Bolen, Benjamin bio

History of Fulton County, Illinois; together with Sketches of its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious, Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons and Biographies of Representative Citizens. Chas. C. Chapman & Co., Peoria, Illinois, 1879, page 421, Astoria Township
Benjamin Bolen, farmer, sec 8; P. O., Astoria. The subject of this sketch was born in Maryland, Feb. 15, 1806, and is the son of John Bolen, native of the same State, where he grew to manhood and married Miss Jane Hood, by whom he raised a family of 5 children. Benjamin, the only son, grew up in Pennsylvania where his parents settled in 1806. In youth he learned the carpenter's trade and for some time followed this calling. In 1833 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary McCormick, daughter of Booth McCormick. In 1834 Mr. B. cast his lot among the residents of Illinois, settling in Astoria township, where he has since resided. When the war broke out he enlisted in Co. H, 85th Ill. Inf., and after a service of one year was honorably discharges and returned to his old home. A short time after the enlistmant of Mr. B. his second son, John Irvin, turned from the peaceful farm life to the battle-field and eventually laid down his life for his country. They have 5 children, - Matilda, Sarah J., Phoebe J., William and Irvin.