52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #5 - Joseph Victor Bowlby

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Joseph Victor Bowlby

Today's ancestor is Joseph Victor Bowlby, my husband's second great-grandfather.

Some basic facts:
Name: Joseph Victor Bowlby
Born: 29 March 1870
Parents: Samuel Bowlby and Rosannah (King) Bowlby
Spouse: Anna Rhoda (Greenway) Bowlby
Marriage: About 1900
Died: 25 July 1958

Joseph was born 29 March 1870 in Iowa City, Wright, Iowa.  He was born to Samuel Bowlby and Rosannah (King) Bowlby.  He married Anna Rhoda Greenway sometime in 1900.  Joseph and Rosannah had six children: Sherry Victor Bowlby, Percy Richard Bowlby, Richard Samuel Bowlby, Jennie Bell Bowlby, Lillian, Augusta Bowlby, and Thelma Louise Bowlby.

Joseph lived with his family in Iowa until he married in 1900 when he moved to Empire City, Cherokee, Kansas.

Joseph & Anna Bowlby listing in the 1900 U.S. Census

 
Joseph and Anna divorced sometime before May 1920.  He appears alone, marital status showing divorced on the 1920 U.S. census.

Joseph Bowlby listing in the 1920 U.S. Census

Joseph remained in Kansas, eventually moving in with his son, Victor's family sometime before 1940.

Joseph Bowlby, listed with Victor Bowlby and family on the 1940 U.S. Census

 Joseph died 25 July 1958 in Wichita, Sedgwick, Kansas.  He's buried in Jamesburg Park Cemetery in Wichita, Sedgwick, Kansas.

Joseph V. Bowlby Tombstone
Jamesburg Park Cemetery in Wichita, Sedgwick, Kansas

Here's my genealogy list for Joseph:

Have:

• 1870 Federal Census
• 1880 Federal Census
• 1900 Federal Census
• 1910 Federal Census
• 1920 Federal Census
• 1930 Federal Census
• 1940 Federal Census

Need:

• Birth Certificate
• Marriage Certificate
• Divorce Paperwork
• Death Certificate
• Check for appearance in Kansas state census records
• Check for appearance in Iowa state census records

 

 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #3 - Sherry Victor Bowlby

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Sherry Victor Bowlby

I'm still playing catch up for the 52 Ancestors challenge, LOL.  Life tends to get in the way.  Today I'm highlighting my husband's maternal great-grandfather.

Some basic facts:
Name: Sherry Victor Bowlby
Born: 21 December 1900
Parents: Joseph Victor Bowlby and Anna Rhoda (Greenway) Bowlby
Spouse: Gertrude Viola (Warren) Bowlby
Marriage: About 1922
Died: 6 December 1984

Sherry was born 21 December 1900.  He was born to Joseph Victor Bowlby and Anna Rhoda (Greenway) Bowlby.  He married Gertrude Viola (Warren) Bowlby sometime around 1922.  Sherry and Gertrude had only had one child that I'm aware of, Shirley Ann Bowlby.

Sherry lived all his life in Kansas.  He was born sometime after June 15, 1900 (the enumeration date of the 1900 census) because he doesn't appear with his parents on that census.  

Joseph Victor Bowlby and family 1900 U.S. census record

According to the 1910 census he was born in Kansas.

Joseph Victor Bowlby and family 1910 U.S. census record

According to D1, Sherry did many things in his life.  The 1929 Wichita City Directory lists him as being a foreman with the Travel Air Manufacturing Company in Wichita.  According to the Kansas State Historical Society, Travel Air Manufacturing was the world's largest air manufacturer until the Great Depression affected it in 1929.  There's a great abridged history of Travel Air here.  The 1930 U.S. census has him working as a welder in a foundry.  At least he was able to find employment during the Depression.  Google became my best friend when D1's family told me he invented things.  I was very excited to find two patents held by Sherry: one for a sander and one for a machine to store and exchange used wiping cloths for fresh wiping cloths.  I've heard that he should have a few other patents on file as well.

He died and is buried in Wichita, Sedgwick, Kansas.  He's buried in Jamesburg Park Cemetery in Wichita, Sedgwick, Kansas next to his wife, Gertrude.

Gertrude Viola (Warren) Bowlby and Sherry Victor Bowlby Tombstone
Jamesburg Park Cemetery, Wichita, Sedgwick, Kansas

That's about all the information I have on Sherry.  Here's my genealogy list for Sherry:

Have:

• 1910 U.S. Census
• 1920 U.S. Census
• 1930 U.S. Census
• 1940 U.S. Census
• Find-A-Grave Listing
• U.S. Patent for Sander
• U.S. Patent for Machine for Storing and Exchanging Used Wiping Cloths for Fresh Wiping Cloths
• 1929 Wichita City Directory Listing

Need:

• Birth Certificate
• Death Certificate
• Marriage Certificate
• Check for appearances in Kansas State Census'
• Try to locate additional patents