Died 2 April 1900 (date calculated)

Published in Blair Courier on 5 April 1900

John Bovee, aged 87 years, died at the home of his son, A.M. Bovee last Monday evening and was buried from the M.E. church Tuesday afternoon. Rev. Corey conducted the services. Mr. Bovee was the father of nine children, three of whom died in infancy. This the second death in the family in sixty years (?), the first being the wife.

From Blair Cemetery FindaGrave Memorial # 113534135; Blk 31 Lot 9 Grave 9

John Bovee Jr. was the first child born to John Bovee and his second wife, Pheobe Gardner. He was born in Chautauqua, NY on 12 Feb, 1813, near the present town of Sheridan. John moved, with his parents, to Big Mound Township, Wayne, Il in 1818, not far from Fairfield. The family stopped off on the way from Chautauqua, NY in Hamilton and Dearborn, Indiana. Illinois was the "Far West" in 1820 and living conditions were spartan, to say the least.

As a growing boy John probably enjoyed the bounties of nature; the streams teemed with fish and game was plentiful. John's father held church services (Methodist) in his home for several years until a church could be built so John undoubtedly was raised in a religious atmosphere. Schooling was difficult at times since teachers were scarce and not always well educated. In a typical situation the teacher "lived in" with one of the more prosperous families in a neighborhood and either taught in make-shift one-room schoolhouses or, in some cases, right in the student's homes. "Spare the rod and spoil the child" was more that just a "saying" in those days. Learning the three R's was a serious business and excess frivolity in the classroom was not tolerated.

The History of Wayne, Illinois 1884, states "John Bovee lived near the Lamad Line and had an early mill." John Jr. met Sarah Harlan, who was born 7 June 1812 in Butler, KY, when her family moved to Wayne in 1823. John and Sarah were about the same age and lived as neighbors. It wasn't too unusual that they became well acquainted and then married 27 March 1833.

John and Sarah started farming their own land, close to John Bovee Sr's place, shortly after their marriage. It may have been due to the extra hard work required to get a new farm started and producing, or something else, but John and Sallie waited an unusually long time to start their family. They had 6 children: Archibald M. b 5 July 1838 m Eveline Gossard, Nicholas Aaron b 17 Jan 1840 m Ann Betzer, John Wesley b 16 Aug m Margery Critchfield, Jacob Nelson b 5 Sep 1945 m. Mary Herring, Sarah Jane b 28 March 1848 m Albert Cridefield (Critchfield), Richard Baxter b 3 June 1853 m Mary E. Story. Note that the Blair, Nebraska newspaper obituary for John stated that he and Sarah had 9 children but 3 died in infancy.

Sometime during the 1840's John, Sallie and family, moved from Wayne, Illinois to McLean Illinois. The 1840 census shows them living in Funks Grove Township, McLean, Illinois.

John Bovee was a big man, standing over six feet tall with heavy bone structure, considerably larger than his eldest son, Archibald. He led an active and healthy life and he was fortunate to miss military service; this is borne out by his longevity. In 1892, John and Sallie moved from McLean, Illinois to Conrad Grove, Grundy, IA to live with their daughter and son-in-law, Sarah Jane and Albert Critchfield. Sallie died 9 Nov 1896 and was buried in a cemetery near Conrad Grove.

John, now in his 78th year, moved to Blair, Nebraska where he lived on a farm close to his son, Archibald. He lived only a mile or so from Archibald and as he grew less able to do farm work he moved in with Archibald and Eveline and their children. In the latter part of 1899, the wear and tear of passing time finally caught up with John and he became too ill to leave his bed. It was a difficult time for Eveline since she had to provide most of the care for John and Archibald was not well either. John died 2 April, 1900 at the age of 87 years, one month and 14 days. Services were held at the M.E. church and he was buried in the Blair, Nebraska cemetery.

John Bovee, aged 87 years, died at the home of his son, A. M. Bovee last Monday evening and was buried from the M. E. Church Tuesday afternoon. Rev Corey conducted the services. Mr. Bovee was the father of nine children, three of whom died in infancy. This is the second death in the family in sixty years, the first being the wife. (The Blair Courier, 5 April 1900, front page)