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Lena Magdalena <I>Boston</I> Betz

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Lena Magdalena Boston Betz

Birth
Minonk, Woodford County, Illinois, USA
Death
7 Feb 1949 (aged 70)
Big Rapids, Mecosta County, Michigan, USA
Burial
Norwich Township, Newaygo County, Michigan, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Mrs. William Betz, 66,* died at her home at South Third Avenue on Monday evening after a year's illness. She had been confined to her room for several months.

Mrs. Betz was Magdalena Boston*, and she was born January 2, 1883.*

Her marriage to William Betz* took place in 1925*, and they made their home on a farm in Norwich Township until Mr. Betz's death in May 1947. Since that time she has made her home in this city.

There are two brothers surviving in Illinois.*

Funeral services will be held from the Rogers Funeral Home Thursday afternoon at 2:30, the Rev. Ernest Landrey officiating. Burial will be in Hungerford Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home this evening and until time for the services.

Source: The Big Rapids Pioneer; Big Rapids, Michigan; Tuesday, February 8, 1949

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Some information in the obituary is contrary to what I have found after researching the Boston family for many years.

To my knowledge, Mrs. Betz did not have any children, and the death certificate informant, Mrs. Alice Carmack, was not a family member. Alice may have been a friend or neighbor who was unaware of factual information.

Asterisks indicate additional information or contradictions from existing documentation and my research:
* According to U.S. Censuses from 1880 (She was 1.) and 1900 (She was 21.), her age should be 70, not 66.
* I believe her given name was Lena Magdalena Boston (perhaps she went by Magdeline or Magdalena).
* Death certificate, 1880 and 1900 Censuses show her birth year was 1879, not 1883.
* Her spouse's entire name was Samuel William Betz.
* Their wedding certificate is July 29, 1926, not 1925.
* Her surviving brothers were Edward and Henry.
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Additional information:

Lena's address on her death certificate was 219 South Third Avenue.

I obtained Lena's death certificate at the Mecosta County Court House and visited the funeral home that conducted her memorial service. Her age was 70 years, 1 month, 5 days which affirms the January 2, 1879 birth date and why she was 1 on the 1880 U.S. Federal Census.

She died at 11:00 p.m. at the Big Rapids Hospital of carcinoma of the breast with complications of diabetes Mellitus.

The brothers who survived her were Edward Boston (79) and Henry Boston (74) of Livingston County, Illinois. It is unknown whether they provided obituary information or attended her service.

Pallbearers were Oscar Carlson, Chester Alger, Harrison Wilkens, Leland Withers, Edward Karting (?) and Frank Eick (?). These were difficult to read.

Censuses: She was age 1 in 1880, age 21 in 1900, then age 27 in 1910 rather than 31. The birthdate on her death certificate of January 2, 1879 must be correct. Therefore, 1883 as indicated on the 1910 census, marriage certificate, tombstone and obituary must not be correct. I do not know why these are contradictory.
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1880 United States Federal Census
Birth Year: abt 1879 in Illinois
Home in 1880: Minonk, Woodford, Illinois
Father: Henry Boston b. Brandenburg
Mother: Elizabeth Boston b. Brandenburg
Household Members: (All 11 children reside at home this year.)
Henry Boston 51 and Elizabeth Boston 45
Anna Boston 24, Ida Boston 22, Lewis Boston 21, Otto Boston 19, Mealy Boston 17, Rebecka Boston 15, John Boston 13, Fredrick Boston 12, Edward Boston 10, Henry Boston 5, Lena Boston 1

1900 United States Federal Census
Birth Date: Jan 1879
Home in 1900: Minonk, Woodford, Illinois
Household Members:
Henry Bosten 70 - farmer and Elizabeth Bosten 65 - farmer
Henry Bosten 23 - farmer; Lena Bosten 21 - no occupation

1910 United States Federal Census
Home in 1910: Minonk Ward 3, Woodford, Illinois
Birth Year: abt 1883 ???
Single, Head of House, No Occupation
Household Members:
Lena Boston 27
*Note: I am not certain why her age was 27 when it should have been 31. There were three women in the Minonk area named Lena Boston (two were nieces of this Lena about ten years younger than her), but I believe this is the correct Lena Boston. In 1910, her birth year, age and neighbors are different from the 1900 census. Perhaps she moved after her parents' deaths (father in 1909 and mother in 1902), so she was out on her own after caring for her father a few years as stated in his obituary.

On the marriage certificate, the birth year is not correct; however the parents' names are correct. Birth should be 1879 as she is age 1 in the 1880 census. That would make her 47 rather than 43.
Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952
Name: Lena Magdelena Boston
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birth Year: abt 1883 in Illinois
Marriage Date: 29 Jul 1926
Marriage Place: White Church, Newaygo, Michigan, USA
License County: Newaygo
Age: 43
Residence Place: Big Rapids, Michigan
Father: Henry Boston
Mother: Elizabeth Kenach
Spouse: Samuel William Botz
County File Number: 2999; State File Number: 62 68
Film: 170; Film Title: 61 Muskegon 22100-62 Newaygo 1209
Film Description: Muskegon (1951) - Newaygo (1935)

The certificate states that William had been married one time before, and Lena had been married one time before. I do not find any evidence or documentation for Lena having been married previously. William was married to Caroline Bader a short time before her death.

1940 United States Federal Census
Name: Lina Bety [Lena Betz]
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1887; b. llinois
Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Wife
Home in 1940: Norwich, Newaygo, Michigan
Residence in 1935: Norwich, Newaygo, Michigan
Household Members:
William Bety 52 Head
Lina Bety 53 Wife

Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952
Name: Magdaline Betz
Gender: Female
Race: White
Marital status: Widowed
Death Age: 70
Birth Date: 2 Jan 1879
Birth Place: Minonk, Illinois
Death Date: 7 Feb 1948
Death Place: Big Rapids, Mecosta, Michigan, USA
File Number: 002369
__________________________________________________________________

Other than the census data, her death certificate (obtained at the Mecosta County Court House Annex) and marriage certificate (found online), these are the only records I have for Lena. I have not yet found census records for her in 1920 and 1930.
Mrs. William Betz, 66,* died at her home at South Third Avenue on Monday evening after a year's illness. She had been confined to her room for several months.

Mrs. Betz was Magdalena Boston*, and she was born January 2, 1883.*

Her marriage to William Betz* took place in 1925*, and they made their home on a farm in Norwich Township until Mr. Betz's death in May 1947. Since that time she has made her home in this city.

There are two brothers surviving in Illinois.*

Funeral services will be held from the Rogers Funeral Home Thursday afternoon at 2:30, the Rev. Ernest Landrey officiating. Burial will be in Hungerford Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home this evening and until time for the services.

Source: The Big Rapids Pioneer; Big Rapids, Michigan; Tuesday, February 8, 1949

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Some information in the obituary is contrary to what I have found after researching the Boston family for many years.

To my knowledge, Mrs. Betz did not have any children, and the death certificate informant, Mrs. Alice Carmack, was not a family member. Alice may have been a friend or neighbor who was unaware of factual information.

Asterisks indicate additional information or contradictions from existing documentation and my research:
* According to U.S. Censuses from 1880 (She was 1.) and 1900 (She was 21.), her age should be 70, not 66.
* I believe her given name was Lena Magdalena Boston (perhaps she went by Magdeline or Magdalena).
* Death certificate, 1880 and 1900 Censuses show her birth year was 1879, not 1883.
* Her spouse's entire name was Samuel William Betz.
* Their wedding certificate is July 29, 1926, not 1925.
* Her surviving brothers were Edward and Henry.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Additional information:

Lena's address on her death certificate was 219 South Third Avenue.

I obtained Lena's death certificate at the Mecosta County Court House and visited the funeral home that conducted her memorial service. Her age was 70 years, 1 month, 5 days which affirms the January 2, 1879 birth date and why she was 1 on the 1880 U.S. Federal Census.

She died at 11:00 p.m. at the Big Rapids Hospital of carcinoma of the breast with complications of diabetes Mellitus.

The brothers who survived her were Edward Boston (79) and Henry Boston (74) of Livingston County, Illinois. It is unknown whether they provided obituary information or attended her service.

Pallbearers were Oscar Carlson, Chester Alger, Harrison Wilkens, Leland Withers, Edward Karting (?) and Frank Eick (?). These were difficult to read.

Censuses: She was age 1 in 1880, age 21 in 1900, then age 27 in 1910 rather than 31. The birthdate on her death certificate of January 2, 1879 must be correct. Therefore, 1883 as indicated on the 1910 census, marriage certificate, tombstone and obituary must not be correct. I do not know why these are contradictory.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

1880 United States Federal Census
Birth Year: abt 1879 in Illinois
Home in 1880: Minonk, Woodford, Illinois
Father: Henry Boston b. Brandenburg
Mother: Elizabeth Boston b. Brandenburg
Household Members: (All 11 children reside at home this year.)
Henry Boston 51 and Elizabeth Boston 45
Anna Boston 24, Ida Boston 22, Lewis Boston 21, Otto Boston 19, Mealy Boston 17, Rebecka Boston 15, John Boston 13, Fredrick Boston 12, Edward Boston 10, Henry Boston 5, Lena Boston 1

1900 United States Federal Census
Birth Date: Jan 1879
Home in 1900: Minonk, Woodford, Illinois
Household Members:
Henry Bosten 70 - farmer and Elizabeth Bosten 65 - farmer
Henry Bosten 23 - farmer; Lena Bosten 21 - no occupation

1910 United States Federal Census
Home in 1910: Minonk Ward 3, Woodford, Illinois
Birth Year: abt 1883 ???
Single, Head of House, No Occupation
Household Members:
Lena Boston 27
*Note: I am not certain why her age was 27 when it should have been 31. There were three women in the Minonk area named Lena Boston (two were nieces of this Lena about ten years younger than her), but I believe this is the correct Lena Boston. In 1910, her birth year, age and neighbors are different from the 1900 census. Perhaps she moved after her parents' deaths (father in 1909 and mother in 1902), so she was out on her own after caring for her father a few years as stated in his obituary.

On the marriage certificate, the birth year is not correct; however the parents' names are correct. Birth should be 1879 as she is age 1 in the 1880 census. That would make her 47 rather than 43.
Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952
Name: Lena Magdelena Boston
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birth Year: abt 1883 in Illinois
Marriage Date: 29 Jul 1926
Marriage Place: White Church, Newaygo, Michigan, USA
License County: Newaygo
Age: 43
Residence Place: Big Rapids, Michigan
Father: Henry Boston
Mother: Elizabeth Kenach
Spouse: Samuel William Botz
County File Number: 2999; State File Number: 62 68
Film: 170; Film Title: 61 Muskegon 22100-62 Newaygo 1209
Film Description: Muskegon (1951) - Newaygo (1935)

The certificate states that William had been married one time before, and Lena had been married one time before. I do not find any evidence or documentation for Lena having been married previously. William was married to Caroline Bader a short time before her death.

1940 United States Federal Census
Name: Lina Bety [Lena Betz]
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1887; b. llinois
Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Wife
Home in 1940: Norwich, Newaygo, Michigan
Residence in 1935: Norwich, Newaygo, Michigan
Household Members:
William Bety 52 Head
Lina Bety 53 Wife

Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952
Name: Magdaline Betz
Gender: Female
Race: White
Marital status: Widowed
Death Age: 70
Birth Date: 2 Jan 1879
Birth Place: Minonk, Illinois
Death Date: 7 Feb 1948
Death Place: Big Rapids, Mecosta, Michigan, USA
File Number: 002369
__________________________________________________________________

Other than the census data, her death certificate (obtained at the Mecosta County Court House Annex) and marriage certificate (found online), these are the only records I have for Lena. I have not yet found census records for her in 1920 and 1930.

Inscription

Wife of William

Gravesite Details

After years of research, I conclude that the birth year on her stone is incorrect. 1879 is her correct year of birth.



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