Boggess, John W., died 1915

BOGGESS

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/16/2016 at 21:06:40

From the Rock Valley Bee, April 30, 1915:

A MYSTERIOUS DEATH

The following from the Hawarden Independent is an account of the death of John W. Boggess, a brother of our townsman, W. J. Boggess:

"O. C. and B. Boggess received word this week of the death of their uncle, John W. Boggess, which occurred under mysterious circumstances near Long Beach, Calif., in March. He left Long Beach on March 13th, and five days later the Los Angeles papers told of a man being found dead about twenty miles from Long Beach but identification did not seem probable. Chas. Ballard, a brother-in-law of the deceased, became alarmed at the continued absence of Mr. Boggess from Long Beach and about the first of April, accompanied by a man who had worked for Mr. Boggess for seven years, went to the place where the body was being held, and identified him. Interment was made there but his children are planning to transfer the remains to another resting place.

John W. Boggess was a brother of W. H. Boggess whose death occurred at his home in Sioux City Feb. 22nd of this year. He formerly resided at Rock Valley and for a short time in Hawarden and was for many years engaged in the elevator construction business in this section, at which business he was highly successful. He left here about ten years ago and since that time his whereabouts were unknown to his relatives here. He is survived by a family of eight grown children."

[The article in the Hawarden Independent, April 22, 1915, provides no additional information.]

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From the Alton Democrat, May 15, 1915: Sheldon news:

The body of J. W. Boggess, a former Sheldon resident, who committed suicide at Long Beach, Calif., on March 18, was but recently discovered and identified. This intelligence is of particular interest to Sioux county residents because of the fact that the deceased man has a nephew who resides at Hawarden.