The man who settled in Stephenson County in the year 1840, was truly one of the pioneers, for at that time there was but little improved land in the county, and were it not for the fact that a large proportion of the county was prairie land, it might have been called a "howling wilderness." It was in that year that Mr. Bolender settled in Stephenson County. He is the son of John Bolender, and a brother of Levi Bolender. (See sketch of latter.) He lived at home until he was twenty-six years of age, devoting his working days to the farm, and as it was possible, attended the district and subscription schools. The building in which these schools were taught was constructed of logs, and heated by a large fireplace with a wooden chimney. Lacking the essentials of a fire-proof building, it caught fire and burned down.
At the age of twenty-five, Mr. Bolender was married, and a year later left the parental roof and rented a farm near Rock Grove, which he cultivated for two years, at the end of which time he purchased eighty-seven acres from his father, all of which was wild prairie land, except six acres. There was no improvement upon it whatever. The first year he built a granary, in which he lived until he built what is now the kitchen of his present residence. In 1861 he built one of the largest barns in that part of the county, and erected other suitable out-buildings. In 1867 he finished his present residence, portions of which had been constructed before. He owns 136 acres of land, which he farmed until 1880, when he rented it to his son William on shares, and then retired from active farm life.
Mr. Bolender has occupied many places of trust and honor. He has been Road Commissioner several terms. Collector one year, Assessor five years, and School Director over a quarter of a century. He was an Elder, Deacon and Trustee in the Lutheran Church, in Rock Grove. He and his wife belong to the Evangelical Church now. He is an original Republican, having assisted in the organization of that party in Stephenson County, in 1856, when John C. Fremont was the presidential candidate. He has always supported the National and State ticket of that party, but through local jealousies, much against his own will, he became a Mugwump, and was nominated for Assessor on the People's ticket, and elected by a large majority. Mr. Bolender evidently did not believe much in mugwumpery himself, for the ballot he cast on this occasion was against his own candidacy. At this same election, his son William was elected a Supervisor. The latter has been Town Clerk a number of years.
Mr. Bolender has been married three times; first to Miss Esther Kline, daughter of Joseph Kline, a native of Berks County, Pa., who came to Stephenson County about 1845, and died at the age of sixty. He was a miller by occupation, but his life in this county was that of a farmer. Mrs. Bolender was born Sept. 11, 1824, and was the mother of four children: John M., born May 26, 1862, died Jan. 13, 1865; one child born Sep. 11, 1867, died in infancy; William H., the oldest son, was born Sept. 25, 1852, and he married Miss Ellen Kline, daughter of George Kline (see sketch), and now occupies the old homestead. Mary E., Mrs. J. Emerich, was born Aug. 5, 1859. The mother of these children died on the 11th of September, 1867, on the forty-third recurrence of her birthday. The second wife was Miss M. Dinges, daughter of Samuel, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to this county about 1866. This marriage occurred in 1868. His wife was born in Pennsylvania, and died at the age of fifty-five years and eleven months. They had one son, Samuel M., who was born in 1869, and is employed by William on the old homestead. His third wife was Miss Demaras J. Rocky, daughter of Henry M. Rocky. They were married in 1883, and she was thirty-three years of age. Her people were from Pennsylvania, and her father is now a merchant of Rock Grove.
Contributed by Karen Hammer
Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Illinois Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1888 p. 294
