Résumé

Mechanic, Red Star Wheel Company, Berkeley, CA, 1918. In 1916, David E. Bohannon received US Patent #1249273A for "Wheels of high resiliency, e.g. with conical interacting pressure-surfaces comprising resilient spokes." David E. Bohannon likely sold the patent to the Red Star Wheel Company of Seattle, WA. (See Source Citation Registration State: California; Registration County: Alameda Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005, accessed 07/30/2024.)

Real estate broker, Oakland, CA, 1930. In 1930, Bohannon had an office at 363 17th Street, Room #210, in Oakland. (See Oakland, California, City Directory, 1930, p. 301 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Piedmont, Alameda, California; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 0339; FHL microfilm: 2339845, accessed 07/30/2024.)

President, General Commodities Corporation, San Francisco, CA, 1935. In 1935, Bohannon was President of the General Commodities Corporation, a real estate firm, with offices at 1182 Market Street, Room #218, and 114 Powell Street in San Francisco. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1935, p. 140.) His office remained at 1182 Market Street in 1942. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1942, p. 167.)

Professional Activities

Bohannon was active in the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a frequent speaker at housing conferences. On 03/10/1944, he delivered a lecture entitled "Site Methods Versus Factory Production," in the session, "New Materials--Techniques and Costs," at the National Conference on Postwar Housing, held in Chicago, IL, 03/8-10/1944. (See David D. Bohannon, "New Materials--Techniques and Costs," Proceedings of the National Conference on Postwar Housing, [New York: National Committee on Housing, Incorporated, 1944], p. 160-164.)

Relocation

David Dewey Bohannon was born in San Francisco, CA, on 05/23/1898 to David E. and Elizabeth J. Bohannon. He first lived with his parents and elder sister at 1619 Dupont Street in San Francisco in 1900. His father worked as a telegraph operator at this time. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Roll: 107; Page: 11; Enumeration District: 0287, accessed 07/30/2024.)

In 1910, David, at age 11, lived with his family at 1123 1st Street in San Francisco, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: San Francisco Assembly District 39, San Francisco, California; Roll: T624_100; Page: 4b; Enumeration District: 0236; FHL microfilm: 1374113, accessed 07/30/2024.)

Bohannon resided in Berkeley, CA, at 2324 Roosevelt Street as a student at the University of California. (See Source Citation Registration State: California; Registration County: Alameda Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005, accessed 07/30/2024.)

As a 21-year-old, David D. Bohannon lived with his parents, four siblings and paternal grandmother Mary Bohannon (born c. 1835 in TN) at 1710 Grant Street in Berkeley, CA.

Between 1925 and 1930, at least, Bohannon and his wife made their home at 98 Oakmont Avenue in Piedmont, CA. As noted by the 1930 US Census, he lived here with his wife Ophelia, their two daughters Frances and Barbara and his wife's brother, Berry W. Kroger (born c. 1912 in TX). According to the census, this house was worth about $8,000, in line with neighboring dwellings ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 in estimated value. (See Oakland, California, City Directory, 1925. p. 372 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Piedmont, Alameda, California; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 0339; FHL microfilm: 2339845, accessed 07/30/2024.)

The Bohannons had a large house in Woodside Heights in 1940, worth about $30,000. Five members of the family lived here at this time, along with an African-American household worker, Beatrice Watkins (born c. 1903 in SC). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: San Mateo, California; Roll: m-t0627-00331; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 41-69, accessed 07/30/2024.)

Bohannon resided in Redwood City, CA, in 1942. His postal address was Route 1, Box 1, Woodside Hills, in Redwood City, CA. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1942, p. 167 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For California, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 171, accessed 07/30/2024.)

By 1950, the Bohannons lived at 115 Oakford Road in Woodside, CA. Only their son David E. Bohannon, remained living at home. They also employed an African-American domestic worker, Eva Perry (born c. 1926 in AL). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: San Mateo, California; Roll: 6105; Page: 1; Enumeration District: 41-261, accessed 07/30/2024.)

Bohannon was buried at the Skylawn Cemetery Park in San Mateo, CA.

Parents

His father was David Eugene Bohannon (born 02/20/1858 in Stockton, CA-d. 02/19/1943 in Oakland, CA), who worked in various jobs, including as a telegraph operator (1880 in Cascade, CA, 1900 in San Francisco), laborer in San Joaquin County (1883) and, later, as an inventor (1917) and salesman (1925). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Cascade, Tehama, California; Roll: 85; Page: 533a; Enumeration District: 147, accessed 07/30/2024, Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1884; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 119; FHL Roll Number: 977281, accessed 07/30/2024 and Oakland, California, City Directory, 1925. p. 372.)

The builder's mother was Elizabeth Jane Bosch (born 08/22/1873 in Del Norte County, CA-d. 10/27/1955 in Oakland, CA).

His siblings included: Geraldine A. Bohannon (born c. 1896 in CA), Morse C. Bohannon (born c. 1904 in CA), Franklin M. Bohannon (born c. 1907 in CA), and Dorothy Bohannon (born c. 1916 in CA). (The 1910 US Census referred to two of his brothers as "Addison M. Bohannon" [born c. 1904 in CA] and "John E. Bohannon" [born c. 1907 in CA].)

Spouse

He married Ophelia Eleanor Kroeger (born 08/30/1900 in San Antonio, TX-d. 11/25/1988 in Woodside, CA) before 1925. Ophelia was the eldest of five children had by Simpson Kroeger (born 04/19/1881 in San Antonio, TX-d. 01/25/1956 in San Antonio, TX), a foreman in a railroad maintenance shop in 1920, and Ethel Bright (born 09/21/1879 in TX-d. 11/01/1971 in San Antonio, TX). Her parents had Pomeranian (German) and English ancestries.

In 1921, Ophelia Kroeger attended the University of California, Berkeley (UCB). (See University of California Blue and Gold Yearbook, 1921, p. 373.)

Children

He and Ophelia had the following children: Frances Elizabeth Bohannon Nelson (born 05/06/1922 in Oakland, CA-d. 11/23/2013 in San Mateo County, CA), Barbara Ethel Bohannon Carleton (born 10/18/1926 in CA-d. 12/29/2006 in Redwood City, CA), and David Eugene Bohannon (born 07/04/1933 in CA-d. 05/04/2009 in Eugene, OR).

Frances worked for many years for the Bohannon Development Company, of which she became president in 1975. She guided the expansion of the Hillsdale Shopping Center in San Mateo, CA, in 1981. Frances married Howard Blair Nelson (born 07/06/1917-d. 02/10/1998 in Redwood City, CA) on 04/23/1945 in White Salmon, WA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington Marriage Records, 1854-2013, accessed 07/30/2024.)

Barbara Bohannon wed Brett Carleton (born c. 1920 in MO), a night club singer, before 1950. In that year, they lived in Los Angeles, CA, with their daugher, Alida Carleton (born c. 10/1949 in CA). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Roll: 3887; Page: 21; Enumeration District: 66-906, accessed 07/30/2024.)

David E. Bohannon married twice and had at least six children. In 1971, he operated the David E. Bohannon Construction Company in Sacramento, CA. (See Sacramento, California, Suburban Directory, 1971, p. 62.)

Biographical Notes

His World War I draft registration card listed Bohannon as being Caucasian and tall with a medium built. He had hazel eyes and brown hair in 1918.

Bohannon and his family traveled extensively, particularly in 1960. David and Ophelia sailed first class aboard the Matson Lines' SS Lurline from Los Angeles, CA, to Honolulu, HI, between 10/27/1939 and 11/01/1939. They returned to Los Angeles by 11/15/1939 aboard the SS Matsonia. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Series Title: Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving At Honolulu, Hawaii, Compiled 02/13/1900 - 12/30/1953; NAI Number: A3422; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787 - 2004; Record Group Number: RG 85, accessed 07/30/2024 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving At San Pedro/Wilmington/Los Angeles, California; NAI Number: 4486355; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85, accessed 07/30/2024.)

David, Ophelia and Barbara Bohannon flew from New York, NY, to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 12/23/1946. They were aboard Pan American World Airways Flight #201. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives At Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Series Title: Passenger and Crew Manifests of Airplanes Arriving At San Juan, Puerto Rico, 01/01/1942 - 06/30/1948; NAI Number: A4103; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85, accessed 07/30/2024.) Bohannon attended a conference in Brazil and returned to the US on 02/01/1947. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Immigration Cards, 1900-1965 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016, accessed 07/30/2024.)

They flew aboard a Danish airliner from Prestwick, Scotland, to New York, NY on 06/15/1951. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; Microfilm Serial or NAID: T715; RG Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; RG: 85, accessed 07/30/2024.)

Bohannon and his wife flew from Paris, France, to New York, NY, on 02/10/1960, aboard TWA Flight #801. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; NAI Number: 2848504; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787 - 2004; Record Group Number: 85; Series Number: A3998; NARA Roll Number: 277, accessed 07/30/2024.) On 08/29/1960, Bohannon and his wife flew aboard Pan American World Airways Flight 123 originating in London, England, and landing in Seattle, WA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Passenger and Crew Manifests of Airplanes Arriving At Seattle, Washington; NAI Number: 2953588; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85, accessed 07/30/2024.) In 10/1960, they traveled through Miami, FL, on another trip. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives At Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Series Title: Passenger and Crew Manifests of Airplanes Arriving At Miami, Florida.; NAI Number: 2788541; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787 - 2004; Record Group Number: 85, accessed 07/30/2024.)