The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-12-23
HAD AMASSED
A FORTUNE
Levi ]. Bolster Died Last
Night at Age Of u
WEALTHIEST MAN IN CITY
Had Been Citizen Of the Place for Nearly
Half q century-Started Life as
Farmer Boy and by Energy
Advanced Rapidly.

Levi j. Bolster, one of Barre's best
known citizens and its wealthiest, passed
away at 10 o'clock last night at his home
on North Main street, following an illness
with cancer Of the stomach, with which
he had been troubled for many months,
although he had been confined TO the
bed for less than three weeks. His rug
ged constitution, coupled with life Of
good habits, had enabled him to with
stand the ravages of the disease far
longer than many men could have resist
ed it. The first serious indications Of
the presence OF the malady came last
October, when he was at his farm prop
lerty in Websterville, and since that time
there had been steady decline in
health.
Mr.. Bolster's career in the business
world was somewhht remarkable and
furnishes proof that a man Of energy
and perspicaoity can amass fortune
without going outside the confines of
Vermont. lie started in as q farmer boy
in the southern part Of the state and
by assiduous attention to business went
from business success to business succe;s
until he had accumulated a great deal oil
property, owning in Barne alone no less
than hundred tenements, several busi-
ness structures, many granite plants,
large farm and miscellaneous odds and
ends OF property, to say nothing of wood
lots and other real estate in more remote
sections. Almost up to the last week OF
bis life, he was actively engaged in
constructing buildings and improving
property already built. He was a keen
Judge Of q business opportunity and
rarely made mistakes In his work he
received the hearty support Of his wife,
and. in fact, he used to give her part
credit for his business success.
Mr.. Bolster was born in Winhall, the
son OF Chaplin and Rebecca Bolster, on
August 10, 1886, and his early years were
spent in that little Vermont town. Later
he went to Dunmarston and subsequent.
ly to Brattleboro, following the occupa-
ton OF a farmers 4ielper until, having
gone TO the last-named place, he branch
ed out into business, travelling through.
out Vermont and retailing sewing silk
In this line he laid the foundation for
his fortune, having amassed what was
considered a competence in those days
when, in 1880, he came to Barre TO make
his home
For some time after residing here he
continued in the same line of business.
although he soon entered the wholesale
end Of the trade, and at the same time
picking the business openings as they
developed in a community which was re-
eeiving the impetus of its granite deyel |
opment. MFR. Bolster retired from the /
silk business many years ago, having
latterly devoted himself 10 real estate, |
farming, conducting granite plants, and, |
incidentally, dealing in wood on large
sesle.
In the last years OF his life his par
ticular pride was the development Of his I
farm OF upwards OF 800 acres on Barre
Town hill He had laid out many thou
sands of dollars in buildings and roads,
and had one of the most uptodate farms
in Vermont. To show his desire to inn
prove the place, he last summer con-
structed at q cost Of $500 an entire
road from the farmhouse to the East
Barre main road, making model thor
oughfare and cutting off long stretch
of roundabout travel to reach this city.
He had large force of men at work
there all the year around, besides a long
payroll in wood cutting, the granite pol
ishing business and miscellaneous under
takings 1t would be difficult to deter
mine the number OF men in his employ
as ii would be to state the exact amount
of his wealth
nA4e&a4 Hal vnvn~ ,xNno ~,.,,aL s,,4a
public life although he had held Office,
having been bailiff in the old town and
being director in the Peoples National
Bank. he never sought office and what
csme to him was entirely unsolicited
he lived quietly at the residence, 2S3
North Main street, which had been his
home ever since his marriage and which
had been Mrs Bolster's homestead for
many years prior to that time. Mrs.
Bolster's father, Joel Bolster, who was
,ne of the leading citizens of the place,
BUILT the house which now stands there,
he residence being encompassed by busi-
less structures now.
He was married to Calista r. Bolster
N February 27, 1861, the year following
lis coming to Barre, and she survives
rim, One sister, Mfs Mary Almina
of Bellows Falls, also sur
ives him. out of family of fifteen
,rothers and sisters Mrs Richardson is
low at the family residence. having been !,
allied by the illness Of her brother. He i
lso has many nephews and nieces in the ]
outhern part of the state.
Mfr. Bolster has been for so many :
rears such a familiar figure on the
treets and such a forceful personality T
n the business life Of the community :
hat he viii be greatly missed. Those !
Who know him best testify to his rugged |
honesty and also to his demand for the !
anne quality in the people with whom !
e had dealings. He was not a member !
{ any religious denomination, although !
e contributed to church support He did
ot 20 in for lodge or fraternity life,
aying been connected with only one or
aniKstion Of that sort, that being the
nights Of Honor; but he had withdrawn
rom that several years ago. He was
omewhat reserved in nature, prefeTringl
il home life. :
The funeral arrangements were com &
leted to-day. There wiz be q service s
{ his late residence on North Main G
treet Friday afternoon at l.30 il
clock, with the Rev. J. Edward Wright 4