Legislator Details
Vital Records Information:
Marital Information:
married Jennie R. Repath, dau. of Richard Bolen, 7/20/1887, in Hancock, MI; children: 2, daughters; Ethel and Alberta [one was Mrs. Pietz the other Mrs. Dean]
Number of Children: 2
Background
Education:
graduated from high school; studied a year at Valparaiso (Indiana) business college; spent a year and a half (1884-86) at the University of Michigan
Biographical Sketch:
Son of Rebecca (Cook) Bolen. His father's family came from England to Virginia. His mother's family were colonial Pennsylvania Germans. His first 12 years were spent in the country. At ages 12 to 15, he learned to be a printer. From 15 to 18, he was on a farm in the summer and at school in the winter. From 18-20, he taught school in the winter. He then went to Providence and Boston to work as a printer; later purchased and worked as a newspaper writer and manager for a few years at the Hancock Evening Copper Journal. At one point, he returned to Staunton, VA where he established the Staunton Daily News, which he sold in 1894 to go to Jackson, MI, where he operated a printshop with his brother-in-law. He moved to Battle Creek in 1906. He was a partner and manager of the Phoenix Printing Co. in Battle Creek until 1927. He had various other printing jobs in Virginia and Michigan. He devoted his free time to studying economics and authored 3 books on the subject, one of which was used as a textbook at University of Michigan for several years.
Notable Facts:
Died of heart disease.
Death certificate says burial was to be in Oak Hill Cemetery; obit. says Oak Hill Abbey, Find-a-Grave.com says Memorial Park Cemetery all are in in Battle Creek.