In early 1999, I discovered, from the Social Security Death Index at Ancestry.com, that there was another John Boia who died in Montana in 1970. Since Boia is a particularly rare name in the U.S., I was fascinated by the possibility that a distant relative, with my name, once existed. I have acquired a number of documents that provide details of this person's life. Here is the timeline of events for the other John Boia.
| Year | Age | Event |
1881 Aug 15 |
0 | Ioan Boia was born near Alba Iulia to Savu Boia and Salomia Neaga. |
| 1905 May 10 | 23 | Married in Szelistye (Saliste). |
| 1906 Apr 25 | 24 | Wife Anne gave birth to son, John Boia, in Szeliste. |
| 1907 Jun 14 | 25 | "Joan Boia" immigrated to the U.S., arriving in Baltimore aboard the S.S. Köln from Bremen, Germany. He was en route to Alliance, Ohio to join Josif Simon. |
| 1928 Dec 18 | 47 |
Made first declaration of intention, South Omaha, Nebraska. |
| 1931 | 50 | Began residence in state of Montana |
| 1944 Feb 18 | 62 | Declaration of Intention to become a U.S. citizen, residing in Great Falls, Montana. He is listed as divorced. |
| 1949 Aug 08 | 67 | Petition for Naturalization, residing in Dupuyer MT |
| 1949 Sep 19 | 67 | Naturalization, Conrad MT. |
1951 |
69 |
Retired to Hot Springs MT. |
1952 May 10 |
70 | Registered to vote in Hot Springs MT, age listed as 67. |
1966 Jan 29 |
84 | Applied for Social Security; filed a claim for benefits. |
1968 Mar 21 |
86 | Under the care of Dr. F. M. Campbell, M.D. |
1970 Nov 09 |
89 | Died of peritonitis at Hot Springs Manor (nursing home), age given as 92. Buried in Plains Cemetery. Death certificate lists him as divorced. |