Samuel Brown Magner

Ralph Jerald and Dica Belle (Brooke) Magner Children

Daughter: Adalyn Elvina Magner

"My Favorite Person in the Pedigree Chart"
By Adalyn Indihar --- January 23, 1997

      Some years ago, I asked my mother to tell me about my paternal great grandmother, Elvina Fritz Boje.  Indeed I am most grateful to my mother as she described the life of Elvina Boje which I had written down to treasure in my memories.
      Elvina Fritz, was born in Prussia, June 1st, 1848 and came to America in 1857 with her parents to settle in Ottawa, Illinois.  She was married to Christopher Boje in 1863 and started westward to Kansas in 1869.  On the trip westward, the grass was tall and the trails were rough.  She related the dishes were packed in boxes and put on the bed during the day's travel.  They crossed rutted trails throwing the boxes to the floor of the wagon and thus a shattered dream of dishes for their new home.
      They homesteaded and lived in a sod house in Galesburg, Kansas.  She told of the Indians coming peacefully to water their horses at a spring close to their home.  Great Grandma Boje would tell of how strong the wind would blow across the open plains.  The doors on their leather hinges would creak and the windows would shake.  When Great-Grandpa Boje was working the ground to plan corn, she would take her small children and sit on the woodpile to quiet their fears.
      In their marriage, they had the following children: Minnie (who died in infancy), Will, Etta, Iona, Mollie and Henry.
      Great Grandpa Boje passes away at the age of 42 years leaving her with five young children to rear, which she did in the traditional early days of hard work and devotion to her children.
      I remember her always having some kind of hand work in her hands such as piecing and quilting quilts, embroidery and crocheting.
      She passed away on Thursday morning at 2:15 o'clock, December 29, 1938 after one day of illness. 
      She was a member of the Galesburg Christian Church and was buried from there.  Burial is in Mount Hope Cemetery in Galesburg, Kansas.
      My mother must have admired my paternal Great Grandmother Boje very much as she gave me the middle name of Elvina.

Thank you, Adalyn for allowing me to share this loving article.