Emma #104: John and Alice's Trip
A grand trip by rail from Iowa to Arizona, up the West Coast (with a visit to Emma and Tell), and home again
John T. Boylan, Tell’s oldest brother, and his wife Alice (Hurley) Boylan played a large role in Emma and Tell’s life. A retired postal inspector, Jno. T. (as he signed his letters) and his wife were fairly prosperous and provided financial assistance on several occasions. A retired school teacher, Alice took on the role of the Supreme Mistress of Finance for the Pythian Sisters (the women’s auxiliary of the Knights of Pythias) some time around 1912.
Emma mentions the visit from John and Alice in February 1936, and I found this account of the trip in the files. At this time Jno. T. would have been 80 years old, and Alice in her late 70s. I had fun digging around to figure out the family relationships, look up some of the people they visited, and to explore the world of train travel in the 1930s.
BE IT REMEMBERED:
That on the 9th day of the first month of the year 1936, Alice and Jno. T. left their home in Eldora on a pilgrimage to escape the rigors of the winter blasts of the Middle West, visit the near relatives and in-laws of each, renew friendship ties of long ago, make new friends, and provide vim and pleasure for declining years. It proved a joy journey of almost 7000 miles by rail and more than 2500, auto sight-seeing jaunts,— a total in excess of 9000 miles. Blood relatives and in-laws contacted numbered more than fifty, friend-ships of long ago were renewed, and many new acquaintances were made. The pilgrimage invaded fifteen states and the Dominion of Canada. The return to Eldora was Monday, April 6, lacking only two days of being absent three months. The trip was a continuous roundabout of delight.
Here’s the big picture of their trip.
Cherished memories of the travel-tour for Alice, as supreme mistress of finance, Pythian Sisters, are the numerous receptions in her honor, emphasized by precious tokens of esteem that are very much appreciated. Participants in the several receptions were probably members of twenty-five subordinate temples, that included the Supreme Chief and present and past officers of the Supreme Temple.
I found several newspaper accounts of events in Alice’s honor.
To detail a story of activities would require a score of pages. For relatives and intimate friends this brief account is submitted. The journey began afternoon of the 9th by taxi to Iowa Falls, where Cal and Clara Boylan gave us a satisfying feed, then at 10:45 P.M., on board the train. Met next morning at union station in Kansas City by Jessie (Ash) Lindsey and Newt, her husband, who in kindness provided another feast. It was fine.
Cal was a cousin of John and Tell. He and his wife Clara were retired and living in Iowa falls. Jessie was Alice’s niece, the daughter of her sister Mary (Hurley) Ash. She and her husband lived in Kansas City, MO. Union Station is a grand Beaux-Arts-style building that was the second-largest train station in the US when it opened in 1914. Restored in 1999, the building now includes shops, restaurants, theaters, and an interactive science center. Amtrak’s Southwest Chief train from Chicago to LA stops at this station.
In slightly more than an hour, again we were aboard the Pullman, southwest bound, arrived Tucson, Ariz., a little after five o’clock, Saturday P.M. the 11th, where we remained about two weeks, then on to Phoenix, for about the same length of time, a month in Ariz. Climate in Arizona ideal, no use for overcoat, and we had delightful auto trips by courtesy of the Pythians.
A Pullman was a private sleeping car on the train.
At Phoenix a trek by a party limited to 300 visited the much famed Superstition Mountain, where eleven persons have been killed to keep secret the location of a fabulous gold mine from which hundreds of thousands of dollars have been recovered, and the knowing owner died without revealing the location. We failed to find the mine. Were at the same hotel in Phoenix as Mr. and Mrs. Mitterer and Lucy Moser. Also, “Mitt” and I went to Chandler and had a fine visit with our boy-friend, Frank O. Lowden, ex-governor of Illinois. Many happy friendships were made in Arizona.
While the legend of the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine continues to intrigue fortune hunters, I found the story of the trek even more interesting. Put on by The Dons Club (now The Dons of Arizona), this was the third annual such event, described as “a full day cross-section of Southwest lore, traditions, shows, exhibits, hiking, stage production of the life of the Lost Dutchman, fireworks, fire fall, food, and fun.” Here’s a drawing that was part of the souvenir booklet cover for this 1936 event.
Arriving in Los Angeles first contact was with Alice’s nephew, Harry Hurley and family, and other friendships were renewed, including one that was Lucy Diffenbacker and who lived at Ackley, years ago. A trip to Pomona was to see Kitty (Wickham) Barnes and daughter Floy, also to Long Beach, where Aaron and Emma (Koeneman) Boylan reside. Jolly, happy reunions at each place.
In case you’re following along on the family tree, Kitty was the daughter of Tell and John’s aunt Hannah (Boylan) Wickham, and Aaron was the son of their uncle James Boylan.
Enroute north, at San Francisco were met at train by a former co-worker, Post Office Inspector Hugdal and wife, who gave us an auto ride over the city for three hours, then across the bay by ferry to their home in Oakland and we had a royal chicken feast that encouraged the gain of ten pounds before return to Eldora. They also were so kind to escort us to our train in the evening. A royal fine visit.
Until the opening of the Bay Bridge in late 1936 and the Golden Gate Bridge in 1937, transportation across the bay was by means of Steel Electric-class auto/passenger ferries such as this one. Once the bridges opened, the ferries went to Puget Sound.
There were palpitating heart throbs at Grants Pass, Oregon, morning of February 24, when Tell and Emma (Troutman) Boylan, and Ruth (Boylan) and Robert Grooters met us at the train. The arrival was in a wet snow storm, first snow seen since leaving home. The home ten miles in the country, with an old-fashioned fireplace, revived memories of pioneer childhood days. The two weeks spent there were filled with round after round of enjoyment, receptions, and extending friendships. The sojourn included an auto trip to and return from Salem, where four days were spent with a brother Berne B. and Elizabeth (Hathaway) Boylan and daughter Betty.
Emma describes this visit in her February 1936 journal entries. It’s interesting to see her home through the eyes of visitors.
One day an auto trip of 350 miles was made that covered the Columbia River Highway, Mount Hood, Multnomah Falls, and scores of other scenic features of the region. Several hundred miles of auto jaunts were made and the brothers reveled with joy as they communed—and in-laws were not lax in interest.
Multnomah Falls is the most-visited natural recreation site in the Pacific Northwest.
Arrival at Portland released an avalanche of relatives, the family of Elmer E. Wickham, and at a reception for us twenty one were present of twenty seven. The Elmer Wickham clan are worthy citizens and we were rejoiced to clasp the hand of each and hear the cheery welcomes. Will be happy to meet them again. At Portland also, we met Mrs. Pauline (Peisen) Reed, a sister of our Dean Peisen, in a two-hour visit. And here Alice has a dear Pythian Sister, Mrs. Cora M. Davis, Past Supreme Chief.
Elmer was a Boylan cousin, and the brother of Kitty Barnes who John and Alice visited in Pomona. Dean Peisen was a friend and lawyer back home in Eldora.
Now we go to Seattle, Wash. for ten days to sojourn with the family of seven, Maye (Ash) Lone and Robert, her husband, who were married in our Eldora home. Two of three children are married, that makes seven. Maye and Rob have a very cozy home in a pleasant part of the city, and as kind of foster father and mother we certainly enjoyed to the full our intimate touch with each member of the family—the intimate entertainment of each, cordial receptions.
Maye was a niece of Alice’s, and a sister to Jessie Lindsey who John and Alice saw in Kansas City. Maye was living with John and Alice in the 1900 census, and was married to Robert, a newspaper pressman, that Christmas.
Here we met Minnie (Elizabeth) Willcox, an Eldora girl, daughter of former sheriff Willcox. And Jno. T. had a three hour reminiscence with Dr. G. H. Ritenour about the tragic events connected with what is known as the Rainsbarger Days—murder of Enoch Johnson and the mob that stormed the jail, left two dead.
Here’s a story about this unusual chapter of Eldora, IA history in which Sheriff Wilcox plays a central role.
Maye and son Don by auto took us to Vancouver, British Columbia, 150 miles and return, where Alice and the Supreme Chief were given a royal reception by the Pythian Sisters, and because of the high honors shown Alice, the writer learned something, that he is impressed with the idea that instead of being a “better half,” he is only a better three-eights, possibly less. Returning to Portland a Sunday was spent in Astoria with another niece of Alice, Loretta (Hurley) Harding and her husband Al. They had plenty to eat and gave us a delightful drive along the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean, that was fascinating. Wife’s relation are certainly experts in making in-laws exceedingly happy while in their homes.
Inadvertently omitted—at Newberg, Oregon again greeted Luther Arney and his wife India Oblinger, with whom Jno. T. attended Albion Seminary in 1880 and he produced the autograph album in which Jno. T. wrote November 17, 1880, and he wrote some more.
In the “way more fascinating than I expected” category was this dive into Albion Seminary. I found an 1883 catalog, and learned that was a private school under the patronage of the Upper Iowa Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. It was not a seminary as the word is used today—preparation for the ministry—but rather had several courses of study including College Preparatory, Teacher’s Course, and Instrumental Music. There was a Seminary Course: “designed to meet the wants and needs of such as desire a knowledge of the languages, sciences, etc., and yet may not see their way clear to go through college. We believe it will fit for a high place in society and qualify for active life.” And I was delighted by the description of the Business Course: “will well prepare anyone who has the requisite mental strength and business tastes for the successful pursuit of any ordinary occupation, and at a rate surprisingly low. We do not promise a position to any graduate, nor agree to turn out a ‘successful business man in three months.’” John and Tell’s brother Will was listed as a student in 1883 in the “Voice Culture” course of study. Here’s the four-year curriculum for the Seminary Course.
At Seattle, Jno. T. renewed friendship with P.O. Inspector Neil, who assisted in the investigation of the largest county system of R.F.D. in the nation, Ottertail County, Minn. (larger than the state of Rhode Island) 60 routes, 30 small post offices discontinued.
Left Portland morning of March 31st, early morning of April 1st were joined at Pocatello, Idaho by Alice’s brother Harry Hurley and wife and continued to Salt Lake City, arrived before noon and spent four days with their daughter Alice (Hurley) Armour and husband Clark; royal jolly time, never to be forgotten. Want to do it again.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Eldora, Iowa .
. April 9, 1936 .
. Jno. T. Boylan .
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I hope you’ve enjoyed this special installment of the Emma’s journal project. See you next week for March 1936.