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EPHRAIM BOLLINGER was for
long years one of the highly respected
and truly worthy citizens of Stonington Township. The whole community
was
deeply shocked on learning of his death, which occurred in March, 1893.
While
attempting to cross the railroad track to look after some business near
the
crossing by the Stonington Station, he was run down and instantly
killed by the
train. He was laid to rest in Grove City Cemetery [ed., probably Grove
City Methodist
Cemetery].
The birth of Mr.
Bellinger occurred in Baltimore County, Md.,
October 24, 1832, and he grew to manhood near his birthplace. He was of
German
descent, though his father and mother were born and reared in Baltimore
County.
The family removed to Christian County, Ill., in 1869.
Our subject worked at his
trade of a millwright until the
commencement of the late Civil War. For three years during that
struggle he was
employed as a teamster in and near Baltimore. After his arrival in
Illinois, he
gave his whole time and energy to farming. When he started out to fight
life's
battles, he had his own way to make from the first, and even at the
time of his
marriage he was only in moderate circumstances. He was the eldest of
thirteen
children, eight of whom were sons.
The marriage of Mr.
Bollinger occurred in Baltimore County, Md.,
his wife being Miss Mary Ann Street, who was born in that county August
23, 1832. They have
become the parents of eight children:
Oliver, who is now deceased, and James M., deceased, both of whom were
buried
in Baltimore County; Mary E., who died in Christian County, and lies
buried in
Grove City Cemetery [ed., probably Grove
City
Methodist Cemetery]; Henry C., John T., William E., Daniel S. and
Samuel
W., who are respected citizens of this county. Henry C. married Miss
Keziah
Coffee, who was born and educated in this county. They are residents of
Stonington Township. John T. married Miss Caroline Cooner, of this
county, and
lives near the old homestead. The three younger brothers are at home
with their
mother and lend their dutiful assistance in carrying on the homestead.
The farm
is one hundred and twenty acres in extent, located on section 14, and
has good
improvements upon it.
In
his political faith Mr. Bollinger was a Republican
and was a worthy example of the agricultural class. He bore a high
reputation
for integrity of purpose and justice in the various walks of life. Both
himself
and wife for many years held membership with the German Reformed
Church, to
which the latter still belongs.
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