The Boland Family Annals of Newberry, Part Two by John A. Chapman, page 623-25 Among the first settlers of the county, not the very first, but of those who came just after the close of the Revolutionary war, were the Bolands, a strong, vigorous and hardy race. The sire of this great family, John Boland, came from the Vaterland about the year 1784, with Konkle, Schwartz and others, John Boland was twenty-two when he came to South Carolina. He married a Widow Counts, and settled not far from where Chapin now is. She brought to him one son, Abram. After her death he married a Miss Feltman, who became the happy mother of seven sons and two daughters. The sons were John, Henry, Adam, George, William, Dove and Jacob. The daughters were Barbara and Mary. Mr. Boland died in the year 1832, at the age of eighty, and lies buried near his old home. He was a thrifty and energetic man, hard working and honest. Seven of his sons, John, Henry, Adam, William, George, Dove and Jacob, went West to seek their fortune. How they succeeded, I know not; but they did not disgrace their ancestry. Abram remained at home, married a Miss Sease, and reared a family of nine sons and one daughter. The daughter, Katie, married Mr. George Shealy. The sons were named William, Frederick, Joe, Adam, Levi,Walter, Middleton, Mark and Osra. All these sons married, and all reared large families, except Levi, who married a Miss Wheeler and died childless. William and Walter went West, and are still living (1892). Joe, Middleton and Mark, though no longer young, are still faithfully working at their favorite occupation near the place where they were born. The other sons and the daughter are no longer living. Middleton was a good soldier during the war of Secession, and while he was absent from home with the army, Sherman, with the Federal forces, passed through the country, burning everything in the track through which they passed; and when Mr. Boland returned home after the surrender he found nothing but a pile of ruins and one or two of Sherman's "lone sentinels" to mark the spot where once had stood his comfortable home. With unconquerable energy, he went to work and repaired what he had lost. He reared a family of six sons and five daughters, educated them fairly well, and he is today living in a comfortable and hospitable home, with a conscience void of offense. Of his sons, we may mention A. N. and David Boland, two very genial gentlemen, who reside near the old homestead. They are just and upright in their dealingil, and men of influence. Osra Boland died in early life, 1eaving two sons, D. C. and J A. Boland. These men began life poor, but have done well and are now, 1892, extensive mill men. Joseph Boland still resides where he first settled sixty years ago. He reared a family of thee sons and seven daughters. All follow the example of their ancestors and earn their brood by the sweat of their face. Adam Boland is no more. He has gone to his reward. He was a good, jovial old gentleman. His widow still lives and lingers this side the grave. They had two sons and three daughters. The daughter Mrs. George Sheely died a few years ago. Judging from the character of the children she left, she was the best of mothers. Mothers always mould the character of the children. Uncle Mark Boland is still living. No member of this family has ever been in public life; no one has ever sought or held any office. Such men are the bone and sinew of the country; they are the strength of the State, and if the country and the State had more like them the country and the State would be infinitely better off.