The Reverend Thomas Howard Boggess, was born 24 July 1876 near Bristol (formerly Cherry Camp), Tenmile district, Harrison county, West Virginia to Samuel Boggess (1811VA-1888WV) with second wife Sarah Elizabeth (Wood) Boggess (1835VA-1918MO). Tom, second born to Samuel Cleveland (1874WV-1946MN) and before Hale Matthew (1879WV-1942MO), had six half sisters and brothers born between 1834 and 1844 to father's first wife, Tabetha Wamsley (1803VA-1872WV).

Tom and family attended Bristol Episcopal Methodist church, which his oldest half-brother David Wamsley Boggess (1834VA-1897WV) helped create ABT 1861 in which today remain separate memorial stained glass windows with names of Tom's parents, Samuel and Sarah E Boggess.

Thomas' father passed away 2 February 1888, buried with wife's Wood family, who lived within a half mile of Maken/Point Pleasant Methodist Episcopal Church's 1964 abandoned cemetery (2003 found overgrown with livestock roaming freely, Boggess monument toppled and broken, her parents stones broken and buried, which was restored in 2004, on Wizzardism Run, next to Public school #7 up Carpenter Hollow school location dating to early 1830s, where his mother & her older brother James (father of 1908 mayor of Clarksburg, West Virginia), had earlier taught.

His mother and his aunt Henriette Jane Wood (1847VA-1928OK) brought the three sons to Carthage, Jasper county, Missouri September 1889 where his uncles, Thomas Kennerly Wood (1842VA-1918MO) came in 1869, and George Brown Wood (1852VA-1941MO) brought his family from Wheeling, Ohio county, West Virginia in 1882. Thomas gained his education at Carthage public schools graduating central school in 1896 at the Grand Opera house.

Tom was baptised 30 April 1899 by Rev C. G. Skillman and licensed to preach 9 August 1899 when the Northern Baptist church was located at Maple & Central.

He entered William Jewell College, Liberty, Clay county, Missouri September 1899 was seinor class historian and graduated in Class of 1905. While a student in 1902:

"Tom Boggess preached two good sermons yesterday at the Baptist church [Carthage, Missouri] and showed marked improvement since making his maiden effort there. He is a divinity student at the Baptist college at Liberty."

Thursday, September 21, 1905
Carthage, Missouri

A very pretty wedding took place at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Walton at Oronogo last night at 8 o'clock, when daughter Miss Tressa (sic) was united in marriage to Rev. Thomas H. Boggess.

The officiating minister was Dr. J. F. Kemper of the Baptist church of Carthage of which both the young people are members.

The attendants were Rev. Steven Rogers of Liberty, Mo, a classmate of Mr. Boggess while at college, as best man, and Miss Myra Amsden of northwest of Carthage, bridesmaid. Miss Nellie Ayre and Hazel Barson received the guests at the door.

Just previous to the march to the alter, "Annie Laurie" was sweetly sung by Bessie Barson of Oronogo. Presently the strains of "Faithful and True" from Lohengrin, were heard and the bridal party descended the stairs in the following order: Little Dwight Walton of St. James, Mo, nephew of the bride, bearing the ring in a rose; little Lucile Mumwa as flower girl; the groomsman and bridesmaid, lastly the bridal couple. At the foot of the stairs they were met by Dr. Kemper,who preceded them through the hall and across the east parlor to a corner which was completely filled with a mass of greenery from the top of which white ribbons were draped to a large wedding bell suspended from the ceiling forming a beautiful canopy under which the party took their positions.

The bridesmaid was charming in a dress of pale pink crepe de chine. The bride looked most beautiful and queenly in white silk organdy over imported white satin. The full waist was made with yoke and bertha, and yoke formed of narrow white satin ribbon arranged in diamonds and held in place with stitches. The bertha was an exquisite piece of hand made ribbon embroidery, the pattern forming chrysanthemums. The skirt which was made en trains was shired for several inches below the waist line, and a deep flounce was finished at the bottom with dainty tucks and ribbon embroidery insertion.

This lovely creation was made by the bride's own dainty and skillful fingers.

The cut flowers for decorations, and the brides bouquet were white roses.

While the ceremony was being performed in a impressive manner by Dr. Kemper. The pianist, Miss Annie E. Monroe, of north of Carthage, played softly "Nearer My God to Thee." At the conclusion, and after the friends had greeted the bridal party, refreshments were served in which the color scheme of pink and white, was followed. There were about two hundred invitations. The presents were numerous, useful and beautiful, among them a one-sixth interest in the Porto Rico mine given by Mr. Jas. Luke and substantial checks from the groom's brothers.

The wedding is the culmination of a courtship of six years' standing in which both have been faithful and true.

The groom is well known Carthage young man, and is highly esteemed. He is a Baptist minister, a graduate of William Jewell College. During his college course has had charge of several churches in Missouri but the past few months he has been in Iowa. Mr. Boggess is an earnest worker and we predict for him a successful future. The bride is a beautiful young lady of fine character. She, also, is well known in Carthage, as her home, for several years, was just north of the city.

She is very active in religious circles. Few are as well versed in the scriptures as she, for she has been a close bible student since her childhood. She is certainly a fit mate for a minister.

For the past two years she has beena successful school teacher at Frederick.

After October 15 Mr. and Mrs. Boggess will be in Lousiville, Kentucky where both will enter the Theological Seminary. Mr. Boggess will take a full three years' course and Mrs. Boggess will further fit herself for ther chosen work.

The congratulations and best wishes of their many friends go with them.

Copy from Carthage Public Library
File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mo/jasper/vitals/marriages/walton4mr.txt

~ ~ twenty-nine y/o Reverend Thomas H. Boggess, following six years of courtship, married twenty-three y/o Tressie L. Walton born June 1881 in Schell, Vernon county, Missouri, fifth of seven children of J. Martha and B. Andrew Walton ~ ~ 8:00 o'clock, evening of 20th Sep 1905, in parents lovely decorated home following issuing of some two-hundred (200) invatations, at Oronogo, Jasper county, Missouri. Misses Nellie Ayre and Hazel Barson received the many guest at front door. Rev. Steven Rogers and Miss Myra Amsden served as best man and bridesmaid, with Dwight Walton ring bearer and Lucile Mumwa flower girl, service by Dr. J. F. Kemper of Carthage's Baptist church under a large wedding bell suspended from the ceiling. The bride in her beatifully self made wedding gown. Many wedding gifts received, including a one-sixth interest in the Porto Rico mine given by Mr. James Luke.

Tom had been serving churches in Missouri & Iowa and Tressie, for past two years, taught school at Frederick. Both reportedly enrolling 15 October 1905 in the Theological Seminary at Louisville, Jefferson county, Kentucky, he for a three year course, however Jan 2009, seminary records reportedly do not (?) list them as; "...fully matriculated as students."

His first charge was Carthage, Hancock county, Illinois starting 27 September 1908, where reportedly they were entertained by some two hundred on their fifth ("wooden") wedding anniversary. Tom, H718, also saw to completion of their new church building. Caleb R & Eliza D Boggess, H780, with children, were members on April 12, 1914 till December 1, 1915, he s/o Dr Benjamin Robinson Boggess (1820VA-1877WV) and Matilada A Shinn (1838VA-1915WV) Clarksburg, WV., Caleb also the grandson of Caleb Boggess, F54, (1784MD-1852VA), whom the court appointed guardian over Tom's father, 4 y/o Samuel and 6 y/o sister, Caroline, when orphaned in 1815.

In 1915 Tom left Carthage, Illinois, found back in Iowa census at Knoxville, Marion county, listing 9 years of college education. His obituary said he served three Baptist churches in Wyandotte county, Kansas, Argentine, Quindaro and Bethany and mother's obiruary said in Kansas City area June 1918 when she died (buried next to his father). The 1920 U S census has them in northeasterly most part of Kansas City, Jackson county, Missouri at 406 north Lawndale. 1930 census found them living on Grand Ave in Omaha, Douglas county, Nebraska where Baptist Harriette (Flora) Gray lived since 1920, she, so history reports, was 1st born white child in Montgomery county, Kansas, 1st women with nationwide radio bible class, American Mother of1937, her husband Carl, president Union Pacific railroad and a Trustee of Baptist's Colby college in Maine, both having lived in Carthage, Missouri 1890 -1898 while with Frisco railroad, where her brother, my maternal grandfather Dr W W Flora lived 1892-1904. Tom's obituary said he served in Lincoln, were brother Hale's 1942 obituary said Tom became ill, so Hale and brother S C drove to be at his bedside, having a bad automobile accident on the way.

Tom and Tressie Boggess did not have any children of their own but reared and educated eight children. These were children who had been left without relatives and needed a home. One of the girls in 1938 was a missionary in India. Several of them lived in Kansas City.

Since 1935 Tom & Tressie were at Mount Ayr, Ringgold county, Iowa church, when pneumonia developed Thursday, March 3, 1938. That night he was moved to the hospital in Des Moines. The two brothers were summoned to his bedside and remained in Des Moines until when it was believed his condition was improving.

"The Rev Thomas H Boggess, 61, pastor of the First Baptist church at Mount Ayr, Iowa, and brother of S C Boggess and H M Boggess of Carthage, passed away at 10:30 o'clock morning of 11 March 1938 at the Iowa Methodist hospital in Des Moines, Iowa."

Funeral services held at 2:30 o'clock Monday afternoon in the First Baptist church at Mount Ayr.The body was then brought overland to Carthage and services held at 3:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon at the First Baptist church. The Rev A A DuLaney, pastor, was in charge. Burial was in Park cemetery, Block 33, Lot 98. In addition to published obituary, the Carthage Evening Press had a lengthly, detailed article of his funeral service, 15 March 1938.

In 1940 Tressie moved to younger sister's, Beulah Mattie (Walton) Hitt, in Oklahoma City where their mother spent her remaining years. Tressie was affilated with the Kelham Avenue Baptist church when she died in 1956, is also buried in Park cemetery at Carthage.

Marriage

Tom's family

Submitted by Bill Boggess, February 2, 2009

For more information about the BOGGESS family, visit Bill Boggess' websites for Rev. Thomas Howard Boggess, Sarah Elizabeth (WOOD) BOGGESS, William Samuel Boggess, and the family's tree at ancestry.com