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| Wilton Tisdale Booksh Sr. 1886-1985 with sons Wilton Jr. and William in 1915 |
I am writing this on February 7, 2023, my Grandfather Booksh's birthday. He was born in 1886, 137 years ago today, in Grosse Tete, Louisiana, to Arabella Maria Tisdale and Samuel Walker Booksh. In 1893 when he was 7 years old the family moved to New Orleans.
The 1900 U. S. Census lists the family at 1365 Constance Street under the name transcribed as Bevoksh, making them very hard to find. They are listed as Sam and Bell with children Sam 19, Lenard 17, Wilton 13 and Vera 10. Listed next door is Eliza Tisdale, Widow. Her husband, Benjamin Franklin Tisdale died in 1876. Living with Great Grandmother Eliza Pratt Tisdale are son Harry, daughter Lee and grand daughters Ma[y] Pierce and Ruth, daughters of Mary Bernice Tisdale and William Talbot Pierce. Belle's sister, Mary Bernice, died in 1886.
In the 1910 U.S. Census the family is listed at 1311 St. Mary Street. The family consists of Sam and Belle Booksh and their four children, Samuel Walker Jr., Charles Leonard, Wilton Tisdale, and Arabella Guinevere "Vera."
Sometime between 1910 and 1912 Wilton met Emma Francis. (See last week's 52 Ancestors blog post for more on that subject.) On 16 July 1912 Wilton and Emma were married.
Amy Johnson Crow mentioned that yesterday's newspaper society columns were comparable to today's Social Media. Thanks to a newspaper article found on GenealogyBank.com we know a lot more about their wedding than the usual Marriage Certificate facts.
The article on page 17 of the Times-Picayune on Sunday, July 21, 1912, although partly illegible because of the binding of the pages, says:
The marriage of Miss Emma Collins Francis, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Francis, to Mr. Wilton T. Booksh of this city, was quietly celebrated on Tuesday, July 16, at 4 o'clock, at St. George's Church, in the presence of the families and a few intimate friends. After the solemn and beautiful wedding service, which was performed by Rev. Byron Holley, the bridal [party re-]ceived the congratulations [of those] present. Later a dinner [illegible] the bridal pair and family [?was held at An]toine's restaurant, the [illegible] bride, her young sister, Miss [Ernestine] Francis, and brother, Mr. [John Fran-]cis, and her brotheriin-law [and sis-]ter Mr. and Mrs. Gus Terry [hav-]ing come over from their [sum-]mer home at Biloxi, Miss. [for] the marriage. In a few [illegible] and Mrs. Booksh will [illegible] home, which will be in [? Illegible].
In the 1920 census Wilton and Emma Booksch with children Wilton, William and Ernestine are listed at 111 Brandie Avenue in Biloxi Mississippi. Wilton worked as a Sugar Chemist at sugar mills in Louisiana, Florida, and "in the Tropics," as he used to say. There are several passport applications for him and his family to Guatemala and Honduras
On 8 February 1925 Emma Francis Booksh died the day after the birth of their daughter Emma. Wilton later married Agnes Lincoln on 3 November 1926 and had two more sons, Charles Leonard and John Richard.
Another "Social Media" type newspaper article in the April 26, 1933 Baton Rouge Advocate describes a Booksh Family Reunion:
Quite an enjoyable event was the Booksh family reunion which was held at the home of G. W. Booksh, Jr., the former residence of G. W. Booksh Sr., in Grosse Tete. After attending services at the Rosedale church, the group assembled at the appointed place, coffee was served and later a sumptuous dinner on the grounds was enjoyed. Those attending this affair were: [There follows a long list of Booksh family members...a treasure trove for genealogists to come!]
I remember attending another Booksh reunion many years later and meeting some of the people mentioned. I have many wonderful memories of my Grandpa Booksh and his sister Vera Booksh Ventress who passed on many family stories. He lived a long life, dying at age 99 on 9 June 1985.
Happy Birthday, Grandpa Booksh, and Aunt "Susie" Emma Booksh Sarradet.
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