John Patrick West (1865 - abt. 1935)

Born Mar 1865 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Matilda (Doelger) West — married 18 Jan 1889 in Brooklyn, New York, USA

Died about 6 Jan 1935 at about age 69 in Oakland, Alameda, California, United States

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Biography

John Patrick West, "Battling Jack", was a prizefighter and father of the actress Mae West.

He became a policeman after his fighting career and eventually owned his own private detective agency. Jack's father was an English ship's rigger, of Scottish derivation.

"My father was no bounder," she said. "He was a prize fighter and his name was Battling Jack West, lightweight champion at one time. He never had a knockout. It's from him that I get my love for horse races and prize fights, but he was no bouncer, see what I mean."^[1]

He was born March 1865 in Brooklyn, New York. ^[2]

He died 6 January 1935 in Oakland, California. His remains were interred at Cypress Hills Cemetery in Brooklyn, along with those of the rest of his family.^[3]

Obituary:^[4]

Mae West's Father Dies Former Pugilist Passes away in Oakland

Mae West's father died yesterday in Oakland from a heart attack.

Jack West, former pugilist succumbed at 11 a.m. at Lake Merritt Hotel a day after he had returned to Oakland to be under the care of the family physician, Dr. Samuel Yabroff. Last November, while he was visiting his screen-celebrity daughter in Hollywood, he was similarly stricken and Dr. Yabroff flew by plane to his bedside.

At Hollywood, Miss West, Associated Press dispatches said, arranged to have the body sent to Los Angeles for funeral services and later to Brooklyn. The body, she said, will be placed beside that of her mother.

Timeline

1870: Lived in New York, New York according to the Census: Head/Husband John West, wife Mary, and children Elizabath, John, and Julia. ^[5]

1880: Lived in Brooklyn, Kings, New York according to the Census: Head/Husband John E. West, wife Mary, and children Edith, John, Julia, Emma, Edwin, and William, and other persons: Francis Egan, Edward Lynch, and Francis Gillespie. ^[6]

1900: Lived in Brooklyn, Kings, New York according to the Census: Head/Husband John West, wife Tillie, and children Mary J., Mildred K., and John E. ^[7]

1905: Lived in Brooklyn, Kings, New York according to the NY State Census: Head/husband John West, wife Mathilda, and children Mary, Mildred, and John. ^[8]

1910: Lived in Brooklyn, Kings, New York according to the Census: Head/husband John West, wife Matilda, and children Mary J., Mildred, and John Jr. ^[9]

1920: Lived in Queens, Queens, New York according to the Census: Head/Husband John West, wife Tillie, and children Mary J., Mildred, and John. ^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ The Indianapolis times. [volume], February 17, 1933, Home Edition, Second Section, Image 13.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSF5-JHH : accessed 3 March 2021), John West, Borough of Brooklyn, Election District 10 New York City Ward 15, Kings, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 216, sheet 17B, family 383, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,052.
3. ↑ Find a Grave Memorial for John Patrick "Battling Jack" West.
4. ↑ San Francisco Chronicle Monday, Jan 07, 1935 San Francisco, CA Page: 4.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M8F9-97C : accessed 3 February 2015), John West in household of John West, New York, United States; citing p. 27, family 218, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,487.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MZDM-HWV : accessed 3 February 2015), John West in household of John E West, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States; citing enumeration district 171, sheet 10C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0852; FHL microfilm 1,254,852.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MSF5-JHD : accessed 3 February 2015), John E West in household of John West, Borough of Brooklyn, Election District 10 New York City Ward 15, Kings, New York, United States; citing sheet 17B, family 383, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,241,052.
8. ↑ New York, State Census, 1905, index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MKSY-54R : accessed 3 February 2015), Mathilda West in household of Emanuel Hasert, Brooklyn, A.D. 20, E.D. 06, Kings, New York; citing p. , line , county offices, New York.; FHL microfilm .
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MP17-3PY : accessed 3 February 2015), John West Jr. in household of John West, Brooklyn Ward 27, Kings, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 861, sheet 16B, family 361, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,374,993.
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MVM4-KPX : accessed 3 February 2015), John West, Queens Assembly District 5, Queens, New York, United States; citing sheet 20A, family 191, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,821,234.