The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-23
THE BOLASD FAMILY.
They Were Among the First Settlers OF the
County and Still Hold the Even
Tenor of their Way.


then tha. we had undertaken the hard
est task first, as we were inclined to be-
lieve that the Sheaiy name had the
inside track. But, when we survey the
field, we find that the Boland name Is
by no means extinct, nor is there any
probability of its becoming so soon,
Judging from the young atd rising
generation.
The sire of this vast progeny, John
Boland, came from the Fatherland
about the year 1854, in company with
konkle, Swartz and others.
John Boland was % years old when
he came to South Carolina. He mar
ried a widow Counts, and settled not
far from the present town Of Chapins.
From thi. union there was but one sou,
Abram. His wife died, and he then
married a Miss Feltman. From this
union there were seven sons; John,
Henry, Adam, George, William, Dove,
and Jacob, and two daughters, Barbara
and Mary.
Mr.. Boland died in he year 1882, at
the advanced age of 50 years, and lies
buried not far from the spot where he
first settled He was thrifty, ener-
getic man, telling the forest and tilling
the soil for an honest living.
Six of his SONS, John, Henry, Adam,
William, George, Dove and Jacob went
West to seek their fortune, but with
what success we are unable to say.
A5ram remained near the old paren-
tai homestead, married Miss Sease,
and reared a large family of nine sons:
William, Frederick, Joe, Adam, Levi,
Walter, Middleton, Mark and Osra,
and one daughter, Katie, who mar
ried Mr.. George Shealy.
All these sors reared large families
except Levi, who married a MissWheel-
er, and died leaving no offspring.
William and Walter went West and
are still living. Joe, Middleton and
Mark, now well up in years, are still
toiling at their favorite occupation near
the place where they first saw the light
of day. The other sons and the daugh-
ter are no more. Middleton endured
ali the hardships of the late war, and
when away, fighting for his country,
Sherman S horde of goths and vandals
passed through this country, and burn-
ed and destroyed all his buildings; and
upon his arrival home, from the seat OF
war, be found nought but pile OF
ruins to mark the spot where once stood
his comfortable home. But with his
wonted energy be went to work and, by
dint of hard labor, regained what he
lost. He reared a family of six sons
and five daughters; gave them all fair
education, and to-day is pleasantly
quartered in his hospitable home, liv-
ing at ease with conscience void OF ol-
fense toward his fellow man.
Of his Sous We may mention \. n.
and David Boland, two very genial
gentlemen who reside near the home
stead. They are men Of influence IN
the community in which they reside;
honest and upright in their dealings
with their fellow-men, which virtues
we think constitute the noblest of men.
Osra Boland died in early life, ieav-
ing two sons, D. c.. and J. A. Boland,
who commenced life penniless. They
have accumulated property and are
known as extensive mill men, and
hence need no eulogy at my hands.
Joseph Bolaud, now almost ripe unto
the harvest, still resides where he first
settled sixty years ago. He reared a
family Of three sons and seven daugh-
ters, all of whom follow the example
of their ancestors, earning their bread
by the sweat of their face.
Adam Boland is no more. He has
gone to his reward. The writer knew
him well in years gone by-a good,
jovial old gentleman. His widow stu
fingers on this side, tottering on the
brink of the grave. He left two sons
and three daughters. The daughter,
Mrs. George Shealy, died few years
ago. She was the best of mothers,
Judging from her offspring, for it is the
mother who moulds the character Of
the child. The most lasting impress
sions are those which are made in in
fancy, when the mind is like WaXen
tablet ready for impressions good OF
evil.
Uncle Mark Boland is still with US,
and he is too we'll known for any COM
ments.
The younger race have caught the
inspiration and are moving onward.
We are told that the Bolands have
never fallen heir to any large estates,
but are the possessors Of what they
own by dint of hard labor. They have
ever steered their ships cleared of poll
tics. They have never held any Office
in county or State, and have never
asked for one. Whether they did moi
have the cheek to make vague prom
ises that they would sacrifice taem
selves on their country's altar to enact
some great something, unprecedented
in the annals of history, by which thell
fellow-men would be raised from
hovel to a paradise, or whether they
have no aspirations in that direction
we are unable to say. Be that as i
may, they steered clear of the quick
sands Of politics and have gained there
by. We presume, however, that thi
is only matter of difference in dispo
siton. Some families are so constitu
"a ~ ,,,t,r ro tlot oycitoyDoDt forms