Alexander William Bonnycastle1

#73, (1883 - 1974)
FatherHarold John Bonnycastle1 (1851 - 1917)
MotherFanny Jane Skinner1 (1859 - 1931)
Relationship2nd great-grandson of John Bonnycastle
Pedigree
Charts5 Generations of Descendants of Sir Richard Henry Bonnycastle (1791-1847)
Alexander William Bonnycastle
Photo from his Petition for Naturalization, 1939

Family

Faye Boesenberg (1895 - 1966)
Child

Life Events

OccupationAlexander William Bonnycastle was a farm laborer (1901), railway passenger agent (1910), farmer (1918), steam railroad passenger agent (1930.) 
BirthHe was born on 26 Jul 1883 in Katepwa, North West Territories (Saskatchewan).2,1 
(with Parents) 1891 CensusAlexander Bonnycastle appeared on the 1891 Census of Qu'Appelle, Assiniboia, Northwest Territories with his parents, Harold John Bonnycastle and Fanny Jane Skinner. He was 7, born in NWT, parents born in Ontario, and religion Church of England.3 
ImmigrationHe immigrated to the United States with his family in 1896.4 
(with Parents) 1900 CensusAleck W Bonnycastle appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Moreno Township, Riverside County, California with his parents. He was 16, born in July 1883 in Canada and worked as a Farm laborer.5 
1910 CensusAlexander Wm Bonniecastle [sic] appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, at 131 1/2 South Broadway, enumerated 22 Apr 1910. He was 26, single, born in English Canada, as were his parents, was an alien who immigrated in 1896, and he worked as a Railway Passenger Agent.4 
(Informant) DeathAlexander William Bonnycastle registered the 1917 death of his father Harold John Bonnycastle in Chilliwack, British Columbia. He was recorded as A.W. Bonnycastle of Los Angeles, CA.6 
(Mentioned) ObituaryHe was mentioned in Harold John Bonnycastle's 1917 obituary as son Mr. A.W. Bonnycastle of Los Angeles, Cal.7 
MilitaryAlexander William Bonnycastle completed his World War 1 Draft Registration card on 12 Sep 1918 in Hidalgo County, Texas. Information from the card: permanent address Mission, Hidalgo, Texas, age 35, birthdate July 26, 1883, white, native born, citizen by father's naturalization before registrant's majority, farmer employed at Mission, Hidalgo, Texas, nearest relative: mother, Mrs H J Bonnycastle, Chilliwack, BC, Canada, signed. Description: medium height, medium build, hazel eyes, brown hair [Note: his brother was also in Hidalgo].8 
MarriageHe married Faye Boesenberg on 28 Sep 1921 in Los Angeles, California.9
 
Item On 19 Oct 1921 in California, Alexander William Bonnycastle filed his declaration of intention to become a United States citizen. Information on the declaration: Alexander William Bonnycastle, 38, occupation District Freight & Passenger Agent, color white, medium complexion, height 5' 9 1/2", 173 pounds, dark brown hair, and grey eyes. He was born in Indian Head, Canada, 26th July 1883, and now resides at 929 1/2 W. Kensington Rd, Los Angeles. He emigrated from Mission Jct, Canada on the Northern Pacific Railway, arriving at Sumas, Washington the 21st December 1896, and his last Canadian residence was Indian Head. His wife is Faye, who was born at Rockport, Missouri.
[Note: a declaration of intention is only good for 7 years and it appears that he did not complete the process...there was another declaration filed in 1936]10
Alexander William Bonnycastle
Declaration of Intention, 1921
Residence In 1927, Alexander William Bonnycastle lived in Glendale, California.11 
1930 CensusAlexander W and Faye Bonnycastle appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Glendale, Los Angeles County, California, at 1168 Ruberta Avenue, enumerated 11 Apr 1930. They owned a house worth $6000 (typical for the neighborhood) and had a radio set. Alexander was 46, first married at 37, born in English Canada, as were his parents, had filed his declaration of intention to become a citizen, immigrated in 1896, and was an Agent for the Steam Railroad. He was not a veteran. Faye was 35, first married at 26, born in Missouri, father born in Illinois, mother in Missouri. Their son William Lee was listed as living with them.12 
Item On 3 Oct 1936 in California, Alexander William Bonnycastle again filed a declaration of intention to become a United States citizen. Information on the declaration: Alexander William Bonnycastle, residence 1168 Ruberta St, Glendale, California, occupation Gen. Frt. & Pass. Agt., age 53, color white, dark complexion, gray eyes, gray hair, 5' 9 1/2", 172 pounds, English race, British nationality, born 7/26/83 in Indian Head, Canada. His wife was Faye F., born at Rockport, Mo. on 2/25/93, and they were married 9/28/21 at Los Angeles. He had one child, William L., born 7/1/24, Los Angeles. He stated that he previously made a declaration of intention about 1921. He emigrated from Indian Head, Canada and entered the U.S. at Sumas, Washington on 12/20/96 on the Northern Pacific R.R. [There are two copies of this form, one of which has his photograph]10 
.10
Alexander William Bonnycastle
Declaration of Intention, 1936
Item On 18 Aug 1939 in District Court of the U.S., Los Angeles, California, Alexander William Bonnycastle completed his petition for naturalization.10           
Alexander William Bonnycastle
Petition for Naturalization, 1939
Item On 24 Nov 1939, Alexander William Bonnycastle signed his oath of allegiance to the U.S.10 
1940 CensusAlexander W and Faye appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Glendale, Los Angeles County, California, at 1168 Ruberta Avenue. Faye supplied the information. Alexander was 56, had 2 years of high school education, was born in Canada, naturalized. He was a general passenger agent for the steam railroad, working 44 hours the week prior to the census and 52 weeks in 1939 for $4200. Faye was 45, born in Missouri, had four years of high school. They lived in the same house as in 1935 and had one son, William (15.)13 
DeathHe died on 19 Apr 1974 in Garden Grove, Orange County, California, aged 90.14,2 
Last Edited16 Apr 2014

Citations

  1. Saskatchewan Vital Statistics Indexes to Births more than 100 years ago, viewed online at eHealth Saskatchewan. Reg No 11700 (Alexander William, 1883/7/26, Katepwa, s/o Fanny Jane Skinner & Harold John Bonnycastle).
  2. California Death Index, 1940-1997, compiled by State of California, Sacramento. Text index at Ancestry and FamilySearch.
  3. 1891 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. The Territories, Assiniboia East (198), Qu'Appelle (b-11), page 4 [poor image].
  4. 1910 Federal Census for United States, California, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles Precinct 49, Roll T624_84, ED 94, Page 5A. Image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  5. 1900 Federal Census for United States, California, Riverside County, Morena, Roll T623_96, ED 216, Page 1A. Image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  6. British Columbia Death Registration. Harold John Bonnycastle, #17-09-095431.
  7. Obituary of Harold John Bonnycastle in Chilliwack Progress, 13 Sept 1917 (Bennett Library, Simon Fraser University, microfilm).
  8. Ancestry.com databases, image of WW 1 Draft Registration Card.
  9. Naturalization papers of Fay Bonnycastle, dated 1939, Southern District of California District Court (images online at Footnote.com.
  10. Naturalization papers of Alexander William Bonnycastle, dated 1921, 1936 & 1939, Southern District of California District Court. Images of documents viewed at Ancestry.com.
  11. Letters from Doris Knox, Ontario, to J Kolthammer, dated early 1990s.
  12. 1930 Federal Census for United States, California, Los Angeles County, Glendale, Roll 127, ED 956, Page 10A. Image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  13. United States 1940 Federal Census, California, Los Angeles County, Glendale, ED 19-191, Page 13A.
  14. United States Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, viewed at http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/.