Alfred Bosworth 1773-1861
Wealthy Elgin Youth Shot by Caddie Master – 1929
*****
Chicago Daily Tribune
April 28, 1929
Wealthy Elgin Youth Shot by Caddie Master
Wilder M. Bosworth, 26 years old, member of a wealthy Elgin family, was shot and critically wounded early this morning as he sat with a party of friends amid a crowd of dancers and diners in El Rora Inn, on the Lincoln highway, in North Aurora. Emmett Lyons, 24 years old, caddie master at the Aurora Country club, was seized as Bosworth’s assailant and locked up at Geneva.
Café Crowded with Dancers
Bosworth, with Miss Evelyn Kingsley, 24 years old of Elgin, and three couples, went to the Inn shortly before midnight. The party was seated at a table in the large room where an orchestra was playing and the dance floor was crowded. Witnesses said that Lyons, who appeared to have been drinking, was strolling among the tables chatting with other guests. Suddenly he approached the Elgin party’s table and addressed Bosworth.
“How would you like to get shot?” he is reported to have said.
Rushed to Aurora Hospital
Then without another word he drew a pistol and fired as Miss Kingsley ran screaming across the floor. The bullet struck Bosworth in the abdomen. Two deputy sheriffs, Clarence Sayre and Charles Anderson, who were in the place, dashed through the terrified crowd and seized Lyons. Bosworth was hurried to St. Joseph’s hospital in Aurora.
Bosworth is the son of the late F. H. Bosworth, coal and lumber merchant of Elgin. His uncles Henry I. and Alfred Bosworth, are retired Elgin bankers. It is believed Bosworth and Lyons were strangers.
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Seattle Daily Times
April 29, 1929
Seattle, Washington
Caddy Master Takes Eight Drinks and Shoots Stranger
“What Happened?” Asks Golf Club Employee When He Wakes Up in Jail; Victim Smiling When Hit by Bullet
By Associated Press
Aurora, Ill., Monday, April 29.
“Where do you want it?” asked Emmett Lyons, 25-year-old caddy master of the Aurora Country Club, pointing a revolver at Wilder M. Bosworth, 23; “in the stomach or in the head?”
Bosworth, one of a party of young men and women seated in the El Rora Inn smiled. He did not think this man he never before had seen would shoot. He was still smiling when the weapon sent a bullet into his abdomen.
Lyons awoke in jail yesterday wondering why he was there.
“I must have been pretty much under the weather to be brought here,” he said to the jailer. “What happened?”
The jailer told him that Bosworth, member of a prominent Elgin family, had been seriously wounded.
George Carbary, prosecuting Attorney of Kane County, said he would pay particular attention in the investigation to the liquor angle, but believed no liquor angle, but, believed no liquor had been sold at the inn. Lyons told arresting officers that he had eight drinks from a friend’s bottle shortly before the shooting. He carried a pistol, he said, because he sometimes acted as night watchman at the country club.
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Decatur Evening Herald
Monday, April 29, 1929
Decatur, Illinois
CADDIE MASTER HELD FOR SHOOTING STRANGER
AURORA—April 29—Emmett Lyons 25 caddie master awoke in jail here to be told that he had sot and probably fatally wounded another youth, a stranger to him.
The victim of the shooting Wilder M. Bosworth, 23 was reported near death with a bullet wound in his abdomen.
The shooting occurred at a dance hall. Witnesses told police that Lyons apparently intoxicated approached a table where Bosworth was seated with seven girl companions and demanded one of the girls to dance with him.
Thy ignored him and Lyons drew a gun and shot Bosworth.
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Sterling Daily Gazette
Friday, May 10, 1929
FORGIVING MOTHER MAY SAVE THE CADDY
AURORA, ILL—(A.P.)—A mother’s capacity to forgive may save Emmett Lyons, young caddy master, from prison.
Last April 27 Lyons shot and seriously wounded Wilder Bosworth at a dance. Bosworth was a stranger to him. Lyons was drunk for the first time in his life.
“It was the liquor, not the boy,” the mother of Bosworth told State’s Attorney George D. Carbury in asking him not to prosecute Lyons.
Bosworth is recovering from the wound.
*****
Franklin Smith Bosworth (1832-1919)
Franklin Smith Bosworth (1832-1919)
Franklin S. BOSWORTH – a native of Boston, Erie Co., New York, and son of Benjamin F. and Almira SMITH BOSWORTH. The father was born in Greenfield, New York, and was the son of Alfred BOSWORTH, born in Bristol, Rhode Island, of English parentage. Alfred came west in the fall of 1839, to Dundee, Ill. where he died in June 1861. He followed the hatter’s trade, and later farming. He married Olive CHILD of New York, and they had 6 children: Benjamin F., Oliver C., Increase C., Lucinda C., Mary C. wife of Harry WEED, Lucinda wife of Alfred EDWARDS and Abbie M, wife of Benj. SIMONDS; all are now deceased.
Dr. Benjamine F. BOSWORTH the father practiced medicine til his removal to Illinois; locating in Chicago in 1856, he engaged in merchandising in that place until his removal to McHenry, Ill where he conducted a mercatile establishment until his death in Sept. 1843. (transcribers note: these dates are as given. Perhaps reversed?)His wife was the daughter of Amos SMITH, of NY.
Franklin S. BOSWORTH, their only child, was born Dec. 17, 1832. He began merchandising in 1852, in connection with I.C. BOSWORTH, at Dundee, Ill. until June 1871, when he removed to Elgin. There he pruchased [sic] interest in an east side hardware store, until Sept. 1883 when he sold to Metcalf and Reed. 1888 he purchased part of a coal and lumber yard – 1896 he became partners with his son Frank H. BOSWORTH.
Jan 1859 he married Miss Sarah E. HUNT of Dundee, daughter of Ward E. and Mary HUNT, her father a native of Vermont. 4 BOSWORTH children: Reuben H., Edward, married to Bertha McCLURE of Elgin; Mary, wife of Walter SKEELE; and Frank H.
Mr. BOSWORTH was elected mayor of Elgin in 1880, for 2 terms.
Biographical Record of Kane Co., Ill.S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.Chicago, Ill 1898 page 42
Republican Liberal, Mayor of Elgin, Illinois. He was elected a member of the city council in 1879, and in 1880 was elected mayor of Elgin, filling that office for two consecutive terms. Progressive administration.
The good, the bad and the ugly truth…
Relationship between Franklin Smith BOSWORTH & Me
Franklin Smith BOSWORTH (1832 – 1919)
2nd great-grandfather
Frank Hunt BOSWORTH (1870 – 1919)
son of Franklin Smith BOSWORTH
Dr. Wilder Morris BOSWORTH Sr., D.D.S. (1905 – 1990)
son of Frank Hunt BOSWORTH
son of Dr. Wilder Morris BOSWORTH Sr., D.D.S.
A Letter from Alfred Bosworth (1773-1861) – to His Brother Hezekiah
Alfred Bosworth’s Letter to His Brother Hezekiah
Dundee Kane Co. Ill. Jan. 7 AD 1846
Dear Brother,
I must say I have for a long time neglected to wright to you. When I left you I was soon unwell and not willing for my son to leave me. After leaving Warren I was soon in Pittstown. I was in Pittstown 7 or 8 days. My hoarseness and cold wore off.
Brother Nathaniel took me to Adams and about to see his children.
I left Pittstown and went to Gorham, Ontario where Judge Child lives and his children. I was in Ontario County 6 days. They took me about the county to see some relatives and old acquaintances. I was on the Fourth of July in Canandaigue Village. The people was celebrating the Fourth of July.
I left Ontario ounty for Hanover in Chautauqua county where my daughter in law and three little children lives. I was with them 6 days. She has a good house and lot and some money at interest. I went from Chautauqua to Michigan State. There I stopt to see Mrs. Bosworth’s relatives.
From Michigan I went to Chicago and I arrived home in Dundee the 22 of July. In looking over my journey in 2 months and 2 days I traveled near four thousand miles in the time, visited a number of relatives and friends. It was a consolation to find my relatives enjoying good health. Mrs. Bosworth and my children enjoyed good health the past year. My health in September and October was poor but through Divine Goodness my health is now good. I see it stated in some of the western papers that the health of the people was for 2 or 3 months the last year poor in the great Valley of the Mississippi but now good.
The farmers in this country have been blest with good crops the past year and the short crops in Europe helped them to an advanced price for their produce. This country is increasing fast in population and wealth. The people are enterprising and of industrious habits and respect the Sabbath. There is in Dundee Baptists Methodists and Presbyterians preaching. There will soon be a railroad from Chiago through Dundee to Galena.
I have just received a newspaper from Leonard Waldron. I received it as a favor. I must come to a close I never was a ready wrighter. If I had a been I would have wrighten to you all, and much oftener than I have done. It is seldom that I take a pen in my hand. I will be 73 years of age….months and I do feel a degree of thankfulness for the health and blessings that I have enjoyed. I have had some unpleasant feeling about Sister Usher’s living alone in her advanced age.
I do wish that my near relatives might see this letter for I cannot wright to them all–and I do hope that some one of the number will soon let me hear from you all. I have just received a newspaper from Leonard Waldron. I received it as a favor and I have sent in this letter a five dollar bill No. 141 the Ontario bank, Canandaigue. Brother I wish you would take this money and pay the Bristol printer for a newspaper one year directed to A. Bosworth, Dundee, Kane co., Ill. Give the balance of it to our Sister Waldron. In so doing you will oblige a brother.
I must close and leave room for Mrs. Bosworth to wright a few lines. Now we want four or five or six of you to come out and see us and see where we live. Such a visit would be gratifying to all.
4th great-grandfather
son of Alfred BOSWORTH
son of Benjamin Franklin BOSWORTH M.D.
son of Franklin Smith BOSWORTH
son of Frank Hunt BOSWORTH
son of Dr. Wilder Morris BOSWORTH Sr., D.D.S.
Almira (Smith) Bosworth 1811-1834
Almira SMITH Bosworth
1811–1834
Birth 6 Jan 1811 • Saratoga, Saratoga, New York, USA
Death 09 Dec 1834 • Saratoga, New York, USA
my 3rd great grandmother
son of Almira SMITH
son of Franklin Smith BOSWORTH
son of Frank Hunt BOSWORTH
son of Dr. Wilder Morris BOSWORTH Sr., D.D.S.
the daughter of Capt. Frank Hunt BOSWORTH II
Almira is one of my mystery ancestors. I want to know who her parents are. It is possible her first name was Amelia. She died of consumption so young, and with a child, it just tugs on my heartstrings.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin Bosworth was Almira’s husband.
I believe she was of the Methodist Episcopal faith. I would very much like to learn who Amelia’s parents were.
Franklin S. BOSWORTH – a native of Boston, Erie Co., New York, and son of Benjamin F. and Almira SMITH BOSWORTH. The father was born in Greenfield, New York, and was the son of Alfred BOSWORTH, born in Bristol, Rhode Island, of English parentage. Alfred came west in the fall of 1839, to Dundee, Ill. where he died in June 1861. He followed the hatter’s trade, and later farming. He married Olive CHILD of New York, and they had 6 children: Benjamin F., Oliver C., Increase C., Lucinda C., Mary C. wife of Harry WEED, Lucinda wife of Alfred EDWARDS and Abbie M, wife of Benj. SIMONDS; all are now deceased.
Dr. Benjamine F. BOSWORTH the father practiced medicine til his removal to Illinois; locating in Chicago in 1856, he engaged in merchandising in that place until his removal to McHenry, Ill where he conducted a mercatile establishment until his death in Sept. 1843. (transcribers note: these dates are as given. Perhaps reversed?)
His wife was the daughter of Amos SMITH, of NY.
Franklin S. BOSWORTH, their only child, was born Dec. 17, 1832. He began merchandising in 1852, in connection with I.C. BOSWORTH, at Dundee, Ill. until June 1871, when he removed to Elgin. There he pruchased interest in an east side hardware store, until Sept. 1883 when he sold to Metcalf and Reed. 1888 he purchased part of a coal and lumber yard – 1896 he became partners with his son Frank H. BOSWORTH.
Jan 1859 he married Miss Sarah E. HUNT of Dundee, daughter of Ward E. and Mary HUNT, her father a native of Vermont. 4 BOSWORTH children: Reuben H., Edward, married to Bertha McCLURE of Elgin; Mary, wife of Walter SKEELE; and Frank H.
Mr. BOSWORTH was elected mayor of Elgin in 1880, for 2 terms.
Biographical Record of Kane Co., Ill.
S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Chicago, Ill 1898
page 4
Bosworth Entries in the Biographical Record of Kane Co., Ill.
1898
Elgin, Kane, Illinois, USA
Biographical Sketch of Franklin Smith Bosworth, Alfred Bosworth, Dr. Benjamin F. Bosworth and families.
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