Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 752
JOHN BOLCH

John BOLCH, who came to Harrison County in the spring of 1870, is now a prosperous farmer on section 16, Lincoln Township. Like so many others who came to this part of the State, our subject commenced working on a farm by the month, and continued so to labor for three years, at the end of which time he rented land in Allen Township, where he subsequently bought one hundred and sixty acres, in company with his brother. He lived on this farm eight years, and then bought the place he now occupies, consisting of two hundred acres, for which he paid $20 per acre, the same being partially improved. He added improvements from time to time, including a granary, windmill, and other conveniences for stock purposes, and also set out a fine orchard. As the years have rolled by this man of energy has accumulated and added to his original farm, until he now has four hundred and forty acres, enclosed by a good fence, with three hundred and twenty acres under the plow.

Of his more personal and domestic life it may be said that Mr. BOLCH was born in Washington County, Ohio, March 24, 1849. He is a son of John and Elizabeth (KUHN) BOLCH, who had seven children: John, Peter, Mary, Frank, Joseph, Adam, deceased; and Elizabeth. Mrs. BOLCH'S parents were natives of Prussia.

Our subject lived in the Buckeye State until twenty years of age, receiving a common-school education, and being brought up on the farm amid the scenes of rural life. Just as he was entering manhood, he went to Missouri, where he worked on a farm for one year and then came to Harrison County. He was united in marriage in the spring of 1882, to Bertha M. HOLBEN, the daughter of James and Dortha HOLBEN, natives of England and Canada, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. BOLCH are the parents of three children: John, deceased, born November 21, 1885; Eva, April 29, 1886; and John Jr., November 20, 1888.

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