The Bosses

Andrew Boss grew up on a farm but when he was out of high school he was encouraged to go to the School of Agriculture in St. Paul. The family didn’t know how it would be possible since he was the oldest of his brothers and felt that he was needed to help with the farm work. He did go and many stories about him can be found in your copy of the book that was written about him after his death. Then thirty years after his death the University named the Dairy Building on the Ag campus for him.  Jean and I went by there on our way from Alaska back to Washington D. C. Grandfather was the only professor ever at the University of Minnesota without an earned Bachelor degree. He had several honorary doctorates and he was a wonderful leader and teacher. He established many of the departments in the University College of Agriculture, and then turned them over to someone else while he went to fill another need.

He and his brother William Boss, who was also professor in engineering at University of Minnesota, School of Agriculture built houses across the street from each other. There was no electricity available when they built the houses but they put in the wiring so when the power lines, which were at the bottom of the hill were brought into the area, they were ready to connect.

Also on the way back from Alaska with Jean, we went by to see his house and the bank of which he was instrumental in starting. Uncle Will was an inventor and formed the Specialty Manufacturing Company. He designed and made the desktop holders for the 3 M company that held Scotch Tape.

He also invented the original Grass catcher for the push mowers. When we moved to the manse in Delta, Colorado, John found one of the catchers in the garage and it was made at Specialty Manufacturing Company in Minnesota.

Evalina was a stay at home mother who helped raise five wonderful children and took care of a 2 story + basement house and saw to the entertaining that was needed for her husband’s position. I remember how appalled I was when I saw her putting several spoonfuls of sugar in her orange juice she had each morning at breakfast. I was told that she had low blood sugar and needed to do that. (Unfortunately it was later that it was discovered that wasn’t the way to treat low blood sugar).

Andrew and Evalina Boss had 5 children all of whom became adults. Hazel was the oldest. She came to see our family once in Cortez and we took her to Mesa Verde. She’s the one when asked if she wanted to sit by the window insisted that “ I’m close enough to that drop off right here in the middle.” Your grandmother, Elna was next in line. Then Aunt Mabel whom I believe you all knew. She was the maiden aunt and school teacher and principal. Then came the two boys, Kenneth whom I never knew very well and Wallace who was the Vice President of the First National Bank in St. Paul and then went on to be President of the St. Anthony Park Bank which my Grandfather had helped to start.