Janet Boerum

Janet Boerum
Born June 28, 1853
Died June 20, 1890

Photo Credit: Rosa G. Gonzales

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Janet Boerum

Janet (aka Jennet and Jessie) Boerum was the daughter of Samuel McComb (1834-1867) and Annie McComb nee Reid (1833-1905). Her parents came from their native Scotland to south Texas around 1854 according to the family oral history. Janet’s gravestone says she was born 28 June 1853. It may be that the family actually arrived prior to 1853 or that her birth year is incorrect as she maintained that she was born in Texas in the census record of 1880. At any rate Janet lost her father while she was still young as he died in 1867. Janet married John J. Boerum on March 19, 1879 (Nueces County Marriage Records, vol. E page 106) and settled down to raise a family. However, she was only about 37 years old when she died. According to the early death records of the city (Vital Statistics early Book page 52, #554) she died of a liver problem. Her husband, John J. Boerum, came to Corpus Christi in 1870 and had a position with the firm of Doddridge, Lott, & Company. He later moved to Alice, Texas where he had charge of the Sidbury Lumber Co. at that location and subsequently represented the Waters Pierce Oil Company. However, he is best known for his involvement in the early fire department of Corpus Christi. He was a charter member of the volunteer Hook & Ladder Co. of Corpus Christi. For many years he was a delegate to the annual State Convention of the Volunteer Firemen. By 1910 he had attended some 23 consecutive conventions with the exception of one he missed when laid up by a railroad accident. Janet and John Boerum rest beside one another in Old Bayview. They left two son who survived them and were active in south Texas.

Research and transcription: Michael A. Howell