Written on the back "Josiah T. Boothby Lexington, Oregon Please return" Photo in my family collection.
M.S Eastman was working as a photographer in Portland and Cascade Locks (on the Columbia River) beginning in 1891 (historicphotoarchive.com/oregon).
Josiah Thomas Boothby was my paternal Great Grandfather. Growing up I never knew his name or anything about his life. I knew a great deal about my maternal side of the family but this man and his story was a mystery. And then I began my genealogy research a few years ago. My paternal Grandmother Terry Boothby fortunately possessed a few pictures of this side of the family which I was given after her death. So, I had three pictures of Josiah and an initial search of census records to go on.
The first picture (above) was probably taken in Josiah's mid 30's in the early 1890's, as Melton (or Milton) S. Eastman did not begin his photography business until 1891. It is hard to tell, however. Josiah looks younger to me than mid 30's and the striped jacket was a popular style in the 1880's. So, I'm really not sure when this picture was actually taken. I do see that Josiah still had most of his hair on top.
In my research I found an obituary written in 1915 in the Heppner Gazette Times that described my Great Grandfather's personality, character and what kind of father he was. That obituary rounded out his life for me. I feel like I know a little bit more about him beyond the basic facts. So, on this Father's Day 2021 I am sharing Josiah Thomas Boothby's story.
But first, the basic facts...
Josiah T. (he went by Josiah T., J.T. and sometimes Thomas) was born in Illinois in 1856 to his parents Josiah Stewart Boothby and Elizabeth (Peyton) Boothby. He was most likely born in Coles County, Illinois. In 1860 J.T. was the youngest of four Boothby children: Charlotte Samantha, John Collins , Mary Jane Boothby and then Josiah T. The 1860 US Census enumerated the family when they were living in Willow Springs, Kansas Territory. Josiah T.'s father Josiah Stewart was making a living as a farmer at the time, before he enlisted in the Civil War.
The 1870 Census enumerated the family back in Okaw Township, Coles County, Illinois. Elizabeth Peyton had passed away in February of 1867 when Josiah T. was 11 years old and was buried in the Smith Cemetery in North Okaw Township. She was 47 years old. Josiah Stewart married Susan Yates and they had their first child together, Grant Boothby, who was 2 years old at the time of the census. Josiah T. was listed as Thomas on this census, and was 13 years old. His brother John was 19 and was working as a farmer, and Jane was 16. I am unable to find any more information about Charlotte Samantha after 1870.
The 1880 Census enumerated the family in Monmouth, Polk County, Oregon on the 14th day of June. Josiah Stewart was working as a baker (he arrived in Oregon with "three nickels to his name" in 1879) and was living with his wife Susan, as well as their children Grant (aged 12) and Luella (aged 6). Also living with Josiah and Susan was Josiah T., who was listed as Josiah T. Boothby, aged 23. His occupation was not listed, although by this time he was probably working in some capacity in Monmouth. Also listed on this census (and 3 dwellings down from Josiah Stewart) was the family of Thomas Boothby. This Thomas Boothby was Reason Thomas Boothby, who was the son of Reason Rounds Boothby. Reason Rounds was the older brother of Josiah Stewart and had already come to Oregon in October of 1849 with the Waller family via wagon train. (Christians on the Oregon Trail Churches of Christ and Christian Churches in Early Oregon 1842-1882 by Jerry Rushford College Press Publishing Co. Joplin Missouri Copyright 1997). I will do a separate post on the Reason Rounds family in Oregon at a later date.
There is no 1890 US Census available, so I have to surmise that Josiah lived and worked in Heppner and Lexington Oregon around the mid 1880's through the 1890's. His father arrived in Lexington by 1883 and made his living by cattle ranching and wheat farming (The Illustrated History of Umatilla and Morrow Counties, Oregon by William Parsons and W.S Shiach 1902 pg. 542). He had sold his farm in Lexington to Josiah around the time of Josiah's marriage in 1898. Josiah T. was 42 years old when he married.
Josiah Thomas Boothby, probably taken either before or around the time of his marriage to Lillie Mae in 1898. He now has the "Boothby hairline". Photo in my family collection.
In 1898 Josiah T. married Lillie Mae Hayman Horner, and the 1900 Census had them living in Lexington, Oregon where Josiah continued his work as a farmer. His father and step mother were still living in Lexington at the time. Josiah and Lillie Mae had three boys of their own together: Thomas Josiah (born in Lexington, Oregon in 1899), Sterl Kenneth (born in Kent, Oregon in 1907) and Harold Glen (born in Grass Valley, Oregon in 1908). Josiah was also the step father to Lillie Mae's children born during her previous marriage to Silas Horner: Marion M., Ceola May, Harry Richard, and Clyde Dale Horner. Josiah continued working as a farmer during the family's time in Kent, Oregon. I am not sure what kind of farming he was engaged in, but the area is known for dry land wheat farming, growing barley and cattle ranching. His step son Harry Richard Horner stayed in Kent, married and was a wheat farmer by the 1920 US Census. It is probably safe to say that the Boothby family was primarily engaged in dry land wheat farming.
Wheat harvest 1904 shared by the Sherman County Historical Society on Facebook July 17, 2020
By the 1910 US Census Josiah was 54 years old and living in the Grass Valley precinct of Sherman County, Oregon. He was working as a farmer in the area. He was living with Lillie Mae, Thomas, Kenneth and Harold as well as Harry and Clyde Horner. I can imagine that household was a busy one, with the ages of all the children living at home ranging from 17 years to 1 1/2 years.
U.S. Indexed Land Ownership Maps 1860-1918 for J T Boothby Oregon, Sherman, 1913 from Ancestry.com
By 1913, Josiah was leasing land from O.P. King outside of Grass Valley (see plot 14 above). I am not sure when Josiah and Lillie Mae moved, but when he passed away in 1915 he was living in The Dalles, Oregon (right on the Columbia River) and was interested in purchasing an orchard in Rufus, Oregon.
Metsker Maps "Metsker Map of Sherman County" Special Collections and Archives Research Center https://scarc.library.oregonstate.edu/omeka/items/show/29551 1934.
This gives you a good idea of the area that the Boothby family lived and worked in.
Close up of the Metsker Map. Route from The Dalles to Rufus.
Lillie Mae and Josiah Thomas taken close to 1915 (enlarged).
During my research I found an obituary for Josiah Thomas, who sadly passed away October 11, 1915 at the age of 59 years. This was printed in the Heppner Gazette Times October 28, 1915, and originally ran in The Dalles Weekly Chronicle. Again, I am not sure how long the Boothby family lived in The Dalles, or what their connection to the town was.
"Josiah Thomas Boothby, who was taken to Portland for an operation for cancer, passed away Monday at 1 p.m., and The Dalles lost one of her most respected and valuable citizens. Mr. Boothby was 59 years of age. For many years he had been a resident of this city. In 1898 he was married to Lily May Hayman and from this union there were born three children, Thomas Josiah, aged 16; Kenneth Sterl, aged 9; and Harold Glen, aged 7. The names of his step children are, Marion Horner of Oakland, Cal., Mrs. Ceola Heyler of Sheridan, Ore., Harry Horner of Kent, Ore., and Clyde Horner of The Dalles; also two grandchildren, children of Mrs. Heyler. Mr. Boothby also leaves to mourn his loss a brother, John, and, his step mother of Lexington, Ore.
Mr. Boothby was a man who loved his family and always labored diligently to provide for them and make his home a happy one. He made no distinction between his own children and his step children, but seemed to possess that rare spirit that made him love those about him and made them all love him. Good cheer and sympathy was felt wherever Thomas Boothby was. He was a good husband and loss is felt keenly by those who love him so dearly.
All The Dalles sympathize deeply with the family in their bereavement. The funeral services were conducted from the Christian Church, the Rev. Leon L. Myers officiating. Taken from The Dalles Weekly Chronicle."
I was not able to find any information on his life in The Dalles, but through Facebook I was able to find out a little bit more about his later life living near the Colombia River. Sherry Woods Kaseberg shared another shorter obituary with me May 29, 2021. Sherry is a fourth generation Sherman County resident who shares her knowledge on a wonderful website: shermancountyoregon.com which is worth checking out. She also is a member of the Facebook group Oregon Genealogy Network, which is where she shared the following:
Sherman County Observer, Moro, Oregon October 22, 1915
J.T. Boothby, formerly a resident of this county, farming at Kent and also being interested in an orchard at Rufus, died at a hospital in Portland October 11, where he had been taken for treatment for cancer. Funeral services were held from the Christian Church at The Dalles.
Rufus is approximately 26 miles from The Dalles, following the Columbia River going east. Perhaps Josiah was looking for something easier to manage as he got older. His boys were not quite old enough to be helping him on a daily basis and farming was a tough business to be in, and especially north central and eastern Oregon farming.
I can see why Josiah T. was such a good father and husband. He lost his mother when he was 11 years old and finished growing up with a step mother and step siblings, so he understood the dynamics of that kind of family. He grew up around extended family and understood the importance of family connections. He learned from his father's work ethic. He married late in life, and by all appearances his marriage to Lillie Mae was a good one. He worked hard to provide for all his children and give them a stable and happy home. I can imagine that his death had a huge impact on his sons, especially my grandfather Sterl, who was only 9 years old when he lost his father. Lillie Mae never remarried, but moved her boys to Newberg, Oregon where they finished their schooling before going to college. I love the fact that he was also fondly remembered by the communities he lived in. I wished I had known him in person, but I am also happy that I have his pictures and obituaries.
Relationship Reference: Me->Dale Richard Boothby->Sterl Kenneth Boothby->Josiah Thomas Boothby
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