Individual Notes
Note for: Mary Bonnell, -
Index
Individual Note: THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Mary Bonnell.
THE FLAMING SWORD; October 1938; Page 15: After Moravia, an establishment was started in Syracuse, N. Y., which also lasted about two years. Then followed two years of trying times in New York City. From there Koresh went to Chicago about 1887, securing enough converts to start the Home at College Place on September 6 the following year. Shortly thereafter others entered the Home in increasing numbers: the Graham family--Alfred and Ella Graham, Florence, Bertha, Robert and Lloyd; the L'Amoreaux family; Susan and Barbara Ehrisman; the Bonnells; Victoria; Elizabeth Robinson; the MacCumbers; etc.
Individual Notes
Note for: Lucius S. Boomer, ABT 1851 - 6 MAR 1897
Index
Individual Note: THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Lucius S. Boomer; Died: 6 Mar 1897.
1870 U.S. Federal Census; State: Illinois; County: Cook; Town: Chicago; Ward: 3; Post Office: Chicago; Page: 343; Enumeration date: 3 Aug 1870; Enumerator: Wm. Jameson, Ass't Marshal ; Series M593, Microfilm Roll Number 199; Page: 435; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff; 20 Mar 2004; Line: 11; Name: Lucius S. Boomer; Age last birthday: 19; Sex: male; Color: white; Occupation: Attending school; Place of birth: Kentucky; Attended school within the year: yes.
*1870 U.S. Federal Census; State: Connecticut; County: New Haven; Town: New Haven; Page: 70; Enumeration date: 14 Jun 1870; Enumerator: Charles S. Scott; Series M593, Microfilm Roll Number 109; Page: 35; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 20 Mar 2004; Address: Yale College; LIne: 24; Name: Lucius S. Boomer; Age last birthday: 19; Sex: Male; Color: white; Occupation: Attending yale college; Place of birth: Kentucky. (*Lucius S. Boomer was counted twice in the 1870 census, once in Illinois and once in Connecticut)
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1880 Census from Familysearch.org
Household Record 1880 United States Census
Household: Source Information:
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Fa Birthplace Mo Birthplace
Lucius BOOMER Self M Male W 29 KY Bridge Builder MA MA
Bertha BOOMER Wife M Female W 29 CT Keeping House CT CT
Lucius BOOMER Son S Male W 1 NY KY CT
Fanny HATCH Other S Female W 33 VT School Teacher VT VT
Ellen MCALDRICK Other S Female W 41 ENG Cook IRE IRE
Family History Library Film 1254186
NA Film Number T9-0186
Page Number 161B
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The Flaming Sword - March 1897, p.343:
"Tribute in Memoriam: Departed from our visible presence but not lost to us, Mr. Lucius S. Boomer, March 6, 1897. He was loved by all who knew him..."
http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/GenealogyMWeb/DeathSearchServlet: Name: Lucius S. Boomer; Date of death: 6 Mar 1897; City: Chicago; Age: 46 yr; Sex: unknown; Certificate No.: 00001340; County: Cook; State: Illinois.
Individual Notes
Note for: Berthaldine S. Sterling, 12 NOV 1850 - 11 JUL 1935
Index
Occupation: Head of domestic affairs
Residence: Date: 1900
Place: 99th Street (Beth Oprah); Chicago, IL
Residence: Date: 1904
Place: One of the original 7 women who lived in the Planetary Court
Residence: Date: 1916
Place: Moved outside K.U. settlement to a home her son, Louis, built for her
Event: Type: Arrived in Florida
Date: 1894
Event: Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Type: Census/1900
Date: 13 JAN 1900
Event: Estero, Lee, Florida
Type: Census/1910
Date: 23 APR 1910
Event: Estero, Lee, Florida (Living outside K. U. settlement)
Type: Census/1920
Date: 2 JAN 1920
Burial: Date: JUL 1935
Place: Estero, Lee, Florida
Individual Note: THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Bertha Sterling Boomer; (Barthaldine Matrona) Born: 12 Nov 1850 in Bridgeport, Conn.; Died 11 Jul 1935 in Estero.
FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready: "Louie, a violinist, and Harry, a cornetist, were both talented musicians. Louis became owner of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York and wealthy; died in Norway, the home country of his wife. He built a home for his mother across the river from the Unity. Bertie lived with her and afterward in Fort Myers. She was killed on Fort Myers Beach by an automobile driven by Carlton Case. Harry served in the Spanish American War and died in an Army hospital in Texas. Ruth married a
Philadelphia architect and they were the parents of one son."
*1860 U.S. Federal Census; State: Connecticut; County: Fairfield; Town: Bridgeport; Post Office: Bridgeport; Series M653, Roll 75; Page: 499; www.HeritageQuest; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 20 Mar 2004; Enumeration date: 21 Jul 1860; Line Number: 20; Dwelling Number: 1715; Family Number: 7947; Name: Bertha Sterling; Age: 10; Sex: female; Color: Nothing listed; Occupation: Nothing listed; Birthplace: Connecticut; School in year: yes. (*Bertha Sterling is living with the David H. Nash (a physician) family.)
*1870 U.S. Federal Census; State: Connecticut; County: Fairfield; Town: Bridgeport; Ward: 1; Post Office: Bridgeport, Connecticut; Page Number: 83; Enumeration date: 20 Jul 1870; Enumerator: Philo L. Benner, Ass't Marshal; Series M593, Microfilm Roll Number: 96; Page: 71; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 20 Mar 2004; www.HeritageQuest; Line Number on page: 38; Dwelling house number: 518; Family number: 649; Name: Bertha Sterling; Age last birthday: 19; Sex: female; Color: white; Profession or occupation: School Teacher; Value of real estate owned: $3500; Value of personal estate: $500; Place of birth: Connecticut. (*Bertha Sterling is living with the David H Nash (a physician) family)
1880 U.S. Federal Census; State: Illinois; County: Cook; Town: Chicago; Family History Library Film: 1254186; NA Film Number: T9-0186; Page number: 161B; www.familysearch.org; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 21 Mar 2004; Name: Bertha Boomer; Relation to head of family: wife; Marital Status: Married; Sex: female; Race: white; Age: 29; Birthplace: Connecticut; Occupation: Keeping house; Father's Birthplace: Connecticut; Mother's Birthplace: Connecticut.
1900 U. S. Federal Census; Calumet Township; Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Film roll 285; Page No. 285; SD No. 1; ED No. 986; Sheet No. 12; Ward of City 31; Enumeration Date: 13 Jun 1900; Enumerator: Ernest E. Ellington; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 24 May 1999: Bertha Boomer; Residence: 99th Street, Dwelling 133; Relation to head of family: Boarder; Color, white; Sex, female; Month of birth: October; Year of birth: 1855; Age at last birthday: 44; Married; No. of years married: 1*; Mother of how many children: 4; Number of these children living: 4; Place of birth: Connecticut; Place of birth of father: Connecticut; Place of birth of mother: Connecticut; Occupation: Nothing listed; Can read, yes; Can write, yes; Can speak English, yes. (*Except for 5 married residents in this dwelling, all married residents living in this dwelling listed their number of years married as 1.)
1910 U.S. Federal Census/Estero/Lee County/Florida; Enumeration date: 23 Apr 1910; Koreshan Unity; Enumerator: Walter S. Turner, Jr.; Microfilm number: Fl 1910-H T624; ED: 80; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 4 Jan 1995: Bertha Boomer; Sex: Female; Race: white; Age 59; Marital status: Widow; Mother of 4 children; Number of children living: 4; Place of birth: Connecticut; Place of birth of mother and father: Connecticut; Language spoken: English; Occupation: Student; No. of months not employed: 0; Can read and write: yes; Attending school: yes.
1920 U.S. Federal Census/Estero/Lee County/Florida; Enumerator: Henry D. Silverfriend; Enumeration Date: 5 Jan 1920; Microfilm number: 1820221-T625-221; ED: 109; Precinct 10; Outside the Koreshan Colony; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, January 1995: Bertha S. Boomer; Living outside the Koreshan Colony; Address: Ft. Myers/Naples; Age 69; Widow; Place of birth: Connecticut; Place of birth of mother and father: Connecticut; Occupation: None.
Burial: Koreshan Unity Cemetery--lot 13--Inscription: B.S. Boomer/1850-Jul 1935
The Flaming Sword, August 1935; Community Current Events: "We regret to record the passing of Mrs. Bertha S. Boomer (Berthaldine Matrona), at her residence here in Estero on Thursday, July 11th, 1935, the eighty-fifth year of her age. Her Health had been failing for some time and her death was not unexpected. She was one of the early and most loyal followers of Koresh in his great work, contributing in many ways to further his cause. A brilliant and able writer and speaker on the subject of Koreshan Universology over a period of many years she will be very much missed by all those who knew her. Mrs. Eleanore Castle of Chicago conducted a brief funeral service, paying a touching tribute to the memory of her generous nature and unusually fine and superior character. She was interred in our local cemetery. Surviving her are two daughters and one son, Miss Bertha M. Boomer of Estero, Mrs. Ruth Boomer Thomas of Philadelphia, PA, and Mr. Lucius M. Boomer of New York City. Mr. Boomer arrived the following day from New York, coming via plane to Miami.
Notes from Evelyn Horne: Berthaldine Boomer: "She came to Estero with the second group of Koreshans on January 31, 1894, from the home in Chicago. (College Place 3 and 4) Two daughters: Miss Bertha M. Boomer and Mrs. Ruth S. Boomer Thomas. Two sons: Louis M. Boomer and Harry. Husband Lucius S. Boomer remained in New York.
Berthaldine was a student of Koresh. She wrote many beautiful writings of the Koreshan religion in "The Flaming Sword." Son, Louis, had his mother's home built in 1916 by Koreshan brother Steven Chislett. They planted an orange grove with choice citrus. They name the Place "Mirasol Grove." Sister Berthaldine and daughter Bertie lived there until Berthaldine's death on July 11, 1935.
The Boomer home was a place for entertaining. Many Koreshan parties were enjoyed there, especially over the holidays. Many Koreshan sisters and brothers celebrated birthdays there.
Berthaldine's diary was reprinted in the "Koreshan Unity Settlement" in "The American Eagle", issues October, November, and December 1978. Son, Louis Boomer built his Florida vacation home at River Bend next to the Koreshan Unity property and named it "Tarter Place." It was picturesque on the bend of the Estero River. It also had a large tennis court and a large concrete boat dock and steps down to the River. It was built about *1920. (*1916, See The American Eagle, April 1993 note below.)
Louis Boomer was president of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City and spent his vacations at Estero and also Norway where he died in 1949 of a heart attack while on a summer vacation in Norway.
Berthaldine was a beautiful lady, a large person about 5 foot 7 inches with dark brown hair and blue eyes. She carried herself so graciously. She loved boating on the Estero River and picnics at Carlos Point and the beaches. She was a perfect hostess and loved entertaining.
She was a real active person until her death on July 11, 1935, which came very suddenly of a heart attack. She was 85 years old. The community mourned her departure. The Estero Grammer School lowered its flag half-mast for her mourning. She was buried in the Koreshan cemetery."
Mrs. Lucius S. Boomer, father and husband, died March 6, 1897. He was in the steel business in Chicago and was loved by all who knew him. He gave great love and support to the Koreshan Church.--Flaming Sword 1897.
Miss Bertha M. Boomer died on September 3, 1941, in a tragic accident on Ft. Myers Beach where she was run over by a truck driven by H. C. Case. Mr. Case was also from a Koreshan family.
THE AMERICAN EAGLE; Vol. 79; April 1993; Page 1: "The beautiful Planetary Court residence, so named for the seven planets then known to exist, still stands proudly in the Koreshan settlement. It was built in 1904 to house the original seven Koreshan women charged by Koresh to manage the affairs of the Unity. Each had her own bedroom, and the eighth room, on the main floor, served as their council chamber or meeting room. These Stellar Women Were : Virginia Andrews, Berthaldine Boomer, Evelyn Bubbett, Eleanor Castle, Rose Gilbert, Ella Graham and Etta Silverfriend." BERTHALDINE BOOMER: This lady moved to the Estero settlement with her daughter among the first contingent of Koreshans in 1894. Her husband and two sons remained in Chicago, but Berthaldine was among the first students of Koresh in Chicago and gave the Unity her full support the rest of her life. Dr. Teed gave her the title of "Matrona" and made her the head of domestic affairs. Much of life in the early days in Florida is recorded in her diary, which has been published in The American Eagle. She lived with the sisters until 1916, at which time she and her daughter, Bertie, moved into a lovely home near the Unity compound which her son, Louis, built for her. Berthaldine died in 1935.