in Homer, Courtland County, New York. He was the fifth child of a family of five boys and five girls and was the last to depart this life.

The same year of his birth, Mr. Boise’s family moved to Oxford, Ohio, where they remained thirteen years, and then changed their place of residence to Medina, of that same state. Here Mr. Boise at the age of seventeen began teaching school and remained in that work for a period of five years. He then had an ambition to engage in newspaper work and gratified this desire by going to Sandusky, Ohio, and entering the employ of his uncle, published of the Sandusky Daily Clarion.

After spending three years in newspjaper work in the capacities of solicitor, bookkeeper and city editor, Mr. Boise accepted a position in the post office of Sandusky and remained there during the administration of Millard Fillmore, the thirteenth president.

In the year 1850 Mr. Boise was married to Miss Belvidere McGee, and to them were born three sons and one daughter. Of these four children, three are living: Frank C. Boise, of Denver, Colorado; Mrs. J. L. Smith, of this place, and J. S. Boise of Chicago. The other son Freeland T., died in Nashville, Michigan, in August of 1897.

In 1858 Mrs. Boise died leaving four motherless children, the eldest was a little more than six years of age and the youngest less than eleven months. The following year Mr. Boise was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Phillips and to this union were born three daughters and one son, all of whom are still living, namely: Mrs. M. L. Benham, Miss Maude Boise of LeRoy, Ohio, and S. C. Boise of Villisca, Iowa, and Mrs. Lucia Sinsel of North Yakima, Washington.

Sorrow again entered the home in 1865 when the second companion and mother was taken away very suddenly. This time Mr. Boise was left alone to care for eight little one, the oldest being less than fourteen years of age and a baby less than a year. On the 10th of March, 1877, Mr. Boise was joined in marriage to Mrs. Helen Collier, and for nearly thirty-eight years they traveled life’s pathway together, Mrs. Boise passing away February 16th, 1915.

After having spent a year in the fire insurance business in Sandusky, Mr. Boise moved with his family to Milwaukee, where he acted as general agent for the state of Wisconsin for two fire insurance companies. In 1856 he took his family back to Ohio, bought a farm in Medina county and remained there for more than twenty years.

Mr. Boise was a personal friend and neighbor of Senator Ross, known in history as the man whose vote acquitted President Andrew Johnson, who became involved in a bitter quarrel with the leaders of the republican party.

In 1878 Mr. Boise came to Villisca, Montgomery County, Iowa, where he lived until his death, and engaged in the clothing business with his son, J. S., junior, and in 1886 turned this business over to his son and took his son S. C. in as an associate in the implement business, which was sold in 1890.

In 1892 Mr. Boise was chosen representative from Montgomery County, in the twenty-fourth general assembly, this honor having been conferred upon him in recognition of his ability and unquestioned integrity.

He has been identified with the interest of Montgomery County and the State for the past thirty-nine years and has contributed his full share toward the upbuilding, the advancement and progress of the city in which he lived, the county and the state. In matters political, business and social he has been an important factor.

Mr. Boise died at his home in Villisca, Montgomery County, Iowa, on the 16th day of January, 1917, at the ripe old age of ninety-three years.

Therefore Be It Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House, and that the Chief Clerk transmit an engrossed copy thereof to the family of the deceased.

E. A. LARSON,

H. GUY ROBERTS,

FRED DURBIN,

Committee.

Adopted March 29, 1917.