Miscellaneous Biographical Sketches on Bolender Surname

BOLLENDER (also Bolender, Bollander, Bolander, Bollinger)


As the result of my family’s belief that the wife of our ancestor, Christian Kress, was probably named Mary Bolender, since my g.grandmother's name was Mary Bolender (Kress) Bunce, and we believed she had been named after an earlier ancestor, my father did some research on this surname. Among his papers I found the following biographi­cal sketches, and genealogy, which I believe he photocopied from books in the genealogy department at the Denver Public Library in Denver, Colorado. To my knowledge, my family has no known relationship with any of these families, and this is all the information that I have on them. I am posting this here in the hope of helping others with the surname and also to help stimulate interest in it. A few of the words are hard to make out on the faded photocopies and therefore I have placed a question mark (?) next to them. Words in brackets [ ] were added by me to make the material easier to read. Needless to say, this page probably does not have the names of all the early Bolender families in America.

From further research, it also now appears that Mary Bolender was likely the name of the second wife of Christian Kress, as the name of his first wife appears on the baptismal record of their son John as Maria Dey. We don’t know when this second marriage took place, nor if she was the mother of any of Christian Kress’ children. That “Mary Bolender” is suspected as being the name of his second wife is based on the fact that his wife was named “Mary” in his will, and her name is also on the 1800 New York federal census as Mary, not Maria. Additionally, John Jay Kress, a grandson of Christian, named his first daughter Maria, probably indicating her importance in his mind, and my g.grandmother Mary Bolender Kress was his 8th child, so that alone tells us that in John Jay Kress’ mind “Maria” and “Mary” were two different individuals, and it’s likely Mary Bolender was his step-grandmother, perhaps the only grandmother he ever knew, if Maria Dey had died young.

The first part are excerpts from a history of Brown County, Ohio concerning descendants of Stephen Bolender, Sr., and further down is information on the descendants of John Adam Bollender, Sr. of Pennsylvania.  You may also want to check out the meaning of the Bolender surname below. There are also a couple of messages that I saved on the Bollinger surname from the defunct Fidonet National Genealogical Echo.  Also check out a few links to other Bolender websites. You may also use the search or find feature on your web browser to search for a specific name.

Updated: May 13, 2016


From The History of Brown County, Ohio; containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, churches, school, ... portraits of early settlers and prominent men, published Chicago, W. H. Beers, 1883, Denver, Colorado Public Library Call No. G977.1796 B815

Lewis Township, pp. 93-95 and 460

Lewis Bolender, farmer, P.O. Higginsport. This gentleman is a descendant of a noble progenitor and pioneer, Stephen Bolender, and was born January 29, 1826, in Lewis Township, Brown County, Ohio. He grew to manhood on his father's farm and assisted in clearing it up. During his early life, he enjoyed the common schools of that day, and remained at home until 1850, when he, with his brother, purchased a part of his present farm, and two years later married Cyntheanna Love, a descendant of Alexander Love, elsewhere men­tioned in this work. She was born in Franklin Township, Clermont County, Ohio, July 5, 1834, where she was raised, educated and married. Early in their united life, they settled on his farm, where they still live, and have taken it from a dense forest to a well-improved farm of 250 acres. His principal crops are corn, wheat and tobacco. Mr. and Mrs. Bolender are the parents of nine children, of whom seven are now living.

John W. Bolender, farmer, P.O. Higginsport, broth­er of Lewis Bolender, whose biography appears above, was born in Lewis Township August 12, 1828. His early life was spent in the common schools of that day, and in assisting his father in the farm duties. He remained at home until November 7, 1850, when he married Sophia Richey, born in Clermont County, Ohio, in Decem­ber, 1831, where she was raised and educated. The month after their marriage, they settled on the farm he now owns, which consists of 175 acres under fair cultivation. This he has mostly taken from the primeval forest to its present condition, through his own untiring efforts. He early learned the rudiments of farming, which has been his lifelong occupation and now makes a specialty of tobacco-raising. He is one of the well-to-do citizens of the township, in which he has served as Trustee several terms with due credit and honor. Mr. and Mrs. Bolender are the parents of ten children, eight living.

S. N. Bolender, farmer, P.O. Feesburg, is a son of Stephen Bolender, and grandson of Stephen Bolender, Sr., whose history will be seen elsewhere in this volume. S. N. was born in Lewis Township, Brown County, Ohio, May 10, 1840. Farming was his chosen pursuit. He remained at his parental home until October 15, 1877, when he married Euphrazy Hendrickson, who was born in Clermont County, Ohio, January 1, 1845, and died Octo­ber 20, 1881, a member of the Christian Church. She was a companion of true and honest spirit, and her death was a sore loss—having lived in united life four years and five days. Mr. Bolender still lives on his farm of 103 acres in Taylor's Survey. The farm is mostly under cultivation, and is well tilled by him. He is one of the well-to-do citizens, and is willing to encourage all enterprises beneficial to self and community. He possesses good health, and is puissant, which he inherited of his noble ancestors, who were early settlers of this county. His political views are with the Democratic party.

Joseph Bolender, farmer, P.O. Feesburg, is a son of Stephen Bolender, Jr. and a grandson of Stephen Bolender, Sr., both of whom are spoken of in the body of this history; hence we here record only a brief sketch of the subject, Joseph Bolender, who was born on April 8, 1822, in Brown County, Ohio, where he received a common school education, and was raised to farm life. He has devoted his time to his chosen occupation, farming, in which he was quite successful, and now owns 560 acres of good land in this county. Whilst the result of his labors shows that he is a man who has always practiced economy in its strictest sense, yet, he always stands ready and willing to contribute to the interest and welfare of any enterprise having for its effect the good of mankind, or of the com­mun­ity. Politically, he is a Democrat. Socially and morally he has always stood high in the esteem of his community and the township, which is evinced by his having been elected to the office of Land Appraiser a period of twenty years. His interest in the cause of education is fully realized by knowing that out of a period of thirty years he has held the office of local director and quite frequently been a member of the Board of Education. His marriage was celebrated October 21, 1847, with Lydia A., daughter of David and Mary Martin, early settlers of this county. Mrs. Bolender was born April 21, 1830, in Lewis Township. To this union have been given six childen, of whom five are now living, viz.: Walter C., Angeline, Lizzie, Charles S. and Isadora. Mr. and Mrs. Bolender are both members of the Christian Church, in which he has served as “Financial Elder” for many years. They are well situated, and in possession of plenty of this world’s goods.

William F. Bolender, farmer, P.O. Feesburg, is a son of Joel and a great-grandson of Stephen Bolender, who was a local minister in the pioneer days of Brown County, and whose history appears in this volume. The grandfather, Jacob Bolender, was one of the pioneers of what is now Clermont County, where he died; and the father of our subject was born in the same county in 1823, where he has ever since resided, and has been a man of large estate which he divided with his children, and lives a very quiet farm life. Of his eight children, six are now living, of whom our subject is the third; he was born in Clermont County, Ohio, December 1, 1851; raised to farm life and acquired a common school education. On December 30, 1880, his nuptials were celebrated with Hattie M. Campbell, a native of Brown County, born November 28, 1861. To this union one child, Joel D., was born November 2, 1881. Mr. Bolender purchased his present farm of 100 acres in 1880, where he has since resided.

Pages 460-61:

Stephen Bolender, his wife and their nine child­ren—Peter, Henry, Barbara, Catharine, Jacob, Elizabeth, Christian, Stephen and Joseph—settled in the [Lewis] township in 1800. He was of German descent, and born in Pennsylvania about 1750. He purchased 200 acres near the ferry, and, soon after, lost his wife. Both he and his wife were blacksmiths, and were perhaps the first to follow the trade here. He afterward married Elizabeth Fetterman, a native of Maryland, and, in a few years, moved to Taylor’s Survey, buying first 160(?) acres and afterward adding 600 more. He was a local minister of the Dillard(?) faith and labored zealously for his church. He possessed a strong moral(?) will and constitution, and had a special admiration for a truthful man. His death occurred in 1821, and his wife survived him several years. By his two marriages he had fourteen children. Before his death, he had divided his extensive real estate by lot among his children. They all settled in this vicinity though some in Clermont County.

Stephen Bolender, Jr., son of the above pioneer, was born June 6, 1800. At the age of nineteen he married Rebecca Hancock. He was a life-long _______(?) and resident of Brown County. He was a man of unquestioned principle and integrity, and in manner, was unostentatious and unassuming. His death occurred December 12, 1871, his wife surviving him. Both adhered to the Christian Church. Nine of their children are now living.


DESCRIPTION OF SOURCE:  The following transcript is from some undated typed pages numbered 49-53, but the source is not identified. On one of the pages is a rubber stamped number “927243” which may be a reference of some kind. This is for the most part a typed record of a Bollender family of Pennsylvania and Illinois. Some of the text is very faint due to the type and the faded nature of the photocopy and where I have been unable to decipher a word I have placed a blank line. Alternatively, this may have been a manuscript that was donated to the Genealogy Dept. of the Denver Public Library on families of Snyder Co., Pennsylvania, since there are a few other short paragraphs about other families of Snyder Co., Pennsylvania at the beginning and end of these pages, namely Boop, Bombach and Bubb. It appears that the compiler was probably a member of the Erdly-Bollender family, since there is greater detail in the document about the members of that particular family.

I have entered this as it appears in the original, except I have changed the format of the dates from 10/23/1754 to 23 Oct 1754 for better ease in reading. The abbreviation “d/o” probably stands for “daughter of.” “Ante” is the Latin word for “before” or “prior to.” There are also links from the genealogical chart to the more detailed sketches that appear below the chart.

I suggest that interested Bolender researchers use this as a guide to other sources, such as census records, probate records, etc. and do not accept everything here at face value until proved through other sources.


BOLLENDER (also Bolender, Bollander, Bolander, Bollinger, etc.)

JOHN ADAM BOLLENDER, commonly called “Adam,” came to America from the German Palatinate. He arrived at the port of Philadelphia, Pa., on the British ship “Good Intent,” and took the usual qualifying oath on 23 Oct 1754. Prior to 1774, he settled in Penn Twp., Northumberland (now Snyder) Co., Pa. During the Revolution he served on the Committee of Safety for Penn Township, and he also may have served in the military forces. He served as Constable and held other offices in the Township. At least three of his sons were Revolutionary soldiers. When or where Adam died is unknown to the compiler. Most of the Bollenders left Snyder County. Some went to Stephens Co., Illinois. Adam is supposed to have _______(?) Greenwich(?) Twp., Berks Co., Pa., before coming to Snyder County.

JOHN ADAM BOLLENDER, SR. (born in German ca. 1730) m. --------
  1. Henry Bollender (born ca. 1750, died in 1795) Revolutionary soldier m. Catharine ------

    1. Two sons over 16 years, in 1790.
    2. George (born 26 Jul 1771-
    3. Daughter, born ante 1790

  2. John Bollender (born ca. 1755), m. Juliana ------ Revolutionary soldier

    1. Peter (31 Jul 1775-
    2. Two daughters in 1790
    3. Henry (20 Sep 1776—6 Jan 1837) Died in Center Twp., Union (now Snyder) Co., Pa. m. Anna Catherine Miller (3 Jan 1767—1832),       Co., Pa., d/o John Fred. Miller, Revolutionary soldier

      1. John Bollender (1796—28 Aug 1769) Died Oneco Twp., Stephenson Co., Ill. m. Catherine Steese, d/o Hon. Frederick Steese

        1. Reuben Bollender (1818-
        2. Elizabeth Bollender (1821-     m. George Mowrey
        3. Barbara Bollender (17 Feb 1821-     m. Solomon Fisher.    [Children:] Samuel, Catherine, Henry, Matilda, William, Mary, Susan and Barbara Fisher, Oneco Twp., Stephenson Co., Ill.
        4. Levi Bollender (12 Nov 1822-       Ill. m. Sarah Haas (27 Apr 1834—

          1. Henry H. Bollender
          2. Emma C. Bollender (21 Jun 1855-
          3. David C. Bollender (29 Dec 1856-
          4. William Bollender (23 May 1859—died ante 1880)
          5. Allen Bollender (1 Mar 1861-
          6. Amanda Bollender (8 Dec 1863-
          7. Edward J. Bollender (4 Sep 1866-
          8. Ida May Bollender (31 Mar 1868-
          9. John A. Bollender (10 May 1870-
          10. Jay H. Bollender (11 Jan 1872-

        5. Adam Bollender (1825-1880)-
        6. Caroline Bollender (1827-
        7. Matilda Bollender (1832-     m. Jack Kleckner
        8. Henry Bollender (1833-
        9. Hon. John Bollender (1837-
        10. Frederick Bollender (1835-1885)
        11. Aaron Bollender (1839-
        12. Isaac Bollender (1841-

      2. George Bollender (29 Mar 1799—22 Nov 1840) Died Center Twp., Snyder Co., Pa.
      3. Jacob Bollender (23 Aug 1807—24 Nov 1872)     Snyder Co., Pa. m. Elizabeth ------ (16 Feb 1813—19 Feb 1884)
      4. Aaron Bollender (17 Aug 1813—23 Jan 1838) Unmarried.
      5. Michael Bollender (born ca. 1802) m. ------ Stephenson Co., Ill.

        1. Caroline Bollender     m. ----- Reubendall
        2. Lewis Bollender (born ca. 1832     Contractor & builder
        3. Franklin Bollender (30 Jan 1834-       Orangeville, [Stephenson Co.] Ill. m. Susan Rockey, born Union Co., Pa., on 30 Jan 1868 [sic]
          [Children:] Charles, Oscar, Edwin, Emma and William Bollander
        4. Harrison W. Bollender (18 Nov 1839-     Orangeville, [Stephenson Co.] Ill. m. Mary Wagner, in 1870
          [Children:]  Anna, Michael, Helen and Stephen Bollander
        5. Henry, Benjamin, and Michael Bollender [sic]
        6. Mary Bollender       m. ----- Marion
        7. Anna Bollender       m. ----- Fahr
        8. Amelia Bollender       m. ----- Belknap

      6. Henry Bollender
      7. Frederick Bollender (29 Dec 1814-     Buckeye Twp., Stephenson Co., Ill. m. [1] ----- Ritzman; m. [2] Caroline Edwards, in 1853, she died 1878; m. [3] Donna Bogar, in 1879.

        1. Harriet Bollender       m. ----- Fry
        2. George Bollender
        3. Hannah Bollender       m. ----- Kimball
        4. Jane Bollender       m. ----- Yagel [sic]
        5. Ada Bollender       m. ----- Etzler
        6. Wilson Bollender     died ante 1880.

      8. Elizabeth Bollender
      9. Barbara Bollender (20 May 1797—16 Mar 1865), m. [1] Frederick Maurer, New Berlin, Pa.; m. [2] Jacob Erdly (21 Oct 1801—21 Apr 1863)

        1. Charles Maurer (26 Feb 1827-
        2. Robert Erdly (16 Nov 1832—26 Jan 1901) m. Sarah Mease (9 Nov 1835—14 Jan 1907)
        3. Isaac Erdly (12 Jul 1834—18 Jun 1908) m. Lucinda Straub (4 Aug 1841—18 Dec 1909)
        4. Catherine Erdly (27 Dec 1836—15 Feb 1897) m. Sam. Stettler (20 Oct 1831—21 Aug 1911)
        5. Samuel Erdly (14 Dec 1838—19 Aug 1916) m. Sarah Crouse (6 Jun 1849—27 Jan 1909)
        6. Matilda Erdly (26 Oct 1840—12 Nov 1903) m. Perry Aurand [or Murand] (30 Aug 1829—19 Nov 1912)
        7. Maria Erdly       m. Philip Straub
        8. Frank Erdly       m. Rebecca Mease
        9. Lucinda Erdly (4 Mar 1844—14 Jan 1921) m. B. F. Kantz (19 Nov 1840—16 Feb 1909) Selinsgrove, Pa.
        10. Caroline Erdly   Spinster.

      10. Eva Maria Bollender (1794-

  3. John Adam Bollender, Jr. (born ca. 1759) m. Maria Magdalene Morr (22 Aug 1763—26 Nov 1800) [Children:]
    1. John Adam Bollender (24 Mar 1780-
    2. John Philip Bollender Baptized 1787
    3. Catherine Bollender     m. Melchoir Yoder
    4. Magdalene Bollender     m. George Halme
    5. George Bollender (11 Nov 1790—30 Apr 1839) m.
      Cath. ------ (28 May 1790—8 May 1858)
    6. Benjamin Bollender Born ca. 1795
    7. David Bollender Born ca. 1798

  4. John Frederick Bollender (16 Mar 1761—13 Jan 1832) m. Elizabeth ------ (18 Sep 1761—17 Mar 1839). The children of this couple are unknown.

  5. George Bollender (died in Beaver Twp., Snyder Co., Pa. in 1840) m. Polly ----- (WAS HE SON OF JOHN ADAM BOLLENDER SR.?)   [Children:]

    1. Daniel Bollender m. Sabina [sic] Shuman, on 22 Feb 1855, Franklin Twp., Snyder Co.
    2. Susan Bollender
    3. Frederick Bollender m. Sarah Steese of Union Co., Pa., on 21 Mar 1844
    4. Elizabeth Bollender m. Samuel Smith
    5. Franklin Bollender Died in 1834
    6. Catherine Bollender Was under 21, in 1840.
    7. Joseph Bollender Was under 21, in 1840.

  6. Susan Bollender (7 Oct 1770-     m. Geo. Michael Bastian (13 Mar 1768—18 Feb 1845) [E.?] Sunbury, [Northumberland Co.?] Pa.   [Children:]

    1. Jesse Bastian
    2. Peter Bastian   Milton, [Union Co.] Pa.
    3. George Bastian   [East?] Sunbury, [Northumberland Co.?] Pa.
    4. Catherine Bastian m. John Renn [E.?] Sunbury, [Northumberland Co.?] Pa.
    5. Christinana Bastian m. Henry Conrad, [E.?] Sunbury, [Northumberland Co.?] Pa.
    6. Rachael Bastian m. John Stinton
    7. Lucy Bastian m. Jeremiah Zimmerman Shamokin, [Northumberland Co.] Pa.
    8. Elizabeth Bastian, Spinster.

BOLLENDER, JOHN, was born in what is now Snyder Co., Pa. in 1796, and died in Stephenson Co., Illinois on 28 Aug 1868. He was a son of Henry Bollender (1776-1837), and his wife, Anna Catherine Miller (1767-1832). Henry’s father was John Bollender, a Revolutionary soldier, and his grandfather was Adam Bollender, Sr., one of the early settlers in what is now Snyder Co., Pa. John and his brother, Michael, and neighbors of theirs in what is now Snyder and Union Counties, Pa. migrated to Stephenson Co. Ill. in 1840, and were among the earliest settlers of that section. About 1817, John married Catherine, daughter of the Hon. Frederick Steese, of Snyder Co., Pa. Frederick’s father, Jacob Steese, was a Revolutionary soldier. John was a farmer, and operated a large farm in Oneco Twp., Stephenson County. Thirteen of his fourteen children were born in Snyder Co., Pa. They were: Reuben, born 1818; Elizabeth (Mrs. George Mowrey), born 1821; Barbara (Mrs. Solomon Fisher), born 17 Feb 1821 [sic]; Levi, 12 Nov 1822; Adam (1925-1880); Caroline, 1827; Matilda (Mrs. Jack Kleckner), born 1832; Henry, 1833; Hon. John (1837; Frederick (1835-1885); Aaron, 1839; Isaac, 1841. The others died in infancy.

Anna Catherine Miller (Mrs. Henry Bollender) was a daughter of John Frederick Miller, a Revolutionary soldier.

BOLLENDER, LEVI, son of John, was born in what is now Snyder Co., Pa. on 12 Nov 1822, and migrated to Oneco Twp., Stephenson Co., Ill. with his parents in 1840. Levi married Sarah Haas, who was born in Snyder Co., Pa. on 27 Apr 1834. He operated a farm in Rock Grove Twp., Stephenson County. Children:  Henry H.; Emma C. born 21 Jun 1855; David C., b. 29 Dec 1856; William, b. 23 May 1859 and died ante 1880; Allen, b. 1 Mar 1861; Amanda, b. 8 Dec 1863; Edward J., b. 4 Sep 1866; Ida May, b. 31 Mar 1868; John A., b. 10 May 1870; Jay H., b. 11 Jan 1872. (For full ancestral line, see sketch of John.)

BOLLENDER, AARON, son of John, was born in what is now Snyder Co., Pa., in 1839 and the next years [sic] was taken to Stephenson Co., Illinois, where his parents were among the early settlers. On 10 Sep 1861, he enlisted as a Private in Co. B 46th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He re-enlisted on 23 Dec 1864, and was honorably dis­charged on 19 Jun 1865. (For ancestral line, see sketch of John.)

BOLLENDER, ISAAC, son of John, was born in Stephenson Co., Ill. in 1841, and enlisted as a Musician in Co. B 46th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, on 10 Sep 1861 [during the American Civil War]. He re-enlisted on 7 Dec 1863. This company was recruited in Stephenson County. His brother, Aaron, served in same company.

BOLLENDER, HENRY H., son of Levi, was born in Rock Grove Twp., Stephenson County, Ill. His mother was Sarah Haas, a native of Snyder Co., Pa. Henry grew up on his father's farm, and in 1875, took a position as clerk in a general merchandise store at Monroe, Ill. In 1879, he opened his own store at Rock Grove, Ill. He married Miss P. E. Holmes of Green Co., Wis. (For ancestral line, see sketch of John.)

BOLLENDER, JACKSON, parentage unknown. On 1 Feb 1864, enlisted in Co. B 46th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry. This company was recruited in Stephenson County. At least two other Bollenders were in the same company.

BOLLENDER, MICHAEL was born in what is now Snyder Co., Pa. around 1802. He was a son of Henry Bollender (1776-1837), a grandson of John, and a great-grandson of Adam Bollender, Sr. This Adam and his son, John, served in the Revolutionary War. Michael’s mother was Anna Catherine Miller, a daughter of John Frederick Miller, Revolutionary soldier.

In 1840, Michael joined his brother, John, and others and migrated from Snyder Co., Pa. to Oneco Twp., Stephenson Co., Ill. and were among the first settlers of that section. They went over­land by wagon, a trip which required a full six weeks. Michael died after 1878, and in his latter years was totally blind. He operated a large farm. The compiler does not know the name of his wife. His children were: Caroline, Lewis, Franklin, Henry, Harrison, all born in Snyder Co., Pa. prior to 1840, and Michael, Mary Anna, and Amelia, all born after 1840, in Oneco Twp., Stephenson Co., Ill.

Prior to 1850, Michael's brother, Frederick, joined them in Stephenson County.

BOLLENDER, HARRISON W., son of Michael, was born in what is now Snyder Co., Pa. on 18 Nov 1839, and the next years sic was taken to Oneco Twp., Stephenson Co., Ill. by his parents, who were among the early settlers of that county. Harrison learned the carpenter's trade under his brother, Lewis, and worked for him until 1875, when he went into a partnership with a man named Swartz, for the creation of windmills. Later he and David A. Schooch operated a creamery in Orangeville, [Stephenson Co.] Ill. In 1870, he married Mary Wagner, and they had four children:  Anna, Michael, Helen and Stephen. Michael died in early childhood. On 10 Sep 1861, he enlisted as a Private in Co. A, 46th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged because of physical disability, on 25 Aug 1862. He was wounded in the arm, shoulder, and thigh. He was a member of the Republican party and served on the school board for his township. (For ancestral line, see sketch of Michael.)

BOLLENDER, FRANKLIN, son of Michael, was born in what is now Snyder Co., Pa. on 30 Jan 1834, and migrated to Oneco Twp., Stephenson Co., Ill. with his parents in 1840. Franklin was a farmer, and lived near Orangeville, Ill. On 30 Jan 1868, he married Susan Rockey, who was born in Union Co., Pa. Franklin was a member of the Reformed Church, and the Republican party. He held the offices of tax assessor and school trustee in his township. His sisters were Caroline Reubendall, Mary Marion, Anna Fahr, and Amelia Belknap. His children were:  Charles, Oscar, Edwin, Emma, and William, who died ante 1880. (For ancestry, see sketch of Michael.)

BOLLENDER, LEWIS, son of Michael, was born in what is now Snyder Co., Pa. around 1832. In 1840, his parents took him to Oneco Twp., Stephenson Co., Illinois, where they were among the first settlers. He was a contractor and a builder and lived in Orangeville, [Stephenson Co.] Illinois. (For ancestral line, see sketch of Michael.)

BOLLENDER, FREDERICK, was born in what is now Snyder Co., Pa. on 29 Dec 1814, and died in Stephenson Co., Ill. after 1878. He was a son of Henry Bollender(1776-1837), a grandson of John and great-grandson of Adam, Sr. Adam Sr. and his son, John, served in the Revolutionary War. Frederick's mother was Anna Catherine Miller, daughter of (John) Frederick Miller, a Revolutionary soldier. Frederick was named for his grandfather Miller.

Prior to 1850, he migrated from Snyder Co., Pa. to Rock Grove Twp., Stephenson Co., Ill. Joining his brothers, John and Michael, who had moved to Stephenson County in 1840. In 1850, Frederick moved to Buckeye Twp., Stephenson County, and built a home there. In 1836, he married a sister of William Ritzman, of Pennsylvania. She died in 1852. In 1853, he married Caroline Edwards of Pennsylvania, who died in 1878. In November, 1879, he married Diana Bogar of Snyder Co., Pa. He had six children, probably all by his first wife. They were: Harriet Fry, George, Hannah Kimball, Jane Yagle [sic], Ada Etzler, and Wilson, who died prior to 1880.


Below is a copy of an email posted to the soc.genealogy.german newsgroup about the meaning of the name “Bolender.” Below that are a couple of messages on a Bolinger family of West Virginia before the Civil War:


Posted to newsgroup: soc.genealogy.german
Date:03 Mar 98 14:15:17
From:Ernest Thode
To:All
Subj:PETER BOLENDER/18th Century Immigrant from Palatine/1750


Kmbolender <[email protected]> writes:

> Dear Friends,
> I’m trying to find info on Peter and Stefen Bolender
> that came to Lancaster Co. Pennsylvania about mid
> 1700’s. Where did they come from in Germany?
> What is the origination of the name?
>
> Thanks, K. Merrill Bolender, [email protected]

The surname BOLENDER means someone who came from Bolanden, just as KISSINGER means someone from Kissingen or WEISENHEIMER means someone from Weisenheim (and in English it has an additional meaning and I hope nobody is a Weisenheimer by making a joke about that).

The first ancestor who took on the surname must have come *from* Bolanden, now a part of Kirchheimbolanden. The spelling may have been BOLA"NDER (BOLAENDER) originally.

Don’t look for your immigrant ancestor to come from (Kirchheim-) Bolanden, though. They would probably come from the vicinity of Bolanden. Or they may have moved away from that area in the centuries between when surnames began to be assumed and the time of emigration.

Ernest THODE
-----
Ernest Thode, Washington County Public Library,
Marietta, OH 45750-1973
[email protected]


Area:National Genealogical Echo
Date:26 Mar 94 11:48:00
From:Mike Arnold
To:Marianne Wilkat
Subj:Bolinger/bollinger In Pa


Noticed in a quote from one of your old msgs that you have BOLLINGER in your PA line. I am searching for a single BOLINGER along the PA/WV line and wondered if you could help?

On 30 Sep 1865 my g-grandmother Sarah JONES Bolinger, a widow, married Bushrod ARNOLD, my g-grandfather. (Monongalia Cnty Marriages, Bk. B, Pg. 16, Line 20.) Sarah and Bushrod had at least seven sons, but the first two, John W. ARNOLD and James ARNOLD, were born in 1863 and 1865 respectively. I conclude John W. and probably James ARNOLD were actually the sons of Sarah JONES Bolinger and ____ BOLINGER, who must have died between 1862-1865.

Sarah JONES was b. abt 1841 and d. 13 Aug 1885. She was the daughter of A. Wilson JONES (b. abt 1822) and Elizabeth _____, but according to the Monongalia Cnty, WV Census, in 1860 Sarah was 18 yrs old and living in the household of Jesse ARNOLD, Bushrod ARNOLD's father.

The dates intrigue me. Do you have a 20-25 yr old BOLINGER/BOLLINGER who lived near the western PA/WV border and who went off and got killed in the Civil War?

Best....Mike Arnold

TBBS v2.1/NM
Origin: Nat’l Genealogical Society, Arlington VA 703-528-2612 (1:109/302)


Area:National Genealogical Echo
Date:26 Mar 94 19:45:00
From:Marianne Wilkat
To:Mike Arnold
Subj:Re: Bolinger/bollinger In Pa


respectively. I conclude John W. and probably James
MA> ARNOLD were actually the sons of Sarah JONES
MA> Bolinger and ____ BOLINGER, who must have died
MA> between 1862-1865.
MA>
MA> Sarah JONES was b. abt 1841 and d. 13 Aug 1885.
MA> She was the daughter of A. Wilson JONES (b.
MA> abt 1822) and Elizabeth _____, but according to the
MA> Monongalia Cnty, WV Census, in 1860 Sarah was 18
MA> yrs old and living in the household of Jesse ARNOLD,
MA> Bushrod ARNOLD’s father.
MA>
MA> The dates intrigue me. Do you have a 20-25 yr old
MA> BOLINGER/BOLLINGER who lived near the western
MA> PA/WV border and who went off and got killed in
MA> the Civil War?

Mike, the George Bollinger that I have, I think was born about 1830 give or take 10 years. He married Celestine Kreiger and they lived near Seddonburg [sic], Penn. I have more on Celestine's family. I will keep your letter on file and if I run across any more info. along this line, I will definitely let you know.

Thanks for taking the time to write. By keeping our eyes open, and questions flying, we’ll make the connections, one way or another.

Good luck in your quest.

Marianne

Blue Wave/Max v2.12
Origin: The Electric Birdmen of Calgary (403) 251-4278 (1:134/188)


Note: See FEEFHS - Federation of East European Family History Societies for links to scanned detailed early maps of Germany. You can also learn where Kirchheimbolanden is located at Mapquest.

An examination of a map from Mapquest along with a map of all of Germany reveals that Kirchheimbolanden and Bolanden are located within 2 miles of each other, and about 35 miles northwest of Mannheim, which places them both in the Rheinland-Pfalz (Palatine) region of modern Germany, as well as being about 120 miles directly east of Nuremburg, Germany, where my KRESS family originated.


Links to Other Bolender Web Sites

Johann “Adam” BOHLENDER/Anna “Elizabeth” KREPS Note: See other information above.

Johann BOLENDER/Catherine STEESE Note: Also, see more information above

Looking Back — Crowson, Conder, Granger, Bolender-Bolander-Bolinger Families

BOLENDER & SCHENCKEL GENEALOGY

GenForum Message Board for Bolender Surname on Genealogy.com

GenForum Message Board for Bolinger Surname on Genealogy.com

GenForum Message Board for Bollinger Surname on Geneaology.com


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