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)