Bolen, Edward Charles 1869-1962

BOLEN, THOMPSON, DOTSON, LYNCH, SOTH, GROSS, HEISHMAN, PORTER, WICHMAN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 6/10/2010 at 08:32:24

Unidentified newspaper

EDWARD C. BOLEN, FORMER FARMER IN AREA, DIES

Edward C. Bolen, 92, former Grinnell farmer, died Feb. 17 at his home in Tama.

Funeral services were held Feb. 19 at Tama with the Rev. George D. Gaide, pastor of the Tama Methodist church, officiating. Interment was in Sheridan cemetery.

Edward Charles Bolen, son of Michael F. and Ann Thompson Bolen, was born Oct. 22, 1869, on a farm in Madison township, Poweshiek county. When he was a small child his family moved to a farm in Sheridan township where he was reared and grew to manhood. He attended Sheridan No. 6 rural school.

On Nov. 10, 1892, at age 23, he married Sarah Belle Dotson of Colfax, the wedding taking place at the home of her parents in Colfax. They began their married life on an 80-acre which he purchased south of the Sheridan store, now the George Simmons place. They lived there only a short time, and then Mr. Bolen bought a 160-acre farm one mile east and one-half mile north in Sheridan township. He farmed this place for many years and was also a stock buyer.

Leaving the farm, he and his wife spent a few years in Grinnell, then returned to Sheridan.

He served as Sheridan township assessor and was township trustee for many years. He was a 55-year member of the IOOF lodge of Tama.

Mr. and Mrs. Bolen enjoyed 57 years of married life.

He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Letha Lynch, Tama and Mrs. Leonard (Stella) Soth, Westchester, Ill.; three grandchildren, Sherrill Lynch, LaGrange, Ill., Gene Soth, Meadowdale, Ill., Robert Soth, Long Beach, Calif.; five great grandchildren, Melvin and Jane Lynch, LaGrange, Ill., and Leslie, Debbie and Elliott Soth, Meadowdale, Ill.

A daughter, Bessie Mae, preceded him in death at age 21 years.

Mr. Bolen was the last of a family of seven children. Preceding him in death were a brother, William M. Bolen, of Brooklyn; twin brothers in infancy; three sisters, Libbie Gross, Malcom, Grace Heishman Porter and Dolly Wichman both of Grinnell.