Match! WA: Lafayette Boal dob 2/21/1905; date found: 6/29/98

https://claimus.org/cases/329#

Mr Boal is under the jurisdiction of the Spokane County ME in Washington State.

claimus case 329

Here is what I have pieced together for Lafayette Boal so far, starting with the earliest records. He seemed to write a lot of "letters to the editors" throughout his life as an ardent socialist per Google News archives. He was also a prolific hitch-hiker (claiming more than 85,000 miles), but that might have been just in his youth.

(This 1920 census is in the right state, but the estimated birth year is off by 9 years so unsure if this is the correct Lafayette Boal, or whether it was a census or modern day data entry mistake.)

"United States Census, 1920," Lafayette Boal in household of Anna Boal, , Jefferson, Pennsylvania
Name: Lafayette Boal
Residence: , Jefferson, Pennsylvania
Estimated Birth Year: 1896
Age: 24
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Relationship to Head of Household: Son
Gender: Male
Race: White
Marital Status: Single
Father's Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Mother's Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Film Number: 1821575
Digital Folder Number: 4384888
Image Number: 00936
Sheet Number: 8
Household Gender Age Birthplace
SELF Anna Boal F 50y Pennsylvania
SON Lafayette Boal M 24y Pennsylvania

(I think the birthplace noted of "Timblin Panna" is actually "Timblin, Jefferson, Pennsylvania" which is noted as Lafayette Boal's birthplace in the 1940 census.)

"United States, Border Crossings from Canada to United States, 1895-1956," Lafayette Boal, 1930
Name: Lafayette Boal
Arrival Date: 07 Aug 1930
Arrival Port: Buffalo, New York,
Age: 25
Estimated Birth Year: 1905
Birth Date:
Birthplace: , Timblin Panna
Birth Country:
Gender: Male
Race: Scotch
Last Residence:
Accompanied by:
Departure Date:
Departure Port:
Departure Contact:
Arrival Contact:
Ship Name:
Airline:
Record has photo?: N
NARA Publication Title: Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Rochester, New York, 1902-1954
NARA Publication Number: M1480
NARA Roll Number: 11

"United States Census, 1940," Lafayette Boal in household of Graham Martin, Ward 22, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh City, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States
Name: Lafayette Boal
Titles & Terms:
Event: Census
Event Year: 1940
Event Place: Ward 22, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh City, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 35
Marital Status: Single
Race (Original): White
Race (Standardized): White
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Lodger
Relationship to Head of Household (Standardized): Lodger
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Estimated Birth Year: 1905
Residence in 1935: Timblin, Jefferson, Pennsylvania
Enumeration District Number: 69-659
Family Number: 83
Sheet Number and Letter: 3B
Line Number: 59
NARA Publication Number: T627
NARA Roll Number: 3672
Digital Folder Number: 005456812
Image Number: 00371
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head Graham Martin M 57 Scotland
Wife Anna Martin F 58 Scotland
Lodger John Beck M 67 Ohio
Lodger Ambrose Stoehr M 63 West Virginia
Lodger Lafayette Boal M 35 Pennsylvania
Lodger Richard Deemer M 60 Pennsylvania
Lodger Joseph A Zelinger M 48 Connecticut
Lodger Frank Lugibihs M 46 Pennsylvania

(I wonder if the 1920 census to "Anna Boal" as Lafayette Boal's mother is "Minnie A. Mcdivitt" going by her middle name?)

"Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885 - 1950," Lafayette Boal, 1942
Name: Lafayette Boal
Titles & Terms:
Event: Marriage
Event Date: 31 Dec 1942
Event Place: Pittsburg, Allegeny, Pennsylvania, United States
Age: 37
Estimated Birth Year: 1905
Father: Jonas J. Boal
Father's Titles & Terms:
Mother: Minnie A. Mcdivitt
Mother's Titles & Terms:
Spouse: Shirley Thomas
Spouse's Titles & Terms:
Spouse's Age: 35
Spouse's Estimated Birth Year: 1907
Spouse's Father: H. Howard Thomas
Spouse's Father's Titles & Terms:
Spouse's Mother: Martha A. Swearingen
Spouse's Mother's Titles & Terms:
Reference Number: Lic. 2663
Film Number: 1992318
Digital Folder Number: 004480780
Image Number: 00260

Spokane Daily Chronicle on October 14, 1946: "Many Vets Register at Farragut College"

Linus C. Durham Jr, Pittsburgh, Pa., an infantry veteran and former prisoner of war, said his brother-in-law, Lafayette Boal of Spokane, "talked me into coming west to Farragut." He is taking business administration.

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University of Oklahoma: Minutes of the Meeting of the Regents of the University on Wednesday, December 14, 1949
School of Medicine and University Hospitals Appointments:

Shirley Boal, Nurse Aide, University Hospitals, $90 per month, effective November 19, 1949. $100 in December; $110 in May, 1950.

Lafayette Boal, Orderly, University Hospitals, $110 per month with laundry, effective November 19, 1949; $120 per month, March 1950.

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Meeting of the Regents of the University of Oklahoma, Wednesday, February 8, 1950: Resignation of Lafayette Boal, Orderly, December 31, 1949

"United States Social Security Death Index," Lafayette Boal, 1998
First Name: Lafayette
Middle Name:
Last Name: Boal
Name Suffix:
Birth Date: 21 February 1905
Social Security Number: 175-12-1062
Place of Issuance: Pennsylvania
Last Residence: Spokane, Washington
Zip Code of Last Residence: 99201
Death Date: 29 June 1998
Estimated Age at Death: 93

Spokane Medical Examiner Unclaimed Remains: Link here.
Boal, Lafayette J 06/29/1998 02/21/1905 Holy Cross Cemetery

Lafayette Boal's wife, Shirley Thomas Boal, passed away in 1988.

"United States Social Security Death Index," Shirley T Boal, 1988
First Name: Shirley
Middle Name: T
Last Name: Boal
Name Suffix:
Birth Date: 24 November 1907
Social Security Number: 210-03-0556
Place of Issuance: Pennsylvania
Last Residence: Spokane, Spokane, Washington
Zip Code of Last Residence: 99204
Death Date: 18 October 1988
Estimated Age at Death: 81

The brother-in-law mentioned in one of the articles, Linus C. Durham, Jr., was related to Lafayette as Clayton's wife Beulah was Shirley's sister.

Find-A-Grave listing for Beulah Elizabeth Thomas Durham: Link here.

Born Sept. 21, 1910, in Delaware County, Ind., she was the daughter of Hiram Howard and Martha Swearingen Thomas, and the widow of L. Clayton Durham Jr.
...
Mrs. Durham is survived by a son, William of Boiling Springs; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter.

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Lafayette's wife (I haven't found any mention of divorce so assuming they were married for now) had nine siblings. I am trying to find more direct relations before pursuing possible relations by marriage via his wife.

More research notes on Lafayette's parents as well as possible siblings as I try to find more immediate relatives.

His mother's 1920 census listing: "United States Census, 1900," Minnie A Mcdivitt in household of Matthew Mcdivitt, ED 72 Porter Township, Jefferson, Pennsylvania, United States
Name: Minnie A Mcdivitt
Titles & Terms:
Event: Census
Event Date: 1900
Event Place: ED 72 Porter Township, Jefferson, Pennsylvania, United States
Birth Date: Aug 1871
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Relationship to Head of Household: Daughter
Father's Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Mother's Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Race or Color (Standardized): White
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Single
Years Married:
Estimated Marriage Year:
Mother How Many Children:
Number Living Children:
Immigration Year:
Page: 1
Sheet Letter: B
Family Number: 18
Reference Number: 98
Film Number: 1241416
Digital Folder Number: 004115101
Image Number: 00766
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head Matthew Mcdivitt M 65 Pennsylvania
Daughter Emma Mcdivitt F 37 Pennsylvania
Son Philip W Mcdivitt M 31 Pennsylvania
Daughter Minnie A Mcdivitt F 29 Pennsylvania
Son Dorsey W Mcdivitt M 27 Pennsylvania
Granddaughter Effie May Mcdivitt F 3 Pennsylvania

1920 census listing of Lafayette's parents, except the children are listed as "Jonas L. Boal" and "Matthew Boal". I wonder if it is "Jonas Lafayette Boal" and he chose to go by his middle name later in life?

"United States Census, 1910," Minnie A Boal in household of Jonas J Boal, Red Bank, Armstrong, Pennsylvania
Name: Minnie A Boal
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Relationship to Head of Household: Wife
Residence: Red Bank, Armstrong, Pennsylvania
Marital Status: Married
Race : White
Gender: Female
Immigration Year:
Father's Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Mother's Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Family Number: 8
Page Number: 1
Household Gender Age Birthplace
SELF Jonas J Boal M 70y Pennsylvania
WIFE Minnie A Boal F 38y Pennsylvania
SON Jonas L Boal M 5y Pennsylvania
SON Matthew Boal M 3y Pennsylvania

One younger sister died in infancy in 1906: Link here.

It looks like Matthew Boal passed away in 1973: "United States Social Security Death Index," Matthew Boal, 1973
First Name: Matthew
Middle Name:
Last Name: Boal
Name Suffix:
Birth Date: 30 November 1907
Social Security Number: 162-12-7677
Place of Issuance: Pennsylvania
Last Residence: Jefferson, Pennsylvania
Zip Code of Last Residence: 15767
Death Date: December 1973
Estimated Age at Death: 66

His wife may have passed away in 1997: "United States Social Security Death Index," Martha A Boal, 1997
First Name: Martha
Middle Name: A
Last Name: Boal
Name Suffix:
Birth Date: 24 April 1907
Social Security Number: 194-01-0297
Place of Issuance: Pennsylvania
Last Residence: Jefferson, Pennsylvania
Zip Code of Last Residence: 15767
Death Date: 7 March 1997
Estimated Age at Death: 90

It looks like Lafayette's mother was Jonas J. Boal, Jr.'s third wife: Link here.

Jonas J. BOAL Jr. was born in 1840. He died on 6 August 1917 at the age of 77. He was a doctor.2366 Parents: Jonas BOAL-36674 and Rebecca WOLFLEY-28287.
Spouse: Elizabeth REYNOLDS-36701. Elizabeth REYNOLDS and Jonas J. BOAL Jr. were married. They were divorced.
Spouse: Martha KEYS-36703. Martha KEYS and Jonas J. BOAL Jr. were married.
Spouse: Minnie Anne MCDIVITT-36702. Minnie Anne MCDIVITT and Jonas J. BOAL Jr. were married.

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Minnie Anne McDivitt did have children who had children as there are postings on genealogy pages where people refer to her as their great-grandmother. Possibly Matthew's line or another marriage? Link here.

information was sent to case manager. Will update when I hear anything. Great work! NM

Lafayette and shirley are listed in several family trees in ancestry. He is listed as deceased. The family knows.

I think we need to close out this case as matched.

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/1277...c22ce7-2847-42c0-be35-e3056e1afae4?src=search


http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/1277...c22ce7-2847-42c0-be35-e3056e1afae4?src=search


I think lafayette and shirley were interesting people.