Pearl Dochow

Female 1883 - 1983  (99 years)


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  • Name Pearl Dochow 
    Born 14 Mar 1883  Farmington, Atchison Co. KS Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Female 
    Died 1983  Kansas City, MO Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • CENSUS RECORDS

      Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925
      Name: Pearl Dochow
      Census Date: 1 Mar 1885
      Residence County: Osborne
      Residence State: Kansas
      Locality: Penn
      Birth Location: Kansas
      Family Number: 7
      Marital Status: Single
      Gender: Female
      Estimated Birth Year: abt 1883
      Race: White
      Line: 2
      Roll: KS1885_103
      Household Member(s):
      Miran Dochow 29 [Herman]
      Addie Dochow 24
      Minnie Dochow 4
      Grace Dochow 3
      Pearl Dochow 2
      Chas Arthew 26

      1900 United States Federal Census
      Name: Pearl Dochow
      Age: 18
      Birth Date: Jan 1884
      Birthplace: Kansas
      Home in 1900: Allison, Decatur, Kansas
      Race: White
      Gender: Female
      Relation to Head of House: Daughter
      Marital Status: Single
      Father's Name: Henry Dochow
      Father's Birthplace: Germany
      Mother's Name: Addie Dochow
      Mother's Birthplace: Illinois

      1910 United States Federal Census
      Name: Pearl Dochow
      Age in 1910: 26
      Birth Year: abt 1884
      Birthplace: Kansas
      Home in 1910: Kansas City Ward 5, Wyandotte, Kansas
      Race: White
      Gender: Female
      Relation to Head of House: Boarder
      Marital Status: Single
      Father's Birthplace: Kansas
      Mother's Birthplace: Kansas
      Household Members:
      George W Demoss 33
      Meddie F Demoss 31
      Hazel F Demoss 8
      William R Demoss 1 year 2 months
      Pearl Dochow 26

      1920 United States Federal Census
      Name: Pearl A Boyles [Pearl A Dochow]
      Age: 36
      Birth Year: abt 1884
      Birthplace: Kansas
      Home in 1920: Allison, Decatur, Kansas
      Race: White
      Gender: Female
      Relation to Head of House: Daughter
      Marital Status: Married
      Spouse's Name: Owen C Boyles
      Father's Birthplace: Germany
      Mother's Name: Abbie M Dochow
      Mother's Birthplace: Illinois
      Able to Read: Yes
      Able to Write: Yes
      Household Members:
      Abbie M Dochow 59
      Pearl A Boyles 36
      Owen C Boyles 33

      1930 United States Federal Census
      Name: Pearl A Boyles
      Gender: Female
      Birth Year: abt 1883
      Birthplace: Kansas
      Race: White
      Home in 1930: Allison, Decatur, Kansas
      Marital Status: Married
      Relation to Head of House: Wife
      Spouse's Name: Owen C Boyles
      Father's Birthplace: Germany
      Mother's Birthplace: Illinois
      Household Members:
      Owen C Boyles 41
      Pearl A Boyles 47
      Joseph O Boyles 3
      Charles Wilkins 11

      History of Herman Dochow Family by Miss Lillian Shimmick

      Frederick Willie Dochow (Do-who) living in France near the German border. During the period of the Persecution of the Huguenots the family fled to Gemplen, Germany with their small son Frederick II born December 2, 1818. Gemplen became their abode where Frederick II learned and later followed the trade of a miller. Numbered among his friends was a young German girl, Miss Fredericka Enge whom he later married in Boitzenburg, Germany. Though this couple were born 9 children; Charlie, Herman (youngest) Albert, Matilda, Adolph, Edna, Martha, William and Gustav.

      Warfare among German border states seemed never ending. To avoid further involvement, the Frederick Dochow family severed its ties with the homeland and emigrated to the United State of America. Their ocean travel from Germany to New York City numbered 14 days. The cross-country train travel from the East Coast to the state of Wisconsin, too, was slow and wearisome. On reaching their destination the Dochows were met by relatives who helped them to establish their home. As the children grew into adulthood, the family circle was broken; some married and settled in the Dakotas and in Minnesota. A couple of the brothers went west to Colorado and then on to Oregon. Frederick found the winters in Wisconsin and Minnesota too cold for comfort in his rheumatic condition. In search of a more favorable clime, Frederick persuaded his son Herman to accompany him to Atchison, KS to pick corn for Sam Arthur. While working there, it was Herman's good fortune to meet Miss Addie Minerva Arthur, the young lady whom he later married.

      Herman and his wife set up housekeeping on a farm near Farmington, KS. While residing there, three daughters were born; Minnie, Grace and Pearl. From Farmington, the family moved to Osborne, KS and their son Loren was born.

      The urge to move on westward was ever present among the young married folk who were eager to improve their lot. The Herman Dochow family was among those who joined the wagon train and traveled as Far West as Decatur County, KS. It was in 1887 that the family settled on a farm southeast of Jennings. A one-room dugout speedily became their home. A larger three-room sod house was build two years later to accommodate the large family. Here, a daughter, Bessie and later a son, Joe were born. Herman made no effort to teach his children to speak German, nor would he converse with others in his native language. The abuses and inequities experienced in the fatherland had left him embittered. He chose to converse, as best he could, in broken English.

      The Dochows were responsible citizens; all were thrifty, hard-working, God-loving people. Herman was reared in the Lutheran Faith, his wife, in Methodism. The family attended the Methodist Church at Jennings often walking to day and evening services and Sunday school.

      Herman was troubled with rheumatism. Home remedies were used to ease the pain. His wife often placed hot packs made of ears of unhusked corn taken steaming hot from the wash boiler around him. Time were hard and money was scarce. Coal was so expensive that cow and buffalo chips were gathered and used for fuel.

      From the sod house the family established itself in a new two-story frame house which was built just west of their soddy. The house still stands and is presently owned by the daughter, Mrs. Pearl Dochow Boyles and her husband, Owen. The bricks for the chimney wee hauled from Norcatur and the lumber from Jennings. A second trip had to be made to Norcatur after the youngest child, Joe was found breaking the new bricks with his hammer. John and Pete Pauls and Harry Munson assisted Herman in building his house. Nick Hahn bore a well near the house in 1891. This well is in use today. Herman and his family rejoiced on September 27, 1892 when he obtained a patent from the United States government bearing the signature of President Benjamin Harrison for land on which he had built his house. NE1/4 of Section 6, Township 5, S Range 26 @ of the 6 PM. Later in June, 1900 a patent for school land was issued to Herman Dochow by the United States government for an adjacent quarter section of land SE1/4 - 6 - 5 -26 at that time W. E. Stanley was governor of Kansas.

      The Dochows were sociable, out-going folk, never too busy to stop their work to help others or to engage in conversations. It was a common occurrence for the passer-by to stop at the Dochow house at the side of the road, where an invitation to enter and to remain for lunch was cheerfully extended; although the fare was meager-many times, no more than homemade bread and gravy. Many of the neighbors as they traveled toward the Dochow home could be recognized by the way they traveled. Mrs. Bill Lieber drove hard and fast; Mrs. Frank Price pulled back on the reins to maintain control; while D. S. Logan drove his team -alfalfa fed-at a leisurely pace. In addition to their allegiance to church and school, the Dochows became affiliated with local fraternal associations; Herman became a charter member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Jennings Lodge #449, organized on October 11, 1900. Later Addie and Pearl became members of the International Association of Rebekah Assemblies, Jennings Lila Rebekah Lodge # 430.

      Daughters Minnie, Grace and Pearl received their formal education in several school districts. The school attended first was located just east of the present Boyles mailbox. Miss Letha Pine was the teacher. The second school attended was in a frame building known as the Elkhorn School, located east of the township (Allison) Road about a quarter of a mile west of the present Walter Warren residence. As the other children of the family became of school age, they attended the two-room frame schoolhouse located on a hill in the east pat of Jennings. Later in 1894, the schoolhouse was moved a short distance west where two more class rooms were added. Some of the teachers were G. W. Fields, Anna Bates, Mr. Brown, Louisa and J. P. Langley, Anna R. Van Wickle, 1885, Anna E. Bates, 1888; Grace E. Ford, Merita Speakman, Edwin Ashcraft, A. C. Banta and Louise Anderson.

      Dr. Dwight Funk, the local family doctor was called to attend Herman in his last illness. Herman passed away at his home on April 6, 1903 at the age of 47. His death was attributed to the leakage of the heart. The bereaved family remained on the farm where they labored together to make their living caring for cattle and chickens and raising wheat and corn.

      When the children were old enough to work out, they found employment in the neighborhood; Pearl as a teenager worked for the families of Mark Feely, John Nellans, Ran Bartley, Bill Willy, Bill Stramp, Mrs. Mary Wolfe, Bob Mizer, Bill Lieber, Kings at Lenora, Elic Bishop and Leonard Hill. Pearl's sister, Minnie also worked out. She was at the Frank Shimmick home to help when this writer was a baby. In June 1909, Pearl went to Kansas City, MO where she worked for the Loose and Wyld Candy Company and the Walkers Laundry. Later, she kept house for Miller Hageman, her grandmother's uncle who ran an apartment housers' laundry. In 1910, Pearl met Owen Boyles, a furniture finisher who worked for Robert Keith Carpet and Furniture Company. They were married at Olathe, KS on March 6, 1912. They bought a home in Kansas City, MO and lived there until 1916 when they moved to Jennings.

      During Pearl's absence from home many changes had taken place in the Dochow household. Pearl's oldest sister, Annie, had married D. S. Logan and was living on a farm just southwest of Allison on the Solomon River. The Logans' had three children,
      Ross, Glen and Mamie. Pearl's sister, Grace had married Thomas Davitt, a painter. They made their home on a farm southeast of Jennings. The Davitts had two sons, Loren and Raymond. Grace, after a short illness passed away in 1909 at the age of 29. Pearl's brother, Loren (Pete) had married Miss Nellie Smith, a hometown schoolmate. The couple moved to Kansas City where they lived for several yeas before they returned to make their home in Jennings. Their family consisted of six children: Ernest Edward, Bernard, Boyd, Vivian, Nettie Pearl and Addie Katheryn. Pearl's youngest sister, Bessie had married Nick Gibson. They made their home in Kansas City. Charles and Evelyn were children of this family. Pearl's mother and youngest unmarried brother, Joe were farming the homestead. When Joe as arrayed into the United States Army in 1916, Pearl and Owen Boyles returned to Jennings to be with Mrs. Dochow and to keep the Dochow farm in operation. On July 20, 1926, a son, Joe was born to Pearl and Owen. Joe attended elementary and high school at Jennings and in Oberlin. He served his country in World War II. He is married to Katherine Kirk and is now living in Kansas City, MO. They have a 16-year-old daughter, Vicki.

      Mrs. Addie Dochow's retirement years were spent on the farm with Pearl and Owen. Her grandson, Raymond Davitt and his wife, Mildred and their three daughters, Frances, Maxine and Ardith lived a short distance from her. Mrs. Dochow was active and enjoyed life in the companionship of relatives and friends. In 1939, she suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, which resulted in several months of invalidism. She passed away at home on October 30, 1940 at the age of 80. She was preceded in death by two daughters, Grace Davitt in 1909 and Bessie Gibson in 1936; Annie Logan passed away later in 1954. Joe Dochow in 1956 and Loren (Pete) in 1961. Herman and Addie Dochow were laid to rest in the Jennings Cemetery.

      Pearl and Owen still reside on the farm enjoying the freedom of the out-of-doors. They have rented the farm ground and have things pretty much as they want them out there. They still have chickens and a ga4rden and depend on their car to get them to the places where they need to go. On March 14, 1974, Pearl's 91st birthday, Mrs. Leroy (Florence Nauer) Wyld hosted a birthday party honoring Pearl and Mrs. Ruby Stroup, whose birthdays are on the same day. Mahy friends and relatives called to extend congratulations, Pearl and Owen enjoy each day to the fullest keeping informed by reading and watching TV and listening to radio programs. They vote at elections, and enjoy visiting and entertaining. The Welcome Mat is always at the door.

      The writer is indebted to Pearl Boyles and her niece, Evelyn Givson Keith and to Mrs. Albert McKenna for information and assistance.

    Person ID I22524  Master File
    Last Modified 9 Jul 2013 

    Family Owen Boyles,   b. 09 Aug 1888, Cooper Co. MO Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Oct 1979, Decatur Co. MO Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 91 years) 
    Children 
    +1. Joseph O. Boyles,   b. 20 Jul 1926, Decatur Co, KS Find all individuals with events at this location
    Last Modified 9 Jul 2013 
    Family ID F10255  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart