BOLING, Sanford M. - 1890 Bio (1834-1893)

BOLING, GRIMSLEY, YOUNKIN

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 7/29/2007 at 11:19:24

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 338-339

Sanford M. BOLING, agent for the United States Express Company at Fairfield, Jefferson County, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, December 30, 1834, and is a son of William and Julia (GRIMSLEY) BOLING, both of whom were natives of Virginia. The parents of our subject were married in their native State and in an early day emigrated to Muskingum County, Ohio. After reaching man's estate Mr. BOLING learned the plasterer's trade which he followed in pursuit of fortune throughout life. In his political affiliations he was a Democrat.

Our subject is the only one out of five children living in Iowa. The family once numbered eleven children, of whom he was the third in order of birth, but six have been called from this life. He received his education in the old subscription schools common at that early day and at the age of ten years began working at the plasterer's trade with his father. His life was unmarked by any event of special importance until in August 1862, when he enlisted in Company F, of the One Hundred and Twenty-second Ohio Volunteers. He was immediately commissioned Second Lieutenant and with his command joined the army of the Potomac. Passing through Virginia, as far as Winchester, they commenced to fortify that place and while thus engaged Mr. BOLING contracted typhoid fever, resulting in almost total blindness, from which he has only partially recovered. He went home to be treated and while away, his regiment participated in the great battle of Gettysburg. Having rejoined his command in Martinsburg, Va., he started on the Mine Run campaign, but after marching a time through the mud and enduring untold hardships, the project was abandoned. Mr. BOLING was Acting Adjutant and on the call for an officer and four men to go to Columbus, Ohio on detail service, he was selected. From that time until his discharge on December 30, 1864, he remained in the capital city of Ohio. His duties were very arduous, it being a part of his labors to pilot recruit soldiers from Columbus to southern posts.

In January, 1865, Mr. BOLING first set foot on Fairfield soil. In the years which have come and gone since that time he has had no occasion to regret his choice of a location, for he has formed many ties of friendship which bind him to the place with cords of love which he would not sever. During the first five years after his arrival he was in the employ of the American Express Company, but his health so failed him that he was compelled to change his occupation and for a time he worked at the plasterer's trade. This was followed by one year spent as a contractor and in January, 1874, he entered upon the duties of the office of Auditor of Jefferson County, in which capacity he served the people acceptably for six years. His worth and ability having been tested and found to be in merit even above what his friends had anticipated, in 1879, he was honored with an election to the State Senate and served in that body during the sessions of 1880 and 1882. In the first Assembly, he was Chairman of the Committee on Penitentiaries, which originated a bill creating the office of warden in the penitentiary at Animosa. He was the active spirit in securing an amendment to equalize the good time earned by convicts. Up to this time counties could vote on public improvements only at general elections, and as a result when one party championed any public enterprise, the other felt bound to oppose. It thus became difficult for a county even to erect a court house, and it was through the instrumentality of Mr. BOLING that an amendment was passed permitting such questions to be voted upon either at general or special elections. During the session of 1882, he was Chairman of the committee on Public Buildings and secured the passage of a bill appropriating a half million to complete the State Capitol. Former appropriations had been so small that they were largely consumed in paying the salaries of those selected to look after their expenditure and in the passage of this bill Mr. BOLING performed an important work. In 1883, after retiring to private life, he became agent for the United States Express Company at Fairfield, in which capacity he has since served, covering a period of seven consecutive years.

Mr. BOLING has also been called upon by his townsmen of Fairfield to represent them in the Council and has served in the honored position of Mayor of the city. He accepted the latter office in order to assist in securing for the city, control of the water works, which up to that time had belonged to a corporation. In all his public life he has been faithful to every trust reposed in him and has won the confidence and regard of even his political enemies. He cast his first vote for Buchanan in 1856, but since that time has been a supporter of the Republican party. Socially, he belongs to the Masonic and Odd-Fellows fraternities and to the Grand Army Post of Fairfield, of which he is a charter member.

Mr. BOLING chose as a life companion Miss Hester A. YOUNKIN, their marriage being celebrated on the 17th of January, 1865. Mrs. BOLING is a native of Muskingum County, Ohio, and with her daughter, Bessie, their only child, carries on a millinery store in Fairfield. Mr. BOLING is one of Fairfield's most highly esteemed citizens and it is with pleasure that we record his sketch in the history of his adopted county.

[Transcriber's note: The Grand Army, or G.A.R., is the Grand Army of the Republic, the fore-runner of the American Legion.]

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.