The Boggs Family

John Boggs in History of Muscatine County, Iowa

The full biographical sketch as printed, transcribed from the public-domain book. Spelling and wording are the original author’s; a few scanning errors may remain.

JOHN BOGGS.

For more than half a century John Boggs has been a resident of Muscatine county and today he lives upon the farm on which his father settled before the Civil war. He has been an interested witness of the great changes made in this county and looks back over a long life, in the course of which he has assisted as opportunity presented in promoting the permanent interests of this section. Born in Coshocton county, Ohio, in 1838, he is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Bon- nett) Boggs, the former a native of Belmont county, Ohio, and the latter of Ohio coimty. West Virginia. They were married in Coshocton county, Ohio and sub- sequently lived in Wisconsin and Illinois, but permanently settled on a farm of

eighty acres in Orono township, Muscatine county, in 1858. Mr. Boggs cultivated his land to good advantage for many years and was called away March 24, 1881. The mother departed this life nine years later. There were five children in their family, namely : John, the subject of this review ; Mary, of Conesville, Iowa, the widow of Thomas Maxwell ; Sarah, the widow of Henry Sears, of Nebraska City, Nebraska; Louis, who died in infancy; and Clara, the widow of James McDaniel, of Muscatine county.

John Boggs passed his boyhood and youth on his father's farm and attended the district schools, in the meantime gaining a very thorough knowledge of agri- culture and stock-raising. After arriving at twenty-two years of age he began farming on his own account by renting land in the neighborhood and soon after his father's death purchased the interest of other heirs in the family estate and has since lived at the old homestead, making it one of the most valuable farms of the size in this part of the county. During recent years he has given over the re- sponsibilities of management to younger shoulders.

In 1859 Mr. Boggs was married in Iowa to Miss Ellen Stutson, daughter of Lester and Martha J. (House) Stutson, both of whom were born in New York state. They were married in Michigan and later came to Iowa, living for some time in Muscatine county. Subsequently they removed to Buchanan county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. There were six children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Stutson, of whom two are living besides Mrs. Boggs, namely: Howard and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Boggs became the parents of six children: Dora, who was born January 13, 1861, and is now the wife of Hiram Jarrard of Conesville; Effie, born in 1865, now the widow of William Trautman of Conesville; Thomas, born August 28, 1870, living in Cedar township; Ella, who was bom June 10, 1867, and died at the age of seventeen years ; Clara, born June 6, 1873, now Mrs. Vic Snyder of Muscatine; and John B., who was born August 24, 1879.

Ever since manhood Mr. Boggs has given his support to the democratic party. He has been an earnest advocate of education and for twenty years served as member of the school board, assisting in bringing the schools to a high state of efficiency. He also filled the office of road supervisor for five years and during that time assisted materially in the improvement of the roads of the township. Having now retired from the active duties of life, he is enjoying a rest to which he is well entitled, and no man is more worthy of the respect of his associates than the one whose name introduces this sketch.

John B. Boggs, the youngest of the family, was educated in the district schools of Orono township and by his application and industry even as a lad gave promise of a useful career. He continued upon the home farm and on December 25, 1900, was united in marriage to Miss Emma Hintz, of Nichols, a daughter of Louis and Augusta (Miller) Hintz, who were born in Germany. They came to America in 1872 and after living for two years in Muscatine removed to Nichols, where they have since resided. To them ten children were born, one of whom died in in- fancy, the others being: Amelia, now the wife of Albert Quimby, of Nichols; Rosa, deceased ; John, of Nichols ; Emma, now Mrs. John B. Boggs ; Mary, Mar- tha and Leona, all of whom are at home; and Frederick and Frank, both of whom

are deceased. Four children liave blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Boggs : Dora Augusta, who was born September i6, 1902; Nira Verlee, born April zy, 1904; John Thomas, bom May 3, 1906; and Luna F., born May 6, 1910. Mr. Boggs is now in charge of the old homestead and has shown an efficiency that is grati- fying to his father. He and his wife are members of the German Reformed church, and are active supporters of all worthy causes.

Source: History of Muscatine County, Iowa. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.