Bolen, Edward C.

BOLEN, THOMPSON, DOTSON, HURST

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 11/30/2012 at 07:40:21

General farming and stock-raising have always claimed the attention of Edward C. Bolen, who is one of the representative farmers of Sheridan township. He was born in Madison township, Poweshiek county, Iowa, on the 22d of October, 1869, a son of Michael and Elizabeth Ann (Thompson) Bolen, the father a native of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and the mother of Canada. The parents removed to Poweshiek county in 1869, locating in Madison township, where they continued to reside for a year, and then purchased eighty acres of land in Sheridan township, where they resided until 1897, when they retired to Tama, Tama county, Iowa. There the father passed away on the 1st of February, 1907, but the mother still survives and continues to make her home in Tama.
The early years of Edward C. Bolen's life were very similar to those of the average lad who is reared in the more sparsely settled communities. He attended the district school during the winter and in vacation and at such other times as he was not engaged with his studies assisted his father with the cultivation of the farm, his duties and responsibilities increasing as his strength developed with the passing years. When he had acquired such education as he deemed essential to enable him to follow his vocation, which he had decided should be that of an agriculturist, he devoted his entire attention to the work of the farm, remaining a member of the paternal household until he had attained the age of twenty-four years, at which time he was married.
Subsequent to this event he invested his savings in eighty acres of land in Sheridan township in the cultivation of which he engaged until 1896, when he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of section 15 of the same township, where he is now living. He engages in general farming and stock-raising but makes a specialty of feeding cattle and hogs for the market. A judicious manager Mr. Bolen utilizes every acres of his land to the best advantage and as a result is meeting with most gratifying returns from his various ventures. In addition to his homestead he also owns eighty acres of land on section 23. He is regarded as one of the most progressive young farmers in the county, readily adapting to his use every new theory the practicability of which appeals to him. Agriculture is to him a science that requires study, thought and common sense if the returns are to be commensurate with the labor expended. His land is in a high state of cultivation and is well improved, the building are substantially constructed and kept in repair, while everything about his homestead suggests thrift and prosperity.
On the 10th of November 1893, Mr. Bolen was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Belle Dotson, a daughter of Eli and Ellen (Hurst) Dotson, residents of Colfax, Iowa. Three children have been born of this union, two of whom are living: Letha, who is seventeen years of age; and Stella, aged eight years, both of whom are still at home. Bessie, the second in order of birth, passed away at the age of two and a half years.
The family attends the Methodist Episcopal church, of which denomination Mrs. Bolen is a member, while fraternally Mr. Bolen is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Modern Woodmen of America, holding membership in both the Sheridan and Marshalltown lodges, and he is also affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mrs. Bolen and Miss Letha are members of the Royal neighbors, the ladies auxiliary of the Modern Woodmen. The men and measures of the republican party are always accorded the political support of Mr. Bolen, whose only official position has been that of school director in district No. 5, Sheridan township. Practically the entire life of Mr. Bolen has been spent in the vicinity where is now residing and where he has many friends, the majority of whom are comrades of his boyhood, which fact is a lasting tribute to the character of the man.

History of Poweshiek County Iowa
- A Record of Settlement, Organizations, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II
written by Prof. L. F. Parker.
Published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., in 1911
Pages 545-546