Emil Helge "Edward/Ed" Bohlin and Lillian S. "Lilly" (Holm) Bohlin are buried in Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, Los Angeles Co., CA. Thanks to Find-A-Grave for making this image available.

       

Leana Maria (Freeberg) Bohlin is buried next to her mother in Miles City Cemetery, Miles City, Custer Co., MT. Thanks to Find-A-Grave for making the grave image available.

Floyd Theodore Sweem is buried in Highland Cemetery, Hamilton, Caldwell Co., MO. Thanks to Find-A-Grave for making this picture available.

Leana Maria Freeberg, about age 12, on a postcard dated 1910.

Leana Marie Freeberg Confirmation Record.

Leana Maria Freeberg, about age 17.

   

Emil Helge "Edward/Ed" Bohlin and Leana Maria Freeberg Marriage Records.

On June 5, 1917, Emil Helge Bohlin born May 12, 1895, in Orbbro, Narke, Sweden, and living at 307 9th Street, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN, is a Designer for Northern Products Company located at 18 4th Street, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN. He is married and claims military exemption due to varicose veins.

   

The WWI Draft Registration Report dated June 5, 1917, shows Floyd Theo Sweem, age 23, born March 14, 1894, in Cameron, MO, is a married Blacksmith employed by his father, and living in Cameron, MO.

Emil Helge "Edward/Ed" Bohlin and Leana Maria (Freeberg) Bohlin, Cody, Wyoming, just before her death in 1918. Collection of William Reynolds.

Floyd Theodore Sweem and Beatrice "Bernice" Ford marriage record.

Northern Wyoming Herald, Cody, Park Co., Cody, Park Co., WY, Wednesday, November 24, 1920

I Saw it in the Hearld

News Items That Are of General Interest to Our Local Readers.

Marriage licenses were issued this week to Ed. Bohlin and Mrs. Harriet Sween of Cody and Chas. C. Thomas and Miss Minnie Ekstein of Frannie. The first named couple were married at the Presbyterian manse by the Rev. A. M. Shepperd.

Park County Enterprise, Cody, Park Co., WY, Wednesday, November 24, 1920

Doings of the Week in and About Our Town

News Items That Are of General Interest to Our Local Readers.

Ed. Bohlin and Harriett Sweem were united in marriage at The Manse Saturday afternoon last, the Rev. A. M. Sheppard officiating. The groom has recently entered the business field of Cody and has opened a shop opposite the Irma Hotel where he deals in leather and buckskin clothing and also conducts a saddle and chaps repairing business.

The Fort Collins Coloradoan, Fort Collins, Larimer Co., CO, Wednesday, September 7, 1921

BIRTHS RECORDED SINCE AUGUST 5 ARE ANNOUNCED

Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Bohlin, R. F. D. No. College, Orvill Stephen Bohlin, 9-1-21.

The Fort Collins Coloradoan, Fort Collins, Larimer Co., CO, Saturday, March 17, 1923

Woman Charges "Bodily Injury" In Divorce Suit Here

"Extreme and repeated acts of cruelty," including acts working "bodily injury" are with non-support and desertion, the charges made against Edward Bohlin in suit for divorce filed in the county court by Mrs. Harriet Bohlin, 421 Edwards street, Friday afternoon. The petition states that the couple were married in Cody, Wyo., in 1920 and that they have one child, Orville, age 18 months. Mrs. Bohlin asks alimony for the support of the minor child for herself, and for costs, attorney's fees and whatever relief the court "deems meet and just."

       

Emil Helge "Edward/Ed" Bohlin Citizenship Recor

The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, San Francisco Co., CA, Friday, January 12, 1934

Marriage Licenses Issued.

BRAZIL - SWEEM - Joseph L. Brazil, 27, and Roberta M. Sweem, 17, both of Richmond.

Oakland Tribune, Oakland, Alameda Co., CA, Wednesday, January 17, 1934

Richmond Couple Announce Marriage

RICHMOND, Jan. 17. - Joseph L. Brazil and his bride, the former Roberta M. Sweem, were receiving congratulations today after their announcement of their wedding in Oakland last week. Brazil, graduate of the Richmond public schools, is the son of Mrs. Clara Brazil, 434 Third Street. The bride is the daughter of Mrs. Willard Davis, 699 Fourth Street. She formerly was employed in San Francisco.

Oakland Tribune, Oakland, Alameda Co., CA, Thursday, October 31, 1935

Silver-Studded Phone Theft Costly

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 31 - Theft of a $500 silver-studded French telephone set and an $1800 silver-mounted saddle caused the arrest of five youths today. James Murphy was sentenced to a six-month County Jail term by Municipal Judge Alden Ames and Stanley Chessar drew a similar term for receiving the goods. Charges of receiving stolen property were continued against Robert Steele, William Hodges and Lezar Schepps. The telephone set and the saddle were stolen from the parked car of Edward H. Bohlin, Hollywood silversmith.

Emil Helge "Edward/Ed" Bohlin and Lillian S. (Holm) Madden Marriage Record.

Olin Floyd Sweem and Ruby Lee Lang Marriage Record.

   

The WWII Draft Registration Report dated April 28, 1942, shows Floyd Theo Sweem, age 47, born March 14, 1895, in Caldwell, MO, is self employed, and living at 213 East Third, Cameron, MO.

Floyd Theodore Sweem death record.

Olin Floyd Sweem Death Record.

Orville Stephen Bohlin and Virginia Lea (Patterson) Cooper Marriage Record.

Orville Stephen Bohlin/Davis Death Record.

Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA, May 31, 1980

Funeral Announcements

BOHLIN, Edward H. Beloved husband of Lillian H. Bohlin, father of Lillian Pinkerton of Seattle, WA. Survived by 1 sister Herte Malmsten of Sweden; 2 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Services Monday 11 am at Grace Chapel, Inglewood Cemetery. Pierce Brothers Los Angeles directors.

Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA, October 24, 1985

Funeral Announcements

BOHLIN, Lillian Holm died October 22, 1985 at age 93. Widow of Edward H. Bohln, deceased 1980; beloved step-mother of Lillian Bohlin Pinkerton of Seattle, Washington; survived by 2 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. She was a member of angelica Lutheran Church and the Swedish Club. Services Monday, 11 am at Pierce Brothers' Cunningham & O'Connor Chapel, 720 W. Washington Blvd., L. A. Interment in Inglewood Park Cemetery. Remembrances to Angelica Lutheran Church, 1345 S. Burlington Ave., Ca 90006

Necessity may be the mother of invention, but it took an artisan of practical experience and artistic vision to create the exquisite saddles and silver filigree that made Edward H. Bohlin the "Saddlemaker and Silversmith to the Stars."

A long and winding road led Bohlin to his life's work. Born in 1895 in Sweden, Bohlin immigrated to America at the age of 17 just before the outbreak of World War I. Determined to make his mark here, he immediately applied for citizenship and made his way westward. He worked as a cowboy and ranch hand in Montana and Wyoming and first conceived the idea of making quality saddles of distinctive design.

Drawn to Cody in 1917, Bohlin began working on a ranch owned by Buffalo Bill, and also worked at the Pitchfork Ranch owned by photographer Charles Belden. Between ranch jobs, Bohlin opened a leather shop in Cody across from the Irma Hotel where he began perfecting his skills working with leather and silver. He created several pieces for Belden, and his reputation as an artist and craftsman began to grow.

Charles Josiah Belden (1887-1966) was born into a wealthy California family. His grandfather, Josiah Belden, was an early pioneer in California who made millions in San Francisco real estate. Charles was educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He first bought a camera in 1909 to record a tour of Europe he and his friend Eugene Phelps made in 1909. The main focus of the trip was the journey to Russia. Belden’s 1908 Packard was the first automobile to make such a trip in the country. After the tour, Belden joined Phelps at his family’s ranch in Wyoming. In 1912 Belden married Eugene’s sister Frances after working as a cowboy for a number of years. Charles and Frances had three children, Annice, Margot, and Mary Elizabeth, who died while still a toddler. In 1922 the Louis Phelps died leaving the Pitchfork Ranch to Charles and Eugene. The two, however, did a poor job of managing the ranch. Charles was more interested in photography and Eugene in tinkering with farm machinery. In 1940 Charles and Frances divorced. He moved to Florida with his second wife, Verna Steele Belden. There he died of a self inflicted gun shot wound in 1966.

The Charles J. Belden Collection consists of approximately 3,000 negatives original negatives. Most of the images were taking in the 1920s and 1930s on the legendary Pitchfork Ranch near Meeteetse, Wyoming. Located at the base of the Absaroka Mountains, the 250,000 acre ranch provided fertile ground for Belden’s photography. By filming cowboys and cattle against the dramatic backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, he created some of the classic images of the American West. Belden used these photographs to publicize the Pitchfork Dude Ranch, to illustrate articles he wrote about cowboy life, and for marketing. Belden, however, was a versatile photographer and the collection contains a variety of images. These photographs depict everyday life on the Pitchfork Ranch, a trip to Europe in 1909, Yellowstone National Park, raising antelope, dude Ranching and trips to the Southwest and Latin America. His photography can be found in National Geographic Magazine and the Dude Rancher’s Association’s magazine the Dude Rancher.

After spending a few years in Cody, Bohlin moved to Hollywood to learn more about the refinements of saddles and leatherwork in demand there. He entered show business as a trick rider and roper, hobnobbing with stars in the business, and appeared in several pictures before launching the career he was meant to carry out: fashioning distinctive saddles, silver and leather products. His leather business soon expanded to include saddles, spurs, and fast draw holsters.

Bohlin's original designs incorporated gold and silver filigree used in combination with leather. His skill and artistry soon caught the eye of western movie idols such as Tom Mix and Gene Autry and a spectrum of sportsmen and horse enthusiasts with a cultivated eye for the efficiency and quality that distinguished Bohlin's impeccable design. His shop, the Edward H. Bohlin Co., located at 5760 Sunset Boulevard, clinched his reputation as the "saddlemaker to the stars". He never lost sight of the cowboys with whom he had lived and worked, however, and their need for sturdy, serviceable gear to take them through hard long days and nights on the range.

In 1930, Bohlin expanded his business further by launching the Edward H. Bohlin Catalog. Filled with photographs of Bohlin's original designs, it featured saddles constructed using the finest saddletrees covered with heavy beef or bull hide. They ranged in style from the plain and serviceable to the luxuriously ornamental, with complementing bridles, breast collars, bits, spurs and spur straps. Personal accessory items such as bola ties, belts and three-piece belt sets, watchstraps, and hatbands carried the Bohlin three-color gold or gold and silver motifs that distinguished his design.

A section set aside in the catalog entitled, "Western Clothing - The Bohlin Tailor Shop", carried the kind of western wear and accessories that became the hallmark of Hollywood movie stars. "Hand tailored on the premises" shirts, jackets, moccasins, and buckskin shirts, gloves and jackets were meticulously made to order.

Patrons could order western clothing directly from the catalog or have their western wear custom tailored using particular fabrics and patterns. A selection of Stetson hats topped off Bohlin's clothing line. Additional items featured in the catalog included a silver plated telephone, leather picture frames with silver filigree adornments, and automobile hood ornaments. Featured last was the downright practical that included sweat scrapers, hoof picks, boot hooks, bootjacks, and saddle soap.

Edward H. Bohlin, saddlemaker and silversmith died in 1980. His craftsmanship continues in the hands of skilled craftsmen and women using original dies from Bohlin's designs. Items are made one at a time as he created them himself, insuring that the Bohlin eye for "classic design, exquisite execution, and sense of timeless style and grace" will continue.