Albert Peter Boock: Renaissance Man & Family Historian

by Jim Graupner

Charles Dicken's seemed to have it right; so many of the incidental connections in life seem to circle around to have significant impact later on. No one could have been more instrumental in setting things in motion than New Ulm's First Citizen, Albert Peter Boock. That assertion will only be posited in this short article, but substantial attention needs to be given this extraordinary figure.

When I began my family history avocation, I dedicated my efforts to the unsurpassed character of Wilhelmine Plath Boock. Equaled in character and energy was her eldest son, Albert Peter: scholar, social butterfly, businessman, humorist, musician, philanthropist, uncle extraordinaire, public servant, world traveler, family diplomat, man of rare humility.

It was Uncle A.P. who provide me with real substance for my nascent efforts at gathering information for a family history, by providing me with a genealogy for the Boock side of the family. Interestingly, in the same year that he shared with me his anscestor chart, a Walter Boock of California, happened to stop by Emma and A.P. Boock's home at 318 North Minnesota, to start his own ancestral journey of discovery.

Others, like Howard Aufderheide, in 1959, had urged Grandpa Arthur Boock to write the history of the New Ulm families; I had also pressured Grandpa Arthur and Grandma Emma for genealogical information. To their credit, although neither ever wrote family history per se, they did write letters to generous relatives who provided the much-desired information. A. P. was one of those who had a real passion about researching the past, but making personal connections in the present with relatives in the United States and in Germany.

Two letters with which I would like to introduce Albert Peter Boock, are of his hand from 1960. A.P. scopes out his itinerary for travels to Los Angeles, the Hawaiian Islands, Australia, and back to Los Angeles, where he planned to visit the Ruemkes. I find it fascinating that there are vague references to both Julie Harris Humes' family and our ["Gertrude's brood"] family, as well as Norbert's family, into which family historian Darcy Kleeman Boock married.]

New Ulm, Minn. March 22, 1960.
Dear Art:

Enjoyed your letter of 3/13. Leaving on my Polynesian Circle Tour tomorrow. Fly from Mpls. 11:30 P.M. arrive Los Angeles Thursday A.M. 5:30. Will be met at the airport by the tour leader of our African Safari. They stage a small reunion at Long Beach Friday 3/25--We fly to Hawiian Islands Sat. 3/26. On the way home expect to stay over to visit Em T, Elmer, Edgar and family. May also see Mrs. Gust. Hillemann. Geo & Esther from Madison called Saturday and Sunday on the Walter Hellmanns and us. Left for Mpls Sunday afternoon. Irwin Schmidt is home from the hospital, but we have no encouraging news.

After the cold wave in Minnesota and Wisconsin, the climate in the "Down Under" region will be very enjoyable.

Glad to note Gertrude & her brood are so industrious and ambitious. Hope Norbert will land a connection to his liking and with good remuneration.

Bert & I are as well as can be expected & hope you & yours are in good health, happy and contented.

Cordially, A.P.

A. P.'s second letter, written to Arthur Boock 26 May 1960, notes that he is "sending herewith the Boock family tree" and "a copy of a photo of Josias Boock" he received from Olivia Raabe, from the "old August Raabe photo album." These items are in my possession.

[Portrait of Josias Boock, born in Borghorst, 18 April 1811. Married to Wilhelmine nee Theede, born 19 october, 1815. Photo by W. Zacharias, Kiel, Schleswig Holstein. Notation in A. P. Boock's hand. Josias was Christian Friedrich's oldest sibling by 15 years; our Great, Great Uncle]

[A.P. Boock's Boock Family Tree and a Family Tree made for A. L. Boock. At the bottom of these letters, find a scan of the original response to, presumably, a heraldry inquiry from A. P. Boock to Ferdinand Seeger, M.D. , a genealogical searcher, from New York.]

New Ulm, Minn., May 26, 1960.

Mr. A.L. Boock,

Spencer, Wisconsin.

Dear Art:

In comliance with your letter of the 17th I am sending herewith the Boock family tree as far as I have been able to develop it- also a copy of a photo of Josias Boock which I got from Olivia Raabe, evidently left in the old August Raabe photo album by Herman's mother, Elizabeth Boock, sister of Christ & John H Boock. Sorry I could not be at John W[eddendorf]'s funeral, as I would have been interested in meeting all the relatives mentioned by you. I met Estella and Bertha Schmidt as well as Renee and her husband at the reunion we had a Elmer's place. Of course Emma T, Edgar & wife [Gladys] with their daughter [Carol] and grand daughter [Julie] were there. [L: Phil and Renee Schmidt Sessions (daughter of Irwin & Estelle Cordes Schmidt), Estelle, Edgar, Nelle Rae Cordes, Bertha Schmidt, Emma T. Boock Ruemke, AP Boock, Gladys Bille Ruemke, Carol Ruemke Harris, and young Julie Harris (Humes).]

When you complete your investigation of the Plath family tree, I shall be pleased to receive a copy.

Am now planning that trip to Alaska- altho no definite date has been determined, so can not promise to attend the formal dedication of your new bank building- however shall be pleased to run over sometime this summer- or as soon as I get a new or different car. My tires are about shot, but the motor and other mechanism are O.K. 6 by 16 tires are getting scarce.

George and Hertha were here for a brief call a few days ago. Geo. had some Mission Board biz. he expects to come again in June, when there will be another Mission convention or something. He wants to be relieved of his job- as he is only filling out the unexpired term of Bill Stelljes.

Glad to note your tribe is in good health and hop Gert will not undertake too much and ruin her health.

Cordially, A.P.

Reply, presumably to A. P. Boock, from Ferdinand Seeger, M. D., genealogist, New York, 14 December 1916, concerning a Boock "coat of arms."