Rose May (Howlett) Dwyer (1877 - 1927)

Born 15 Mar 1877 in Morrisville, Madison, New York, United States

Ancestors

Wife of LeRoy Boast — married 2 Jan 1895 in Eaton, Madison, New York, United States

Wife of John Christopher Dwyer — married 3 Mar 1908 in Syracuse, New York

Descendants

Died 12 Nov 1927 at age 50 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States

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Biography

According to her mother's birthday book, Kittie's given name was Rose May. She did not like the name because her deceased older sister was Rose Ann. She was called Kittie because she was so little. She decided her name should be Kathryn and that is the name that appears on her marriage certificate to John C Dwyer.

Her first husband, LeRoy Boast, died of a heat stroke in May, 1903 leaving her with 5 young children: Leonard, born 1895; Florence, born 1897; Theodore, born 1901; James, born 1902; and LeRoy, born in 1904 after his father's death.

She married John C. Dwyer in 1908. Kittie and John C lived in the Eastwood section in what is now part of the city of Syracuse. Their son John Balch Dwyer was born during the time they lived there.

According to the 1920 Federal Census, the Dwyers had a full house. Her sons Ted, James and LeRoy were with them as well as their son John Balch. Her daughter Florence Boast Edwards, Florence's husband Edward and their baby Robert were also living with them. Her husband John was working as a collector in the insurance industry.

As early as 1919 Kittie's son Leonard moved to Cleveland to manage a shoe store. His brother James also moved there 2 or 3 years laternand worked with him. So when John became involved in selling a correspondence course for accounting, he, Kittie and young John followed Leonard and James to Cleveland in about 1922 because of the opportunities that existed there.

Kittie and John separated. Kittie became ill will high blood pressure and was hospitalized in 1926 and 1927. She had purchased a car and was selling women's wear from house to house. When she became too ill to work and to care for young John, her husband sent his son home to his paternal grandmother, Ellen Lyons Dwyer, in South Glens Falls, New York.

Kittie died on November 12, 1927 in a hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. Her son Leonard said she died of complications from high blood pressure.

Sources

• Boast and Howlett Family Records.

Her mother's (Elizabeth Woodcock Howlett) birthday book.

Her marriage certificate to John C. Dwyer.

Information from conversations with her son Leonard Boast and niece Elizabeth Powlesland.

1900 Federal Census for Dewitt, Onondaga, New York for "Boast" https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7602/images/4114707_00728?pId=49870242

1905 New York State Census for Eaton, Madison, New York, USA https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7364/images/004517674_00094?pId=1559155

New York, County Marriages, 1847-1848; 1908-1936--Marriage to Kittie https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/sources/GMWT-JLN

1920 Federal Census for Dewitt, Onondaga, New York. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6061/images/4442072_00354?pId=61454977

Obituary for Kathryn "Kittie" Howlett Dwyer

1892 New York State Census for DeRuyter, Madison, New York, USA https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939N-8P9F-YV?i=5&cc=1529100

New York State Marriage Index, 1881-1967 https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61632/images/48722_556199-00421?pId=1190590

Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9PK4-G33?i=2606&cc=1307272