The prompt for Amy Johnson Crow's 52 ancestors in 52 weeks is Ghost. Below is my submission
On Oct 4, 2022, I realized I had an open tab on my computer to Ancestry and it was open to James Enoch Hoyt. I have no idea why it was opened to this particular ancestor as it was not one, I was currently researching. It just so happens that James Enoch Hoyt’s birthday is Oct 4, 1884. Was this a ghost reaching out? (Just kidding) However, I took that as a sign to explore a little bit about James E Hoyt.
James was born to James Mitchell and Mary Eliza Hoyt in Cass County, Iowa on October 4, 1884. He was the 7th child out of 8. His father was a civil war veteran. The family was farming in Cass County, Iowa when James was born.
In 1892, the family was living in Missouri. They were no longer farming in Iowa.
In 1893, the family was living about a mile north of Bonesteel, SD and began to homestead. His sister, Mollie, used to tell how when they were coming out to the west, they chased their mule to the Missouri line. When the family arrived in South Dakota they built a sod house. James was just 8 years old.
In 1894, tragedy struck when his sister, Rozella Maude “Dell” Simms, was struck by lightning while working in the family field.
In 1901, he lost his mother. They were still homesteading outside of Bonesteel, SD. The South Dakota School Records for Bonesteel DS Gregory County shows Mollie (18), James (15), Frank (8) enrolled along with their nephews Basil and James Simms.
James married Margaret Olive Hahn in Bonesteel on August 9, 1903. Margaret was from Atkinson, Nebraska. Did James meet her when his sister, Mollie, was attending high school in Nebraska? They started their married life in Bonesteel, SD. Their son, James Orval Hoyt was born September 24, 1904.
At some point before the birth of their daughter, Marguerite, who was born September 27, 1906, they moved to Stuart in Holt County Nebraska maybe to be closer to Margaret’s family who resided in Holt County.
By 1908, the family was back in South Dakota and their daughter Lucyle was born.
1910 Census shows the family living in Lemhi, Idaho and his occupation is listed as Wagon Driver. His brother Frank (18) is also living with him.
James dies at the young age of 32 from an appendix operation in 1916.
Obituary Below
Hoyt, James
Nov 20,1916 Stuart Advocate
James Hoyt of Atkinson, who was brought to Stuart the first of the week for an
operation for appendicitis, died at the hospital here Tuesday,Nov 28.
Little hope of his recovery was entertained from the first, but as there was a slight chance that the
operation might save him, it was tried, since he stood no show if it was not done.
He was born Oct 4,1884, in Cass County, Iowa, and was 32 years, 1 month and 24 days old.
He was married at Bonesteel, SD, Aug 9,1903 to Miss Margaret Hahn, a daughter of
Jacob Hahn of Atkinson, and a cousin of Arthur and William Hahn of Stuart.
Three children were born to this union, who with his wife, father, 3 brothers, and 3 sisters,
survive to mourn his untimely death.
The body was taken to Atkinson Wednesday where interment was made.
Oldie but I still love it.
Way Inappropriate Thoughts
People who know me know I love to make up band names. I got this bit from a San Diego Radio Morning Show. The picture below is their Instagram - thedscshow. They are retiring.
