NEGenWeb Project
Hall County

 

THEODORE P. BOEHM, a prominent citizen of Hall County, Nebraska, was born in Grand Island, March 17, 1875. While united public effort is doubtless the greatest force in the development of a community, a most essential factor is the solid, well informed, dependable business man who labors not only in his own interest but with the wider vision of a good, reliable citizen. Grand Island has such men and some of these are native sons. A representative example is found in Theodore P. Boehm, who for a number of years was an efficient and trustworthy public official of the county.

The parents of Mr. Boehm, George and Catherine Boehm, were natives of Germany who came to the United States in childhood. They were married in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, and they became the parents of six children; one died in infancy; Mrs. Buechler, of Grand Island; Mrs. C. H. Menck, deceased; Theodore P.; Fred J., cashier of a bank at Columbus, Nebraska; and Adolph T. The father learned the brewing business and after leaving St. Louis went to Omaha, where he was foreman and manager for Fred Krug's brewery. The father came to Grand Island in 1870 and operated his own brewery here during the remainder of his life. He died here at the early age of thirty-six years. He was a Democrat in politics and belonged to the Lutheran church. His widow, the mother of Theodore P. Boehm, subsequently was married to Andrew Ott and three children were born to that union, two of whom survive: Otto O., head salesman at the Wolbach & Sons Clothing department; and Walter, who is employed in the Union Pacific shops at Grand Island.

Theodore P. Boehm had excellent educational training, attending the public schools, Grand Island College and Lincoln Normal University. His first business experience was as a clerk in a grocery store in Grand Island. He was ambitious and this led to his taking a civil service examination which enable him to take a position in the Grand Island post offece, and for the next four years he was a clerk in the general delivery division. At that time he was appointed a clerk in the office of the county clerk of Hall County. He served in this capacity for four years, during this time winning the confudence of his associates and officials generally and making many warm personal friends. He was then elected county treasurer and served two terms, having been elected the second time without opposition. Public approval was still further evidenced by his election later to the office of county commissioner where he seved two years on that board. In the meanwhile, when he retired form theoffice of county treasurer, he embarked in the real estate and insurance business. In these lines he has become one of the leading men of the county. During the past year he has done also a large land business in northeastern Colorado. He still takes a hearty interest in politics, believing this to be the duty of citizenship. He was manager for Hon. Silas R. Barton, Republican, in his campaign for Congress. Mr. Boehm has done his part in forwarding war work and is well qualified to do so as he was a soldier himself in the Spanish-American war. At present he is serving as a member of the Grand Island school board.

Mr. Boehm married, June 20, 1901, Miss Evelyn Scott, who was born at Hardy, Nebraska, a daughter of Edward Scott, an old settler and farmer of Nuckols County. They have three children: Kenneth S., Keith S. and Theodore P. The family belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Boehm is a member of the Modern Woodmen, of the Elks and of other local organizations.

Transcribed by Kaylynn