JILES SANFORD BOGGESS

Sacramento County

Biographies

JILES SANFORD BOGGESS

During the colonial period of our national history the Boggess family became identified with the upbuilding of the south, and in the early part of the nineteenth century there was a distinguished state senator of Georgia who bore the name of Ahaz Jefferson Boggess. In addition to his service in the state assembly he filled other offices, including that of Sheriff. He was also an officer in the Mexican War and a prominent man in public affairs, filling many positions of responsibility. At the time of his death he was serving as state comptroller. The Civil war was then in progress and during the discharge of his duties as a state official he contracted typhoid fever, which terminated fatally. Afterwards his widow, Marguerite, came to California and made her home with her children in Sacramento until her death, which occurred at the residence of James Holland, corner of Eighteenth and G streets. Among their descendants one of the most distinguished was a grandson, J. Holland Laidler, who was killed in the Philippines, and in whose honor the Spanish war camp of Sacramento received its name.

At the old family mansion at Carrollton, Carroll county, Ga., Jiles Sanford Boggess was born March 26, 1853. When the Civil war began he was old enough to realize its sufferings and to undergo its hardships, but not large enough to bear arms for his native commonwealth. Its disastrous results long lingered in his mind, the wreck of the family fortune, the loss of estates, the suffering of privations and the starting out anew when at last the war had ended. He earned a livelihood by operating a sawmill, but in the fall of 1876 he sold the mill and came to California. April 12, 1876, he had been united in marriage with Miss Martha Whittle, a native of Carrollton, Ga., and a woman of gentle, self-sacrificing disposition, noble in character and tender in devotion to her family. The young couple arrived in Sacramento in 1876 and began housekeeping here, while Mr. Boggess earned a livelihood by lighting the gas and oil street lamps. During 1878 he relinquished that position and moved to a ranch in San Joaquin county, where he remained for six years. Upon selling out he took his wife east and south and spent a year in travel. On their return to Sacramento he engaged in the grocery business for two years and later for three years he acted as superintendent of the James McNasson ranch of fourteen hundred acres.

Coming to Oak Park in 1890, Mr. Boggess erected the fifth house in the suburb and his death occurred at his Oak Park home, No. 3318 Orange street, September 6, 1910. For four years he had been a member of the firm of Tinnon & Boggess. Meanwhile he also was a local leader in the Democratic party and for ten years had served as a member of the county central committee, also for eight years attended every county and state convention of his party. For a period of four years he served as road overseer under Morris Brooks and for two terms he was deputy constable under C. B. Lightfoot, later filling the office of constable for sixteen years. With all of his family he held membership in the Oak Park Baptist Church. Fraternally he held membership in the Improved Order of Red Men. Surviving him are his wife and four children, three children having preceded him in death. Those living are, Ahaz C., Adelia, Marguerite, and Herbert Gardner. All continue to reside in Oak Park, where the older son resides with his mother and continues his father's business, and the younger son is identified with a brother-in-law in the contracting business.

One who knew Mr. Boggess well and honored him deeply said of his passing: "He was a noble, generous nature. He had an eye that could see distress and a heart that was constantly attuned to relieve it. He did not leave much of this world's material goods, but left a wealth of kind, noble and generous deeds that will live long in the memories of those who knew him. He did not believe in keeping the alabaster boxes of his love and kindness sealed up until his friends were dead. He believed that the man who scatters the flowers of sympathy and affection in the pathway of his fellowmen, who lets into the dark places of life the sunshine of human sympathy and happiness is walking the right path of life. There was a daily beauty about his life that won every heart. In temperament he was mild and conciliatory. He gained confidence when he seemed least to seek it."

In his family Mr. Boggess was devotion itself. The happiest hours of his life were passed in the society of wife and children. Nothing pleased him more than to bestow upon them some appreciated gift. In their joys and personal affairs he maintained an unceasing interest. His older son, after completing his studies in the Sacramento high school and the University of California, became an assistant to him in his business, gained a thorough knowledge of the same and was able to succeed him at the time of his demise. The younger son also was given first-class educational advantages and aided in his preparation for the responsibilities of life. The daughters became accomplished Christian women, active workers in the Oak Park Baptist Church, and their sincere characters prove the value of wise parental training as well as the influence of an honorable ancestry. Adelia is the wife of Frederick G. Rees, D. D. S., who was born at The Dalles, Ore., March 10, 1882, the son of a pioneer Baptist minister at one time quite well-known throughout the west. Orphaned at an early age, he made his home with grandparents at Loyalton, Sierra county, Cal. After two years in the Loyalton high school he entered the San Francisco College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he took the regular dental course, graduating in 1904. Since then he has engaged in professional work with the exception of eighteen months in the gold fields of Nevada. For six months he practiced at Loyalton, but desirous of a larger sphere for professional work in 1906 he came to Sacramento, where he has since had his office in Oak Park. December 23, 1906, he married Miss Adelia Boggess, by whom he has two children, namely: Jiles Denton, who was born November 16, 1907; and Frederick Lewis, December 17, 1909. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, while in religion he is of Baptist faith.

William M. Kennedy, who married Marguerite Boggess, was born on Prince Edward Island, Canada, November 22, 1877, and at the age of seventeen went to Boston, where he learned and followed the trade of carpenter. Desirous of broadening his education he attended school in Boston and also took a night course in study in architecture, graduating with a high standing in that profession. From Boston he traveled west to Spokane and after six months in that city traveled south to California, where he has since made his home in Sacramento. For a time he engaged in carpentering, but in 1906 he began to take contracts and now he ranks among the leading men if his occupation in the entire county. In addition to having contracts for houses in Oak Park, Davisville, Sacramento and other places, he has recently had a contract for a $43,000 building for Louis Schindler opposite the post office. Another recent contract was for the elegant residence of P. Roeman on the Upper Stockton road. Several fine bridges for the county were erected by him and he also had the contract for the Oak Park postoffice. While giving close attention to the details of his work, he does not neglect any duty that falls upon a public-spirited citizen. Although not a partisan, he is loyal in citizenship and well posted regarding national problems. Upon the death of his father-in-law he filled out his unexpired term as constable and for four years he also acted as deputy constable in Oak Park. In fraternal relations he holds membership with the Improved Order of Red Men and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His only living child, Wilma, was born in September of 1910. Another child died in infancy, these having been born of his union, February 18, 1906, with Marguerite Boggess. With his wife he is an earnest communicant of the Oak Park Baptist Church and a liberal contributor to its maintenance, while Mrs. Kennedy is also very active in the work of the Rebekahs of Oak Park.

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.

Source: Willis, William L., History of Sacramento County, California, Pages 661-664. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1913.