21. John William⁴ Boak (Thomas³, John², Robert¹ James) was born in Milton, Halton Co, Ontario, Canada October 21, 1859. John died September 18, 1952 in Ellery Twp, Chautauqua Co, NY, at 92 years of age. His body was interred September 20, 1952 in Fluvanna, Chautauqua Co., NY.

He married Ida Helen Ayers in Ellery Twp, Chautauqua Co, NY, August 1, 1888. Ida was born in Jamestown, Chautauqua Co, NY ? January 4, 1860. Ida was the daughter of James Dana Ayers and Sophronia Abyrene Brownell. Ida died May 29, 1927 in Ellery Twp, Chautauqua Co, NY, at 67 years of age. Her body was interred May 31, 1927 in Fluvanna, Chautauqua Co., NY.

John immigrated, 1884. Destination: destination unknown. JWB was buried in the BOAK plot in the Fluvanna, NY Cemetery where all of his family members were buried. JWB was an expert cattleman, trained by his father and was his close associate in the activity. The elder Boak was knowledgeable from his experience in England. The cattle they raised in Canada were of championship caliber and were shown by them at fairs and exhibitions there and in the United States. (I have certificates won at these affairs by them.) JWB bcame a naturalized citizen of the US in Sept. 1887. JWB married Ida Ayers who, family legend has it, taught school at the one room school house at the top of the hill where the farm was located. They had five children between 1890 and 1898. When we spent summers on the farm (1923-1932), it was a very successful place with from 30 to 40 cows milking plus the necessary accompanying stock. Cream was sold in Jamestown on a regular route served three days per week, pigs consumed the skim milk, chickens provided eggs sold to the route, etc. Grandpa lived until the eve of his 93rd birthday and was "with it" to the end.

John William Boak and Ida Helen Ayers had the following children:

+ 23 i. Thomas Isaac Slack⁵ Boak was born January 23, 1890.

24 ii. Hattie Elenor Boak was born in Ellery Twp, Chautauqua Co, NY September 9, 1891. Hattie died May 28, 1987 in Ellery Twp, Chautauqua Co, NY, at 95 years of age. Her body was interred May 30, 1987 in Fluvanna, Chautauqua Co., NY. Occupation: occupation unknown in School Teacher. Hattie Boak was buried in the BOAK plot in the Fluvanna Cemetery where most of her family members are buried. HEB lived a life of accomplishment and contribution. She attended Fredonia Normal School and taught school in the Jamestown High School, commercial subjects, for more than 40 years. Long after she retired she was visited and rembembered by her many students who came to visit her, call on , or write to her. For many summers she went to Columbia University to get advance training and I assume, though don't have the facts, that she gained her college degree. From 1932 on she spent the summers on the farm and did the work of managing the household since her sisters had left and her mother had died. Following the death of her father in 1952 and Bill in 1968 she continued to live on the family farm for some time. She eventually sold the place, keeping a 15 acre plot which included the site of the old school, built a modern home where she lived until she went to a nursing home where she died at age 96. She believed in cultivation of the intellect and encouraged her nephews and nieces in every way she could devise.

25 iii. William Ellis Watson Boak was born in Ellery Twp, Chautauqua Co, NY July 9, 1894. William died July 11, 1968 in Ellery Twp, Chautauqua Co., NY, at 74 years of age. His body was interred July 13, 1968 in Fluvanna, Chautauqua Co., NY. Occupation: occupation unknown in Farmer. William Boak was buried in the BOAK plot in the Fluvanna Cemetery where most of hit family is buried. Uncle Billy was a hard working farmer who could do any job that you could imagine a farmer would have to do. He was congenial, liked to be with people, but probably never spent more than five nights away from the farm where he was born and died. He pretty much relied on his father for direction (which he accpted) and for whom he had great respect. It is not improbable that he literally worked himself to death, i. e. just wore himself out. He went to Jamestown High School but it is my impression that he never completed the course. He was tough on Chuck and me at times during our summers at the farm and occasionally ran into trouble with his father as a result! He always introduced us to his friends as "Tommy's boys."

26 iv. Sarah Ann Margaret Boak was born in Ellery Twp, Chautauqua Co, NY June 7, 1896. Sarah died November 21, 1985 in Ellery Twp, Chautauqua Co, NY, at 89 years of age. Her body was interred November 23, 1985 in Fluvanna, Chautauqua Co., NY. She married David S. Lawson in unknown, November 21, 1927. Burial was in the Lawson family plot in the Fluvanna Cemetery. The plot is adjacent to the Boak family plot. Aunt Margaret was on the farm during some of the summers we were there. She did spend some time with her mother's sister's family in Kansas City and I think was studying some kind of profession. She married Dave Lawson on 11/9/27 and then lived at Bemus Point where we would spend a few days each summer. The Lawsons had two children Jeanne and David. To date they have elected not to participate in this record.

27 v. Mary Abyrene Boak was born in Ellery Twp, Chautauqua Co, NY April 21, 1898. Mary died June 24, 1980 in Hamburg, Erie Co, NY, at 82 years of age. Her body was interred June 25, 1980 in Hamburg, NY. Mary was probably buried in the Hamburg, NY area. No knowledge of where. Mary was the "baby" in the family and was important to her nephews. After her mother died in 1927, Mary took over the work of the household. She was a great cook, made excellent cakes, and doted on Chuck and me. She was active in the Eastern Star and was important in carrying on the Ayers Family reunion after her mother's death in 1927. She was a leader in the family. She married in 1932 and went to the Hamburg, NY area where she established her own family. Two sons, George and Howard, were born to Mary and her husband, Robert Griffey. George was asked to contribute data to this record but never responded.

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