William Bouvy

William Bouvy

William Bouvy, 1886-1975

• Father: Henry Joseph Bouvy b. circa 1837
• Mother: Mary Ann Boyer b. circa 1850

• William Bouvy was born on 9 April 1886 in Indiana.
• Alexander Joseph Bouvy and William Bouvy appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Johnson Township, Knox County, Indiana. Also in the household were brothers Joseph (age 26), Peter (20) and Louis (16), and sister Rose (17).
• He was attending school and working as a farm laborer, according to the 1900 census.
• William Bouvy registered for the draft on 7 September 1918 in Knox County, Indiana, while employed as a photographer by Witte Studio in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Permanent address was Vincennes in Knox County, and nearest relative his brother Alexander J. Bouvy in Vincennes.
• He applied for a passport on 22 January 1919 while living in Buffalo, Erie County, New York. Purpose of the passport was to travel on or about 8 February to Cuba to engage in the photograph business, to return to the US within six months. Passport was issued on 29 January.
• He married Norma Alberta Hoffman, daughter of Albert John Hoffman and Helen Kammerer, on 17 June 1919 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, by license issued 11 June, with Rev. Herman Brezing officiating. Other witness was Howard Rieger. The marriage was witnessed by Dorothy Helen Hoffman.
• A reunion of the Kammerer family was held in 1923 Kammerer family at the home of Helen Kammerer Hoffman, on the occasion of sister Phoebe Kammerer's Frank's visit from her home in Devil's Lake, North Dakota.
• William Bouvy and Norma Alberta Hoffman appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Niagara Falls, New York. Other members of the household included John William Bouvy, Norman Albert Bouvy, Romain Bouvy and Ruth Helen Bouvy.
• He was employed by the refrigerating department of the steam railroad.
• William Bouvy and Norma Alberta Hoffman appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, at 2615 Lockport Road. Other members of the household included John William Bouvy, Norman Albert Bouvy and Ruth Helen Bouvy.
• He was employed as foreman of a fule & ice plant, according to the 1940 census.
• The following appeared on 10 May 1943 in The Niagara Falls Gazette: William Bouvy, of the Lake Ontario Ordnance Works Guard Force, wears on his uniform the service ribbons of two wars, an expert marksman’s medal and, on his collar, the chaplain’s cross. He can hit a dime at 50 yards with his pistol or, when called upon, he can act as a messenger of goodwill as a minister of the gospel.
       Mr. Bouvy came to the Ordnance plant at Modeltown, N. Y., because he had a vision of the service that he could perform as a chaplain of the guard. His regular guard’s duties in the Examination House enable him to meet many employees. His time is also spent calling upon hospital patients and counseling employees that ask his guidance. He is non-sectarian and anxious to perform whatever service he can as a minister. “I like meeting all people and taling with them,” he says, “and hope that we can organize some discussion groups later on.”
       As a hobby, Mr. Bouvy claims music and guns which he has been collecting for many years. He has been a member of the Niagara Falls Veterans’ Revolver and Pistol club for 25 years and, in addition, shoots on Lake Ontario’s pistol range with the Guards. His Army Service record includes the Mexican border campaign and World War service in the Coast Artillery. After the last war, Mr. Bouvy remained in the army for some years and then took up evangelistic work and his ministerial duties.
       At home, he says, the family makes up its own orchestra, each playing a different musical instrument. For a time the family members played together while doing church work in various communities. At present, however, the Bouvy’s are all out for the war effort. One son is on Atlantic convoy duty with the navy, another is with the marines while Mrs. Bouvy is working in war industry and their daughter is attending school and working.
• The following appeared on 9 June 1944 in The Niagara Falls Gazette: Mr. and Mrs. William Bouvy, of 2761 Lockport street, will be "at home" to their friends and relatives Sunday, June 11, from 3 to 8 o'clock, to celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.
• William Bouvy and Norma Alberta Hoffman appeared in the 1951 Long Beach, California, City Directory at 610 Temple av.
• The following appeared on 30 July 1952 in The Niagara Falls Gazette: Lt. and Mrs. Jack Bouvy and family and Mr. and Mrs. William Bouvy, formerly of this city, are vacationing at Sequoia National park, Calif.
• William Bouvy and Norma Alberta Hoffman appeared in the 1969 Long Beach, California, City Directory at 1234 East 63rd. listed as Wm Bouvy (Norma A) retd.
• William Bouvy became a widower at the 4 September 1973 death of his wife Norma Alberta Hoffman.
• The following appeared on 4 September 1973 in the Long Beach Press-Telegram: [Died] Norma A. Bouvey [sic]. Age 79, 12344 E. 63rd Street. Survived by husband, William; daughter, Mrs. Ruth Robertshaw; 2 sons, Jack W. Bouvy and Norman A. Bouvy; 2 sisters, Mrs. Catherine Gleie and Mrs. Dorothy Strowger; 1 brother, John K. Hoffman; 6 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren. Services saturday, 10 a.m., Hunter Mortuary Chapel.
• William Bouvy died on 16 February 1975 at age 88 in Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina.
• The following appeared on 17 February 1975 in The Index-Journal: Other Deaths. Columbia: . . . Rev. William Bouvy. . .

• Last Edited: 18 Oct 2015

• Charts: Descendants of DEXHEIMER Philipp Peter & Maria Agnesa Wagner / Anna Christina Baltz , Descendants of KÄMERER Laurentius & Catharina Schömbs