Emil Bobby was born January 5, 1885 in Koust, Ukrainia. Koust is a seaport on the Black Sea near Odessa. Emil's last name was changed when he arrived in Canada because he did not know how to read or write English. His Russian name was something like "Bobala", according to Emil, exact spelling unknown. His parent's names were John and Martha. He had four brothers; Sam, John, Obinaus and Jim and two sisters; Marie and Tecla.

Emil served in the Russian military in the Artillery section for about 6 months in 1913. He left Russia alone after escaping the Russian Army. He could speak many languages, including Russian, Yiddish, Polish, German and Bohemian. He had to learn to speak English when he arrived in Nova Scotia, Canada where he worked in an iron factory. Then he went to British Columbia, Canada to look for gold. He entered the United States in about 1915 through Spokane, Washington, went to Montana, then Hebron and Donnabrook, North Dakota.

On June 5, 1917, Hebron, Morton, North Dakota, Emil was a farmer employed by Henry Elmer. He enlisted in the U. S. Army at Mandan, North Dakota on June 27, 1918. He was discharged November 19, 1918 of the same year by reason of physical deficiency due to an irritable heart that existed prior to enlistment. He was a private with the Surgeon General's Certificate of disability at 50%.

He went to St. Paul, Minnesota and worked in a creamery, making butter. He later went to work for a farmer near Aberdeen, South Dakota. He moved to Ipswich, South Dakota and married Amelia Schwichtenberg on October 15, 1921. They were married by W. P. Tate Justice of the Peace. Amelia was a member of the Lutheran church and Emil was a Catholic, probably Eastern Orthodox originally.

Emil and Amelia were blessed with seven children in spite of Amelia's ill health most of their married life. She suffered from bi-polar disorder which took a huge toll on their family life.

Their firstborn , Raymond Emil was born in 1922 and was given up for adoption at 4 month of age to James and Florence W. Doud who changed his name to James Desmond Doud.

Emil and Amelia moved to Sisston where they rented a farm on a half-share basis and stayed there for two years. Emil sold his half-share and moved the family back to Ipswich. He purchased land, cattle, horses, etc. so he could farm.

Emil was also a horse trader and was involved in real estate. He also operated the Ipswich Rooming House.

A daughter, Pauline was born in 1931 and given to Julius and Melba Hardt 1 and a half years of age. Amelia was able to raise the other five children herself.

Emil and Amelia retired to Ipswich and moved into the Rooming House. The Rooming House building was destroyed by fire in 1975 and again in 1978. Emil lived in a new duplex apartment house built on the same location.

Emil died May 18 1884 at the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Ipswich, Edmunds, South Dakota. He was 99 years, 4 months, 14 days old at his death.

Note: There are discrepancies in birthdate from U. S. documents which say January 1, 1889, January 5, 1889 and his obituary and funeral card which list the above date. I believe the 1885 date to be the correct year as his children used this date at his death. He used the 1889 date on WWI documents and his Social Security record.

Emil Bobby (1885)