J. S. BOISE

BOISE

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/22/2020 at 14:28:22

J. S. BOISE, an aged and highly-respected citizen of Villisca, and Justice of the Peace of the same, was born in Portland county, New York, February 8, 1824. His parents were Charles and Roxanna (Todd) Boise, the father a native of Blanford, Massachusetts, and the mother of New York. Charles Boise, soon after his marriage, enlisted in the war of 1812, and participated in a number of important engagements, being under General Scott, the Commanding General of Stony Point. For services rendered he in after years received a warrant for land. In 1822 he moved with his brother-in-law from New York to Sandusky, Ohio, taking with them a printing-press, the first one used west of Cleveland. They established the Sandusky Clarion, which paper is still in existence, and has been conducted by our subject and his father
ever since. The senior Mr. Boise was one of the old settlers of Huron county, Ohio, and knew much of the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life in that locality, having located there when he had only the Indians for his neighbors. He died in 1856, aged sixty-seven years. His wife died in 1872, at the age of seventy-five. Eleven children were born to them, J. S. being the fifth in the family and one of the seven who are now living.

Mr. Boise was six months old when his parents moved to Huron county, Ohio, and on the frontier he was reared and educated. At the age of eighteen he engaged in teaching in Ohio, and for five years followed that profession. After that he entered the employ of David Campbell, and traveled in the interest of the Clarion of Sandusky, Ohio, for three years. The following three years he was employed as chief clerk in the postoffice at Sandusky. In 1850 he went to Milwaukee, where for six years he was engaged in the insurance business. From there, in 1856, on account of ill health, he went back to Ohio, and turned his attention to farming, which he followed there for twenty-one years. He came to Iowa in 1878 and established a general clothing store at Villisca, and here he has since resided. In 1884 he turned the business over to his son, J. S. Boise, Jr., who is still carrying it on, keeping a full line of clothing, furnishing goods, etc. The store is nicely located, and under its efficient management has a thriving trade. In connection with it is a tailor shop. Mr, Boise and his youngest son engaged in the farming implement business in 1889, but soon afterward sold out to Smith & Jones. He is now practically retired from active business.

In 1850 Mr. Boise was united in marriage with Miss Bellvidere McGee, of Sandusky, Ohio, daughter of Thomas McGee. Their union has been blessed with eight children, namely: Franklin C., Freeland T., J. S., Jr.; Ellen A., Bellvidere, Maud M., Seymour C. and Andalucia. Ellen A. is the wife of G. L. Smith, of the firm of Smith & Jones. Maud M., an accomplished musician, graduated at Oberlin, Ohio, in 1886, and has since, with the exception of one year spent in Europe, been engaged as a teacher of music in the Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio.
Andalucia is the wife of A. J. Sinsel. Mrs. Boise is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Politically Mr. Boise is a Republican, and is now serving his second term as Justice of the Peace. He has always been well to the front in everything of a public nature, and his position, influence and abilities have ever been at the service of the community of which he is an honored member.