Los Angeles
County
Biographies
AMOS L. DuBOIS
Mr.
Amos L. DuBois is the owner and operator of one of San Gabriel’s old funeral
homes and was the first man ever to be honored as San Gabriel’s “Citizen of the
Year”.
He
was born on October 12, 1899, in Leavenworth County, Kansas, near the Eight
Mile House, a historical building that was once a stopover place for wagon
trains and caravans.
Mr.
DuBois was the youngest boy born to Amos C. and Rose M. DuBois. His father was a farmer and also a school teacher,
having taught for fifty-two years, the longest teaching record in the State of
Kansas. He taught in rural schools.
Mr.
DuBois attended Hickor
Point Rural Farm School and Parsons School, near McLouth, Kansas, and then went
on to McLouth and Bonner Springs High Schools.
After
a semester of medical college at Kansas University, Mr. DuBois dropped out
because of finances. Later he enrolled
at Clements Williams Embalming College in Kansas City, Kansas.
Following
his graduation he became, at that time, the youngest man to ever pass the
Missouri State Embalmers requirements.
He then worked in Kansas and Missouri for some time.
Mr.
DuBois arrived in California on September 10, 1923, and just seven days later
he married the former Miss Grace M. Stotts in
Pasadena, California. She was a former
resident of Bonner Springs, Kansas.
He
worked for a Pasadena firm for five and one-half years, then
opened his own funeral home at 400 South San Gabriel Boulevard, San Gabriel,
California, on May 1, 1929.
Moving
to 116 North San Gabriel Boulevard, San Gabriel in 1934, Mr. DuBois has
remodeled his facilities twice; in 1938 and in 1960. He now owns almost two acres for his
business.
Although
not a member of the armed services, Mr. DuBois was in charge of embalming at
Fort Leavenworth and Fort Riley, both in Kansas, during World War I.
In
1940 the San Gabriel American Legion Post No. 442 presented him with the first
“Citizen of the Year” award and to this day it is one of his proudest possessions.
Mr.
DuBois’ major hobby is the San Gabriel Kiwanis Club. He has been a member since 1929 and boasts a
31 year perfect attendance record.
A
past president of the club, he has also been Lieutenant Governor of Division
10; a past officer of the California-Nevada-Hawaii District, and served on
three Kiwanis International committees.
He
has also served in other community groups and is a past president of the San
Gabriel Chamber of Commerce and the Rosemead Forum Club, which later became the
Rosemead Kiwanis Club.
Mr.
DuBois is a member of San Gabriel Lodge No. 546, F. & A. M., and is active
in Community Chest, Red Cross, Boy Scouts and other welfare groups.
Mr.
DuBois and his wife reside at 120 North San Gabriel Boulevard, San
Gabriel. They have three children: Davis S., Barbara J., and Mrs. D. Royce
(Frances Lee) Foster, and has nine grandchildren.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 662-663, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES