Wow, by their fruits, you will know them. I guess that is also how we remember them. Having replaced Russell so quickly, and reading extensively on his character, or lack thereof, I wonder if Russell died of natural causes?
Anitar
Rutherford Exposed: The Story of Berta and Bonnie
by Farkel 747 Replies latest watchtower scandals
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jayhawk1
I would love to see this info refined and put into a book. It may never be a best seller, but it would be good to have all the same.
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Merry Magdalene
Nothing major here...but I may have found a little more info on the WTS's 1st VP, William I. Mann. From The Herald of Christ's Kingdom, Feb. 1931, published by the Bible Students who seperated from the Watchtower-- "The name of W. I. Mann will be known to many "Herald" readers as one who co-labored with Brother Russell in the early days of his ministry, as he wrote many articles that appeared in The Watch Tower at that time. It seems that for some little time this Brother had been attending the little meetings of our brethren in Rochester, and had enjoyed their studies with them. He had expressed his intention of being present at the meetings during my visit also, but meantime had passed away. The brethren in Rochester were impressed with his sincerity and had enjoyed his brief association with them. "The Lord knoweth them that are His."" (http://www.heraldmag.org/archives/1931_2.htm).....His attending the ecclesia in Rochester just before he died connects up well with this news item from Cornell Alumni News, December 18, 1930-- "'04 BSA—William I. Mann, father of Dean Albert R. Mann '04, died at his home in Rochester, N. Y.,on December 4, at the age of 86. He was born in Dundee, Scotland, coming to this country at an early age. He was mechanical engineer for the Carnegie Steel Company for twenty-five years and for the Jones and Laughlin Company fifteen years. Mr. Mann retired fifteen years ago. Charles W. Mann ?6 is also his son." (dspace.library.cornell.edu/bitstream/1813/3548/23/033_13.pdf)..... I'll leave it to Leo to prove/disprove and I guess we'll have to wait and see if it eventually connects up with anything else or not.
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Merry Magdalene
Also...it appears that the Beth Sarim groundskeeper mentioned earlier, Joe Lubeck, was still alive as of 2004. There is a photo of him and his wife, and a brief telling of his story here, working away at Bethel since 1944-- http://www.misconstruedthoughts.com/newblog_test/archives/2004_06.html
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Lady Lee
wow
some interesting finds
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jgnat
http://www.misconstruedthoughts.com/newblog_test/archives/2004_06.html
Yes, amazing research. I agree it would be lovely to compile the findings in a little book. "Rutherford And His Friends"?
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Merry Magdalene
This TIMELINE is another distillation of all that has gone before, with some supplementation to help give context. Hope the formatting and the links work, hope you enjoy, hope the mistakes are minor, and sorry for everything I left out...
1869..... 08 November--Joseph Franklin Rutherford (JFR) is born to James Calvin Rutherford and Lenora Strickland in Versailles, Missouri.
17 August--Mary Fetzer is born to Dr. John Fetzer and Mary ? in Cooper County, Missouri. There was a Dr. John Fetzer, "a German," who was the Post Surgeon in Waynesville, Missouri during the Civil War. Maybe it was him.
1875..... William Pratt Heath, Sr. is born to Capt. Alfred Taylor Heath and Catherine Quinland Pratt.
1884..... 17 June--Dr. John Fetzer dies, Cooper County, Missouri.
Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society is legally chartered in Pennsylvania.*
1887..... 21 December--August Henry Balko, Jr. is born to A.H. Balko, Sr. and ? in La Grange, Fayette, Texas. His father had emigrated from Germany in 1873.
1890..... ?? December--JFR marries MaryFetzer.
1892..... 05 May--JFR is admitted to the Boonville bar, Missouri.
10 November--JFR's only (known) child is born--Malcolm Cameron Rutherford.
1894..... February--2 female colporteurs sell to JFR 3 copies of the Millenial Dawn. He writes to the Society expressing his appreciation, subscribes to the Watchtower for 1 year, and orders more copies of Millennial Dawn to distribute to others. His letter is printed in the 15 April 1894 Zion's Watchtower.
08 August--JFR cited for contempt of court (Morgan County Book 13, p.251).
1895..... 15 May--JFR cited for contempt of court (Cooper County Book 2, p.376).
1896..... 04 February--JFR again cited for contempt of court (Cooper County Circuit Court Permanent File #5113).
1897..... Charles Taze Russell and his wife, Maria Ackley, seperate.
1900..... First Branch office opens in London, England.*
1901..... 30 October--Berta L. Teel is born to William Teel and Mary R., in Pitt County, North Carolina.
1903..... 17 November--William Pratt Heath, Jr. is born to W.P. Heath, Sr. and SusanTaylor in Atlanta, Georgia.
1904..... 17 July--Bonnie Boyd is born (most likely) to John R. Boyd and Victoria (Rankine or Mann?) in Waterloo, Iowa.
1905..... Blanch Poleson Harbole is born to ? and ? in ?, Missouri.
1906..... JFR is baptized as a Bible Student.
CT and Maria Ackley Russell'strial for legal seperation begins.*
1907.....11 October issue of Zion's WatchtowerJFR is listed as a speaker at the Niagara Falls Convention, Aug.29-Sep.5. He is also invited to Bethel as legal counsel for the Watch Tower Society.
1908..... 15 June issue Zion's Watchtower lists JFR as one of the Pilgrims who made a vow to the Lord.
01 July issue Zion's WatchtowerW.E. Page mentions Sister Rutherford summering in Madison, Wisconsin, and receiving a letter from Sister Hanson of Kansas City, Missouri.
1909..... 15 January Zion's Watchtower has JFR scheduled to speak on 1 March 1909 at the Brooklyn Tabernacle on the Divine Plan of the Ages from a Lawyer's Standpoint. Other issues throughout the year also list speaking engagements at other conventions.
May--JFR is admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar.
April--The WTS HQs is moved to Brooklyn, New York.*
1910..... 1 June Zion's Watchtower talks about "Brother Russell's Foreign Tour." Rutherford accompanies Russell as stenographer on the Mediterranean tour. Sister Rutherford accompanies them as far as Paris.
15 November Zion's Watchtower--Brother J.F. Rutherford's (of Missouri) letter to Russell entitled "Value of Berean Scripture Studies" appears.
August Balko, Jr. is in Houston, Harris, Texas working as a clerk for Producers Oil Company.
1911..... 1 October Zion's Watchtower reports that when the Bible Students had a ten-day session in the Allegheny Mountains, Hon. J.F. Rutherford was chairman of the first half of the convention (Sept. 1-6). He also addressed the meeting.1912..... 15 January Zion's Watchtower has an article by JFR entitled "In Defense of the Truth." Someone had written to the Society wondering if Russell shouldn't have endured persecution rather than resort to the law. This is Rutherford's justification of Russell's suit against the Brooklyn Eagle.
11 July--James Calvin Rutherford dies, Versailles, Missouri.
1913..... JFR and his wife Mary go to Zurich.
Maria Ackley Russell sues CTR for divorce on 4 grounds.*
1914..... JFR kicks up a fuss over the 1913 Convention Report which reports a discourse he made at the Springfield Convention.
WWI. And it's the end of the world as we know it. A 1908 version of Thy Kingdom Come stated "That the deliverance of the saints must take place some time before 1914..." A 1937 edition of the same book stated "That the deliverance of the saints will take place some time after 1914..."
The 1st showing of Photo Drama of Creation in New York.*
I.B.S.A. incorporated in England.*
1915.....Susan Taylor Heath is baptized as a Bible Student.
"According to testimony at the Olin Moyle trial (p.1567 of the transcripts), in 1915 Russell gave Rutherford $1,000 so he could leave New York and set up a law practice in California. David Horowitz also mentions this in his biography of Russell, PASTOR CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL, AN EARLY AMERICAN CHRISTIAN ZIONIST, page 61. According to Horowitz, who is neither a Jehovah's Witness or a Bible Student, Russell considered Rutherford a dangerous man and wanted him as far away as possible." (Athanasius) "Apparently dismissed from Bethel in early 1915, living in Monrovia near Los Angeles, working as a lawyer for a department store in Los Angeles." (James Parkinson, heraldmag.org)
21-24 April--JFR debated Rev. John H. Troy at First Baptist Church in Glendale, California, assisted by his son Malcolm (age 22).
The May 1, 1915 Z.W.T. contains "Judge Rutherford's Spicy Defense" of C.T. Russell; also "A Great Battle in the Ecclesiatical Heavens," a pamphlet written by Rutherford in Defense of Russell. The journal also contains an article entitled "The Rutherford-Troy Debate." (Kenneson) The Nov. 1, 1915 Z.W.T. contains an advertisement for "Judge Rutherford's Defense of Pastor Russell." According to a post by Athanasius, Russel responds: "So far as the Editor is concerned, he has no desire for further debates. He does not favor debating, believing that it rarely accomplishes good and often arouses anger, malice, bitterness, etc., in both speakers and hearers."
1916..... 31 October--Charles Taze Russelldies on a train. He leaves a will dated 1907, setting forth how he wants things to be run after his demise. JFR is informed ...1917..... 06 January JFR is elected President of the WTBTS. It is not a smooth transition.
1916-1919..... The Teels move to Ohio from North Carolina. Berta is in her teens.1917..... August Balko, Jr.'s draft card states that he is a Millenium Dawnist.
The WTS publishes The Finished Mystery.
The U.S. government investigates charges that members of the WTS are corresponding with armed services personnel and encouraging them to dessert.
1918..... It's the end...again.
24 February--Discourse "The World Has Ended--Millions Now Living May Never Die" is first delivered in Los Angeles, California.*
April--the Grand Jury issues an indictment against 9 WTS officers, naming 4 major charges, including sedition, treason, and interfering with the draft. The 9 are Rutherford, William E. Van Amburgh, Robert J. Martin, Frederick H.Robison, George H. Fisher, Clayton P. Woodworth, Giovanni DeCecca, Robert H. Hirsh, and A. Hugh MacMillan.
May--the WTS officers are arrested, arraigned, and released on $2500 bail (except Hirsh--$1000).
June--JFR requests that the government review the book and delete the offending passages. The Government makes a motion to drop all charges against Hirsh. The defense objects, stating that they feared he would become a witness against them. The judge ruled in favor of the government. Hirsh is dismissed. The trial lasted from 6 June to 20 June.
21 June--the WTS officers are convicted of all charges. All are sentenced to 20 years in prison except one, DeCecca, given 10 years on 10 July.
August--Brooklyn HQ is closed. Operations are transferred back to Pittsburgh for over a year.*
Arthur Goux becomes JFR's personal secretary/stenographer.
1919..... December--the WTS officers are released after 18 months in prison. They had appealed, petitioned the Justice Department and the U.S. President, and finally were able to show that there were errors made in the trial, so the Government issued a Writ of Error. The war was over and they felt it would not be worth it to re-try the case.
The Golden Age magazing is started.*
1920..... August Balko, Jr. is back in LaGrange, Fayette, Texas, living in a boarding house and working as an agent for a railroad company (probably the MKT).
William Pratt Heath, Sr. is Vice President of a Coca-Cola bottling plant in Atlanta, Georgia.
Millions Now Living Will Never Die by JFR is published. Look for 1925 to be a BIG year!!!
WTS starts its own printing operations in Brooklyn.*
1921..... August Balko, Jr. marries Blanch Poleson Harbole.
1922..... Radio is first used by JFR in California.*
1923..... Mary Fetzer. takes up residence in Monrovia, California.
Bonnie Boyd and her mother take up residence in Bethel at the invitation of W.E. VanAmburgh. They live on the 7th floor with JFR, Bonnie serving as an additional stenographer, Victoria as housekeeper.
Berta Peel marries Alfred Teale, a machinist, in ?.
April--A party, composed of Brothers JFR, Van Amburgh, Salter, Hughes, Johnson, Hoeveler, and Sisters Van Amburgh, Boyd, Blades, and Johnson went to the European conventions. (Watchtower, 1 July 1924, p.1)
24 February--WTS begins broadcasting over WBBR (scroll down).*
1925..... Arthur Goux, JFR's personal secretary, is transferred to radio broadcasting and replaced by Donald Haslett.
1926..... 9 October--Lenora Strickland Rutherford dies, Versailles, Missouri.
1929..... Robert J. Martin, Watch Tower factory manager, goes to San Diego and transfers into his own name the title for 2 lots purchased by Dr. Albert E. Eckols, chiropractor, then contracts the construction of the mansion that will be known as Beth Sarim--House of Princes (4440 Braeburn Rd., San Diego, CA, Kensington Heights). But only one prince will ever live there--Prince Joseph Barak Balko. Richard S. Requa is the architect.
Princess Bonnie Caroline Balko is born to August Balko, Jr. and Blanch P.in ?, Texas
1926-1929..... JFR winters in San Diego, California under the care of Dr. Alta G. Eckols, chiropractor, father of Albert E.
1929/30..... Susette Heath, sister of W.P. Heath, Jr., marries Eugene Robert Black II, who will be president of the World Bank from 1949-1962, and whose father, E.R. Black I was chairman of the Federal Reserve 1933-1934 and president of the Federal Reserve Bank for 2 terms--13 January-19 December 1933 and 16 August 1934-19 December 1934 (when he died).
1930.....JFR purchases Beth Sarim from Robert J. Martin for $10.
JFR, Bonnie Boyd, Donald Haslett, and the Balkos take up residence in Beth Sarim, San Diego, California. Haslett leaves at some point this year or the next and is replaced by Ed Keller.
William Pratt Heath, Jr. is manager of a Coca-Cola bottling plant in South Carolina and is married to Dorothy Smith, daughter of Mendel Smith, South Carolina legislator, lawyer and orator, and Anna Dixon. His cousin, William S. Heath was president and co-owner of Carolina Coca-Cola Bottling Company, and son of Alfred Taylor Heath, II., "president of Coca-Cola" (also the Carolina Bottling Company?), and Anne Darling Howell. I can't help but wonder if door-to-door Coca-Cola sales techniques influenced WTS sales techniques.
1931..... Prince Joseph Barak Balko is born to August Balko, Jr. and Blanch P. in San Diego, California. " Beth-Sarim being "the house of the princes," and, as we confidently expect, to be occupied and used by some of the princes in the earth, it seemed quite appropriate that these children who are growing up there should be named in harmony with these scriptures. Hence the little girl is named Princess Bonnie Balko, and the little boy Prince Joseph Barak Balko....It is hoped that these two little ones may grow up at Beth-Sarim to be with the rulers of the earth and live forever to the glory of Jehovahs name. They have been told, in so far as they can understand, that they may expect these noble men and, when they do appear, to meet them and put themselves completely under their direction (emphasis added). " --The Messenger, 25 July 1931
The name "Jehovah's Witnesses" is adopted.*
1932..... W.P. Heath, Jr. is baptized.
23 September--Robert J. Martin dies.
Elective elders arrangement is terminated (15 August and 1 September Watchtower).*
1933..... JWs banned in Germany.*
1934..... W.P. Heath, Jr. meets JFR.
15 June--Mendel Smith dies.
Elective elders arrangement is terminated. Designation of "pioneer" is introduced.*
1935..... Olin Moyle comes to Bethel to help the WTS in its freedom-of-worship cases.
The designation "Kingdom Hall" begins to be used.*
International convention held in Washiongton, D.C.*
1936..... Summer convention trip to Britain--JFR, Bonnie Boyd, Matthew Howlett.
1937..... W.P. Heath, Jr. is invited to Bethel to serve as JFR's personal secretary. He also serves as chauffeur, his parents having given a couple of nice new rides to his boss.
A trip to Mexico, Panama, and Havana, Cuba for JFR and Bonnie Boyd.
A trip to Europe for JFR, Bonnie Boyd, W.P. Heath, Jr., and Berta Peale. And then it's back to Beth Sarim for the winter.
Expression "Religion is a Snare and a Racket" comes into use.*
1938..... Early January--W.P. Heath, Jr. divorces his wife of 8 years, Dorothy Smith, and 1 week later marries Bonnie Boyd in Las Vegas, Nevada (25 January).
June--Berta Teel leaves her husband of 15 years, Alfred Peale, and comes to Bethel as JFR's dietician and 7th-floor housekeeper.
Another European trip for JFR, W.P. and Bonnie Boyd Heath (newly-weds), and Berta L. Teel Peale.
Theocratic arrangements replace democratic ones.*
1939..... March--The Watchtower and Herald of Christ's Kingdom becomes The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom.
Alfred Peale files for divorce from Berta Teel on grounds of abandonment.
Matthew Howlett returns to nurse JFR.
W.P. Heath, Jr. bought property (75 acres), for a 2nd San Diego mansion, Beth Shan--House of Security,"that his mother had given him money to build" according to Hayden Covington. He also serves on the WTS's Board of Directors. In charge of the ushers at the Madison Square Garden Convention, he is arrested for hitting a "mobster" over the head with his cane during the riot that broke out. Hayden Covington is brought in to defend him after Olin R. Moyle quits.
Olin Moyle sues for libel in response to a scathing Rutherford write-up in the 15 October Watchtower.
A seperate residence is built for Beth Sarim's groundskeepers--Robert Astel andJoe Lubeck. (Scroll down.)
Zion's Watch Tower Society becomes Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and is incorporated in the U.S..*
1940..... The deed to Beth Shan is conveyed to the WTBTS, and W.P. Heath, Jr. and Bonnie Boyd take up residence there (now or after the Judge dies, I am not sure).
JFR is said to have taken up full-time redidence at Beth Sarim, "leaving the actual work of the organization to Mr. N.H. Knorr, the then vice-president.*
Alfred Peale is granted a divorce from Berta Teel.
Victoria Boyd is "home in Texas" on account of her health. She is about 67 years of age.
1941..... Hazel Burford is called from the zone assembly at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to go help nurse JFR who was very ill in a hospital in Elkhart, Indiana. One week later she accompanies him and his party to Beth Sarim, where she helps care for him for 8 weeks until his death.
1942..... JFR dies at Beth Sarim, age 72. His body remains unburied for 3 weeks. He wanted to be buried on the grounds at Beth Sarim, and his second wish was to buried at Beth Shan, but this was not allowed so he was eventually taken by train to Staten Island and buried at Woodrow United Methodist Church Cemetary where W.E. VanAmburgh was also interred. The place of his burial is still disputed and so not completely certain, however. Only 4 people attend his funeral. W.P. Heath, Jr. and Bonnie Boyd Heath, who accompanied his body on the train are 2 of them. His wife and son are not present.
1942-1948..... Berta Peale continues to live at Beth Sarim until it was sells according to her great-nephew "larc." I wonder who, if anyone else, lived there as well?
1943..... Olin Moyle wins his lawsuit and collects $15,000 plus court costs from the WTS.
1953..... Beth Sarim passes from "Francis S. Hankins, a married woman" to "G. Aubrey Davidson," retired auditor for the Santa Fe Railway Company, who established the Kensington Park Land Company in 1909.
1963..... 15 February--Mary Fetzer Rutherford dies.
1973..... 15 April--August Balko, Jr. dies in Harris County, Texas.
1979..... August--Bonnie Boyd Heath dies in De Kalb County, Georgia.
1989..... 22 June--Malcolm Rutherford dies, Arcadia, California.
*According to this site.
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Leolaia
Merry....You're a goddess! That was a masterful integration of most of the odds and ends we came up with in this thread. Nice to look at the BIG PICTURE. :)
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Kenneson
I second that. This is certainly a keeper. Thanks.
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Merry Magdalene
Oh goodie! I'm glad you both like it. BTW, are we still looking for Blanch Poleson Harbole Balko's parents? I have a possiblity but can't check up on it through ancestry.com (no subscription). So if you want to--
Gilbert Asa POLESON
born circa 1879
Ridgeway, Harrison, Missourimarried 4 February 1904 (Blanch's birth year is 1905!) to...
Lenna PROVIN
born 6 April 1883
Ridgeway, Harrison, Missouri
died 1954 New Port Beach, Orange, CaliforniaThere is a Lenna PROVIN born circa 1883 in the 1900 census, residing in Harrison County, MO
and there is an Asa POLESON born circa 1830 in the same census, residing in Jackson County, MO~Merry
