ROBERT C. BOLON

Robert C. Bolon is one of the progressive farmers and stock-raisers of New Buda township and his place on section 2 is well improved. He also conducts a jewelry repair shop at his residence and as he is a skilled workman in that line enjoys a good trade. His birth occurred near Spring Valley in Hamilton township, May 2, 1860, and he is a son of James F. and Elizabeth (Clark) Bolon. The father was born in Ohio, of Irish stock, and was by trade a carpenter and plasterer. A more detailed account of his life is given elsewhere in this volume.

Robert C. Bolon attended the district schools, the Lineville (Ia.) high school and the law school of Drake University, from which institution he was graduated in 1886. He located in Des Moines, where he spent three years learning the jeweler’s trade, after which he became the owner of a jewelry store on East Fifth street, that city, which he conducted for two years. At the end of that time the removed to Lineville, Wayne county, Iowa, and there opened a jewelry store which he owned for two years. At the end of that time he purchased a small farm of sixty-eight acres northeast of Lineville and for ten years devoted his time and energies to the cultivation of his land. He then sold and removed to Davis City, Decatur county, buying land in New Buda township. Later he entered into partnership with his father, assisting the latter in the operation of a section of fine land. Father and son carried on agricultural pursuits together until the demise of the former, when our subject received one hundred acres as his share of the estate. He removed to his farm, which is situated on section 2, New Buda township, and is still living there. He breeds and raises Hereford cattle of fine grade and Poland China hogs, selling his stock to the shipper. He also carries on general farming with the help of his sons and receives a gratifying income from his labors. He still conducts a jewelry repair shop and receives the greater part of the business in that line in his section.

On the 7^th of May, 1894, Mr. Bolon married Miss Mary E. Logan, of Des Moines, a daughter of Michael and Mary E. (Scott) Logan, both natives of Ireland, who passed their entire lives in that country. The father carried on farming and general stock-raising in County Galway. His demise occurred in 1913 and that of his wife in 1914. Mrs. Bolon was born in County Galway, November 17, 1868, and was reared there until she reached the age of 13 years. She then came to the United States with her uncle, James Mullan, who located near Webster City, Iowa. At the time of her marriage she was living in Des Moines. During the thirteen year interval between her arrival in America and her marriage she had through her own efforts accumulated fifteen hundred dollars, which she invested in the farm. Mr. and Mrs. Bolon are the parents of nine children, as follows: James Michael, born February 12, 1895, was graduated from the Davis City high school and also from the State Agricultural College at Ames with the class of 1915, taking first honors. On the 8^th of September, 1914, he was united in marriage to Miss Henrietta Fowler. Charles Logan, born June 12, 1896, is attending the Davis City high school. He assists his father with the work of the farm and takes a great interest in agricultural pursuits. In 1914 he won a trip to the Omaha stock show by raising ninety-three bushels of corn on an acre of land, which was the third best yield out of twenty-three acres entered. The prize was given by the State Agricultural College at Ames. Joseph, who was born August 31, 1897, died in infancy. Dewey A., who was born August 15, 1898, Elizabeth, whose birth occurred February 7, 1901, Margaret, born November 25, 1902, Grace Aletha, born June 27, 1904, Nellie, born May 4, 1905, and Hattie, born January 11, 1908, are all attending the Davis City schools.

Mr. Bolon is an independent republican, voting for the man rather than the party when he deems it to the best interests of good government to do so. Both he and his wife belong to the Roman Catholic church of Des Moines. He is not only progressive and well-to-do but he is personally popular, his genial spirit and consideration for others enabling him to make and retain friends readily.