Story of Amos William Westerhouse Jr and Leoti Golden Milburn

Amos and Sophia Westerhouse oldest son was Amos Westerhouse Jr. 

As a young boy, Amos Jr, worked on his parents' farm, helping with farming and other chores around the home.  He attended school at the Hopewell East School #68, located two miles north of his home.  At the age of thirteen, Amos Jr moved with his family to a farm, located at 2372 North 900th Road, in the Captain Creek area of Eudora, Douglas, Kansas.  After graduating from eighth grade on 24 Jun 1909, Amos continued to work on the family farm.  His father, Amos Westerhouse, encouraged Amos Jr and his younger brother, Oscar, not to smoke and drink.  He would reward them with a pocket watch when they turned twenty-one if they had complied.  Both received a pocket watch. 

Amos Jr registered for the World War I draft 5 Jun 1917. The front side of card shows name Amos William Westerhouse, home RR #2 Eudora, Douglas, Kansas. Age 25, birth May 27 1892, birth location near Eudora Kansas USA, citizen natural-born, race Caucasian, single, employer Amos Westerhouse, occupation farmer, 6 3/4 miles SE Eudora, Douglas, Kansas. The back side of card shows height medium, build medium, eyes light brown, hair dark brown.

Amos Jr WWI draft card (front)

Amos Jr WWI draft card (back)

Milburn family at Gertie Milburn wedding day (Feb 1917)

Back Row (L-R) Lena, Floyd, Gertie, Leoti

Front Row (L-R) Edd (holding) Cyril, Florence, Eva

Amos Jr met Leoti Milburn from a nearby farm.  She lived with her parents, Edd and Florence Milburn, on the farm that Amos Jr grandfather, Peter Westerhouse, owned before his death.  Amos Jr asked Leoti on their first date, the summer of 1915, attending the CPA Picnic in Eudora in a horse and buggy.  

After many dates, Amos Jr and Leoti Milburn married on 7 Nov 1917 at Leoti Milburn Parents' Home in Haviland, Kiowa, Kansas.  Their honeymoon was in Dodge City, Ford, Kansas, traveling in Leoti's fathers', Edd Milburn, model-T and staying with friends.

Amos Westerhouse Jr and Leoti Milburn marriage license – 2 Nov 1917

Amos Westerhouse Jr and Leoti Milburn Wedding - 7 Nov 1917

Amos Jr and Leoti Wedding (Eudora Weekly News) – 15 Nov 1917

Amos Jr farmed for Edd Milburn in Haviland after marriage, before returning to Eudora in the spring of 1918.  Amos Jr and Leoti lived with the Milburn's in their large two-story farmhouse in Eudora on the old Peter Westerhouse farm. On 28 Apr 1922, Amos and Leoti, had their first daughter, Arlene Florence Westerhouse. 

Amos Jr and Leoti Westerhouse – 1922

Photo taken with coats, to conceal Leoti pregnancy

Near 1926 they moved with their daughter, Arlene, onto the Amos Sr Farm.  Amos Sr and Sophia just bought a home at 110 East 7th Street in Eudora and had retired from farming.  Amos Jr was excited to continue the tradition of farming at his childhood home.  Leoti gave birth to twins on 15 Aug 1927, one girl and one boy.  Their names were, Eugene A. and Maxine L., Eugene was born 25 minutes earlier than Maxine.  The twins had only a middle initial, not a name.  The A. was for Amos, and the L. was for Leoti. 

Amos Westerhouse Sr and Amos Westerhouse Jr farm (2017)

Amos registered for the World War II Draft on 25 Apr 1942.  The Registration card shows his name as Amos William Westerhouse; his age 49; living at R.R. #2, Eudora, Kansas; he was born on May 27 1892 in Douglas, Kansas; telephone as Eudora exchange and number 893; Amos Westerhouse Sr, Eudora, Kansas will always know his address; employed as farmer; race of white; color of his eyes are blue; his hair is grey color; he has height of five feet and eight inches and weight of 185; Has a Ruddy complexion.

Amos Westerhouse Jr WWII draft card (front)

Amos Westerhouse Jr WWII draft card (Back)

Faming (L-R) Ken Lawson, Herb Knabe, Amos Westerhouse Jr

(L-R) Allen, Amos Jr, Oscar Westerhouse - Mar 1975

Amos Jr and Leoti Westerhouse sixtieth wedding anniversary – 7 Nov 1977

(L-R) Maxine, Eugene, Amos Jr, Leoti, Arlene

Amos Jr and Leoti Westerhouse

Amos Westerhouse Jr obituary (Lawrence Journal World) - 12 Jul 1982

Amos Westerhouse Jr funeral card - 14 Jul 1982

Leoti Westerhouse ninety-fifth birthday – Oct 1992 (Est)

Back Row 4 (L-R) Pete Lawson, Ken Lawson, Forest Tucker, Greg Gerstenberger, John Spitzli, Mike Sneider, Rob Claggett, Shawn Stover, Mike Westerhouse, Patty Gerstenberger

Row 3 (L-R) Sharon Lawson, Jamie Lacy, Sandy Gerstenberger, Kaye Spitzli, Kendi, Peggy Claggett, Eugene Westerhouse, Sandi Westerhouse

Row 2 (L-R) Lauretta Trabant, Dorothy Westerhouse, Maxine Gerstenberger, Leoti Westerhouse, Genevieve Tucker, Geraldine, Arlene Lawson

Row 1 (L-R) Jacque Spitzli, Aaron Westerhouse, Mellissa Claggett (Tyler Stover), Joshua Gerstenberger, Melanie Claggett (David Westerhouse), Chris Gerstenberger, Shawana Stover (David Rammboaa)

Leoti Westerhouse ninety sixth birthday (Lawrence Journal World) - Oct 1993

Leoti Westerhouse obituary (Lawrence Journal World) - Nov 1994

Leoti Westerhouse funeral card - 9 Nov 1994

Leoti and Amos Jr Westerhouse gravestone at Memorial Park cemetery (Lawrence, Kansas)

Story and Amos Westerhouse and Sophia Meyer

Peter and Anna Westerhouse, youngest son, was Amos Westerhouse. Hermann and Amalia Meyer, oldest daughter was Sophia Meyer. They are my great-grandparents. 

As a young boy, Amos worked on his parents' farm, helping with farming and other chores around the home.  He attended school at the Hopewell East School #68, located only one mile north of his home.  This school was a one-room school for first through eighth grades.  He graduated from the eighth grade.

At the age of seven, Sophia moved with her family from Hesper, Eudora, Douglas, Kansas to Big Spring, Montgomery, Missouri. The Grasshopper Plaque of 1874 and other harsh weather events was too much for the family to live in the area. Big Spring was where her uncle, Henry Edler (first husband of Mary Westerhouse), and aunt, Katie Edler (wife of Henry Westerhaus) lived.

Sophia's father, Hermann Meyer, died at the age of 51 on 17 Aug 1888 when she was twenty years old. Sophia and all her siblings (William, Wilhelmina, Matilda, Charles) were still living at home. Her mother, Amalia Meyer re married to Frederick Meyer 18 Oct 1890, and he brought four children into the marriage (Anna, Albert, Charles, Oscar). This may have contributed to Sophia getting married in 1891.

Amos Westerhouse married Sophia Meyer on 25 Feb 1891, in Hesper, Eudora, Douglas, Kansas, according to the marriage record found at the Johnson County Courthouse in Olathe, Johnson, Kansas. Amos and Sophia initially settled on the farm of Henry and Anna Eggers.  They rented a home and farmed the Eggers' land, while Sophia helped Anna with chores around the home.

Amos Westerhouse and Sophia Meyer marriage license - 14 Feb 1891

Sophia Meyer and Amos Westerhouse Wedding - 25 Feb 1891

Amos and Sophia purchased an 80-acre farm after many years of renting for $4500 on 23 Dec 1905.  It was located at 2372 N. 900 Road in the Captain Creek area of Eudora, Douglas, Kansas.  The first three children, Amos Jr, Ethel, Oscar were born at the rented farm and their twins, Allen and Alvin, were born at the purchased farm. 

Captain Creek farm (L-R) Ethel, Sophia, Oscar, Amos Sr, Amos Jr

Amos Westerhouse Sr eighty-acre Eudora farm - 2017

Amos and Sophia hobnobbed with wealthy Eudora families, including the Lothholzes and Corys.  Amos always said, "Use the best board first; then you have the best board last."  The idea was that if you use a good board when you need it, then it will still be good even after a long time, but if you use an old board, it likely won't last, and the not used new board will deteriorate over time.

During February 1909, Amos was appointed to be one of the five Eudora Road Overseers and served for many years.  While an Overseer, he helped construct many bridges and inscribed his initials on many of them.  Additionally, Amos built hundreds of cisterns for local farmers from a form he created.  During 1926, Amos retired from farming and serving as a Eudora Road Overseer.  

After retiring, Amos and Sophia bought a home located at 110 East 7th Street in Eudora, Douglas, Kansas and moved into town.  Their oldest son, Amos Jr, moved onto the family farm with his family.  Living on 7th street in Eudora, Amos and Sophia was just a block west of their other son, Oscar, at 702 Church Street.  

Sitting (L-R), Amos Sr and Sophia, Standing (L-R) Allen, Oscar, Ethel, Amos Jr, Alvin

Sophia became ill during 1932 with leukemia and passed away at their home after a long illness.

Sophia Westerhouse obituary (Lawrence Journal World) 27 Jan 1932

After Sophia's death, Amos switched living between his children's homes.  He did not cook, so he did not eat healthy after Sophia died.  Amos lived on the porch of his home when his granddaughter, Beverly Westerhouse Joslin, and her newlywed husband, Donald Joslin, rented part of the house. He also lived in the garage apartment at Oscar & Margaret's and Amos Jr's farmhouse.

During November 1950, Amos was admitted to Lawrence Memorial Hospital after having a stroke and fed thru a feeding tube for thirty-eight days.  His four children split time being at the hospital taking care of their father.  He had a second stroke and died from a cerebral hemorrhage.

Amos Westerhouse obituary (Lawrence Daily Journal World) - 19 Dec 1950

Amos Westerhouse funeral card - 20 Dec 1950

Sophia Westerhouse gravestone at Memorial Park Cemetery (Lawrence, Kansas)

Amos Westerhouse gravestone at Memorial Park Cemetery (Lawrence, Kansas)

Story of Edward Westerhouse & Katherine Breithaupt, William Westerhouse, and Aurelia Westerhouse

Peter and Anna Westerhouse, middle son was Edward Westerhouse. At the age of five months, Edward moved with his parents and siblings from Lexington, Missouri to Eudora, Kansas Feb 1863.

Edward Westerhouse married Katherine Breithaupt on 11 Dec 1888, in Eudora, Douglas, Kansas, according to the marriage record found at the Douglas County Courthouse.

 Edward Westerhouse and Katherine Breithaupt marriage license - 8 Dec 1888

Edward and Katie settled on a farm in the Hesper community of Eudora, Douglas, Kansas, near the farm of Ben and Emma Foust. They had two children, Elmer born 3 Oct 1899 and Inez born 5 Feb 1892. Katherine died 27 May 1926 at the age of 58. 

Katie Westerhouse obituary (Lawrence Daily Journal World) - 14 Jun 1926

Edward continued to live at the farm for many years. He went to live with his daughter, Inez Westerhouse Griffin, for the last seven months of his life in Baldwin City, Douglas, Kansas and died 27 Feb 1945, based on his obituary. 

Edward Westerhouse obituary (Lawrence Daily Journal World) - 27 Feb 1945

Edward and Katherine Westerhouse shared gravestone at Hesper Friends Church Cemetery (Hesper, Kansas)

Katie Westerhouse gravestone at Hesper Friends Church Cemetery (Hesper, Kansas)

Edward Westerhouse gravestone at Hesper Friends Church Cemetery (Hesper, Kansas)

Edward and Katie Westerhouse son, Elmer Westerhouse married Elsie Opah Setzer 27 Sep 1916 at their home. By the 1920s Elmer and Elsie were both schoolteachers in Arcadia and Monrovia in Los Angeles County, California. Based on Elmer’s WW2 draft registration, they lived at 41 Forest Ave in Arcadia. Elsie died 7 May 1954 in Arcadia and Elmer died 15 Dec1958 in Arcadia. They are buried at the Live Oak Memorial Park Cemetery, Monrovia, Los Angeles, California.

Elmer and Elsie Westerhouse gravestone at Live Oak Memorial Park Cemetery (Monrovia, California)

Edward and Katie Westerhouse daughter, Inez Westerhouse married Eugene Albert Griffin 1 Jan 1928 in Topeka, Shawnee, Kansas. They resided in Eudora and Baldwin City. Eugene was a farmer and died 5 Feb 1955 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and is buried at the Hesper Friends Church Cemetery in Hesper. After Eugene’s death, Inez moved to California, living in Arcadia and Glendale. She died 1 Mar 1975 in Glendale and is buried with her husband at the Hesper Friends Church Cemetery in Hesper. 

Now on to William Westerhouse

Another Peter and Anna Westerhouse, middle son was William Westerhouse. William was born 14 Sep 1866 on Peter and Anna Westerhouse farm in Eudora, Douglas, Kansas, based on his death certificate. He never married and went by the names of Bill or Willie.  He lived with Peter and Anna Westerhouse and later Anna and Henry Eggers being a farm laborer, based on state and federal census. After Henry Eggers died, in 1908, William lived with his brother, Amos Westerhouse in the 1910s and later with brother, Edward Westerhouse in the 1920s.

William Westerhouse

Dec 1979, I interviewed, Amos Westerhouse Jr, William's nephew, about the burial. Amos described digging a grave for the bachelor William and said that he had placed the headstone at the foot of Willie's body instead of at his head.

William Westerhouse obituary (Lawrence Daily Journal World) - 14 Jun 1928

William Westerhouse obituary (Lawrence Daily Journal World) - 7 Jun 1928

William Westerhouse gravestone at Deay Cemetery (Eudora, Kansas)

Now on to Aurelia Westerhouse

Peter and Anna Westerhouse, youngest daughter was Aurelia Westerhouse. She may have been born about 1869, based on the 1870 federal census from Eudora, Douglas, Kansas, listing Aurelia as one years old and born in Kansas. 

1870 federal census for Eudora, Douglas, Kansas (Peter Westerhouse household)

This was the only record ever found about her.  It is assumed she died between 1870 and 1875 in Eudora, Kansas, as she was not listed with the family in the 1875 Kansas state census from Eudora, Douglas, Kansas.  

1875 Kansas state census for Eudora, Douglas, Kansas (Peter Westerhouse household)