BOLON, James F.

BOLON, BRADFIELD, CLARK, GAMMILL, KESHLEAR, GATES

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/20/2014 at 06:45:57

History of Decatur County Iowa and Its People
Illustrated, Volumne II.
Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith, Supervising Editors
The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. pp. 304-05. Chicago. 1915.

JAMES F. BOLON

JAMES F. BOLON was very successful as a farmer and stock-raiser and owned two hundred acres of fine land in New Buda township. He was born in Knox county, Ohio, on the 17th of December, 1837, a son of Ferdinand and Harriet (Bradfield) Bolon, both of whom passed away in the Buckeye state.

James F. Bolon was compelled to earn his own living when only twelve years of age and worked as a farm hand until he was nineteen years old. He then came to Decatur county, Iowa, and located in Morgan township, near Spring Valley, working for John Clark for four years. Subsequently he farmed in Morgan township until 1893, when he removed to New Buda township and purchased two hundred acres of fine land, upon which he resided until his death, August 12, 1911. He carried on general farming and stock-raising and as he was practical and energetic his labors were rewarded by excellent success.

On the 11th of January, 1859, Mr. Bolon was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Clark, a daughter of John and Grace (Gammill) Clark, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. To this union were born four children: Robert C, whose birth occurred on the 2d of May, 1860, and who is represented on another page of this volume; Althea, who was born July 22, 1861, and married James C. Keshlear, whose sketch is given elsewhere in this volume; Grace B., born June 9, 1868, who married John Gates, a banker of Davis City, and has three children. Dean, Robert and Bradford; and Margaret, who was born September 7, 1878, and is the wife of J. Smith, a farmer of Davis City.

Mr. Bolon was a republican in his political belief but never sought office. Mrs. Bolon is a Presbyterian and has taken an active part in church and Sunday school work. She resided upon the homestead with her son Robert until 1914, when she removed to Davis City and took up her abode in a fine residence which she erected. She has many friends in the county and is respected by all who know her. Mr. Bolon resided in this county for fifty-six years and was widely and favorably known. His dominant characteristics were energy, progressiveness and unswerving integrity, qualities which invariably command respect.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014