America Waldo Bogle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
America Waldo Bogle
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| Born | June 2, 1844 Missouri, US
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| Died | December 28, 1903 Walla Walla, Washington, US
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| Known for | Early pioneer of the Oregon Territory |
America Waldo Bogle (June 2, 1844 – December 28, 1903) was an important pioneer in the early days of the Oregon Territory. She and her husband, Richard Arthur Bogle, were among the very first Black families to settle in Walla Walla, Washington.
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America's Early Life
America Waldo was born in Missouri on June 2, 1844. Her mother was an enslaved person, and her father was a white man.
In 1854, America traveled by wagon train to Oregon. She went with Avarilla Waldo, the widow of a farmer named John Waldo, and several other African Americans. They spent the winter near Salem with Avarilla's brother-in-law, Daniel Waldo.
In the spring of 1855, they moved south to Douglas County. There, Avarilla started a farm using a special law called the Donation Land Claim Act. America stayed in the Roseburg area for five years. During this time, she met Richard Arthur Bogle, who worked as a barber in Roseburg.
In 1861, America returned to Salem with Avarilla. She lived with the Daniel Waldo family until she got married. Daniel Waldo was an important person in Oregon's early government. He may have helped raise America and acted like a father to her. In 1862, Richard Bogle moved to Walla Walla, Washington. He returned to Oregon briefly to get ready for his marriage to America.
A Special Wedding in Oregon
On January 1, 1863, America Waldo married Richard Arthur Bogle in Salem, Oregon. America was 18 years old. Richard was a free Black man who was born in Jamaica.
Their wedding day was very special. It was the same day that President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation went into effect. This important document declared many enslaved people free.
The wedding was also special because both white and Black guests attended. This was unusual at a time when racial segregation (keeping races separate) was common. Reverend Obed Dickinson, who was against slavery, led the ceremony. Daniel Waldo openly supported the wedding. He even gave America and Richard valuable gifts to help them start their new home.
Not everyone was happy about the wedding. A local newspaper editor named Asahel Bush called it "shameful." He was upset that Black and white people were together at the event. However, another newspaper, The Oregonian, disagreed with Bush. They said it was wrong to criticize America and her wedding. News of the wedding even reached the San Francisco Bulletin. This newspaper reported that "distinguished white ladies and gentlemen" attended the wedding and joined in the celebration.
Life in Walla Walla, Washington
After their wedding, the Bogles settled in Walla Walla, Washington. Richard continued his work as a barber. They also started a large 200-acre ranch.
America Waldo Bogle was known as a kind and caring person. She was famous for helping people who were poor or suffering. She passed away in Walla Walla on December 28, 1903. Her husband, Richard, died about a year later on November 22, 1904.
On the day of America's funeral, all the barbershops in Walla Walla closed early. This showed how much respect the barbers had for Mrs. Richard A. Bogle. America and Richard had eight children together. Sadly, three of their older children died between 1876 and 1878. Their five surviving children were Arthur, Warren, Belle, Katherine, and Waldo. The sons followed their father's path and became barbers too.
A Lasting Legacy
America and Richard Bogle believed in hard work and helping their community. Their children and grandchildren continued this important legacy.
- Their daughter-in-law, Bonnie Bogle (1885-1953), wrote for a newspaper. She was also very active in the civil rights and women's right to vote movements in Portland.
- Their granddaughter-in-law, Kathryn Hall Bogle (1906-2003), was a social worker, activist, and journalist in Portland.
- Their great-grandson, Richard "Dick" Bogle, became a television news reporter. He was also the second African-American city commissioner in Portland, Oregon.
In 2023, the Bush House Museum in Salem, Oregon, honored America Waldo Bogle. This museum is named after the newspaper editor Asahel Bush, who had criticized America's wedding. One room of the museum is now called the America Waldo Bogle Gallery.
The gallery features paintings by Portland artist Jeremy Okai Davis. These paintings show portraits of early Black pioneers in Oregon, including one of America and her family. The gallery was named after America because the stories of Black women from the 1800s are rarely told. This is especially true when compared to the stories of powerful men like Asahel Bush.
The museum noted that Asahel Bush would likely not have invited America Waldo Bogle into his home. He did not think their lives were important. But now, the museum celebrates her story, showing that her legacy is important and remembered.
