Searching for Boggy

Since we bought Boggy’s Camp, we have wondered who Fred “Boggy” Young was. With the closing documents of our camp purchase, in 1991, we learned that he received title to the river front property in 1944. He traded property he owned in the area (not on the river) for the river front property with the State of Michigan. Left in the cabin all these years were other little treasures including Boggy’s World War I Army duffle that continued to pique our interest. For those that have read my book, you might remember I was able to find out more about him, from newspaper clippings, the U.S. Census, talking with locals, and his obituary. But, I never talked with anyone who had actually known him. Until now.

“Boggy was a large man, he walked slow, and was easy going,” so recalled Angus Deverney. Angus grew up in Newberry, and graduated from Newberry High School in 1953. He now lives in the Traverse City area. Angus knew Boggy as the school truant officer. Angus’ father, Dexter (a logger), broke his leg at work and lost his job. His older brother John quit school and went to work in the woods to help out the family. Boggy wanted him back in school, and tried to help the family. John instead entered the Army Air Force.

I am still looking for more info on Boggy. He died in 1957, so if anyone knows folks in their 80’s who grew up in Newberry, ask them if they knew Boggy. I was recently interviewed by the Newberry News, and the article they published also asks for any info that readers might have about Boggy. The article is posted below. More to come!

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