California Biographies
Mendocino and Lake Counties, California
 
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California
With Biographical Sketches
History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry
Illustrated, Complete In One Volume
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914


MRS. A. B. OLSON.� The life history of J. V. H. Bolter, the father 
of Mrs. Olson, indicates that he was identified, at different periods of his 
activity, with New York state, Iowa, Missouri and California. Born in 
Oneida county, N. Y., he was the son of R. H. and Sarah (Sturdyvant) 
Bolter, born in France and Dublin, Ireland, respectively. They were married 
in New York state, where they were in the dairy business. Afterwards they 
removed to Farmington, Iowa, where he located on new land, which he im- 
proved and operated. In connection he built a blacksmith and carriage shop 
and did the work for the farmers and travelers. In those days the}' made 
their own horseshoes and nails, and all his carriage woodwork he made him- 
self. Both parents died in Iowa. With his parents Mr. Bolter had sought 
the newer regions of the middle west in young manhood and had settled at 
Farmington, Van Buren county, Iowa, where he followed the trades of 
wheelwright and blacksmith. After settling in that town he met and married 
-Mary Jane French, a native of Harrisburg, Pa., whose grandfather, Enoch 
French, a wagon-maker in the capital city of Pennsylvania, had migrated to 
Iowa and opened the first wagon-maker's shop at Farmington. In a search 
for cheap land J. V. H. Bolter had acquired some property near Wheeling, 
Livingston county. Mo., and after the close of the Civil war he went to that 
section to develop the tract. He had been in California in 1850, after which 
he went to Peru and Central America, returning to California in 1854. Here 
he remained two years and then returned to Iowa. He had studied law and 
was admitted to the bar of Iowa in 1858, and later became a prominent attor- 
ney in Livingston county. Mo. During the Civil war he served as sheriff and 
treasurer of Livingston county. Mo., where he became a very influential man. 
During the '80s he and his wife made a visit to Kelseyville, Cal., visiting Mr. 
and Mrs. Olson Mr. Bolter returned to Wheeling, Mo., and there died Sep- 
tember 7, 1890, at the age of sixty-four years. His wife continued to make 
her home with their daughter, Mrs. Olson, and died in Kelseyville in 1902. 

The family were of old pioneer stock and had become well acquainted with 
the Mormons when the members of that religious sect, exiled from their 
homes at Nauvoo. III., were crossing the country in search of a place of refuge 
on the deserts of Utah. 

On account of ill health Miss Amphelia B. Bolter came to California, 
hoping to be benefited by the change of climate. From the first the benefit 
was apparent and soon after coming to Lake county she was fully restored 
to health. Her brother, Elliott J., who married Miss Addie Howe, of Kelsey- 
ville, died at Santa Cruz, this state, leaving one son, Herbert. Elbert J., a 
younger brother of Mrs. Olson, died at Wheeling, Mo., at seventeen years of 
age: and her younger sister, Mary I., was married at Wheeling, Mo., to 
Charles Foreman. Eventually she came west and died in Santa Cruz, leaving 
two children, Selma and Ora. Selma married William Fowler and lives at 
San Jose. Ora is also living in San Jose. Mrs. Olson has suffered deep 
bereavement in the loss of three children. The twins, Ethel H. and Elbert 
H., died in infancy, and John Ernest was taken in the flush of young man- 
hood, the youngest son, Andies Cecil, being the only survivor, and as he 
has entered into business in Oakland, Mr. and Mrs. Olson are left alone in 
their home, but with the former engrossed in the work at the shop and Mrs. 
Olson managing the hotel with energy and tact, they have little leisure for 
grieving over the sorrows of the past. A woman of progressive spirit, Mrs. 
Olson has been interested in the movement for woman's suffrage from its 
start. In religion she is connected with the Presbyterian Church of Kelsey- 
ville. The prohibition work receives her stanch support, and she has been 
president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union at Kelseyville, filling 
the office with vigor and enthusiasm. About fifteen years ago, at a Fourth 
of July celebration, she entered for the procession an equal suffrage float 
drawn by four white horses, the driver in a George Washington suit and the 
whole float beautifully decorated in yellow and white.