Sat, July 1, 1950
Death Snuffs Out Pioner Spirit of Eli Bolick, 95
Asotin, June 30 – Eli Bolick, 95, who began ranching in the Anatone district in 1878, died at 8:15 tonight at his home at Asotin after an illness of several months.
Last summer Mr. Bolick raised a large garden and cared for the family cow and a flock of chickens. Until about the same time he drove his own car.
Born in a mountainous rural section of South Carolina, Nov. 18, 1854, Mr. Bolick early felt the urge to seek his fortune in the west. At 22 he had accumulated nearly $100, and started on his journey, eager for land and a home of his own.
The end of the first year's travel found him in Missouri working for wages. Still seeking homesteaded opportunities, he continued to travel west, crossing the southern states by rail and thence by boat to Portland. Again penniless, he worked for six months more to accumulate enough money to take him to Anatone, where he had heard there was still land available.
He arrived at his destination in October, 1878, too late for farming and the working season, and too late for the level farmlands near timberline. So he staked his preemption on "second best" land in the vicinity of rocky hollow. Land in this area was later found to produce heavier and better yields than in the higher level stretches. By exchanging work with his neighbors he was able to get help in dragging logs from the timbered area and notch fitting them together to form a cabin as he had no money for nails and would not resort to borrowing.
Mr. Bolick told of pulling in his first crop to garden and potatoes, which he could not sell. He said he once hauled six sacks of potatoes to Lewiston and took in exchange one pair of gloves.
Helped Neighbors
For money he helped his neighbors erect split rail fences, or worked in the harvests at Walla Walla. Sometimes he received a horse, cow or calf in pay for his services. These formed the beginning of large livestock herds.
Gradually Mr. Bolick bought other farms, offered for sale by discouraged neighbors or by companies holding mortgages until his farm grew to 2000 acres.
He married Vina Forgey, daughter of an Anatone pioneer in the 90's.
Both Mr. And Mrs. Bolick were determined their children would have an education and moved to Asotin during the school term. Mrs. Bolick died in 1916. In 1918 Mr. Bolick married Mrs. Mary C. Loy, of an Oregon pioneer family.
Besides his wife, he is survived by seven children. Dell Bolick who operates the family ranch at Anatone; Wallace of Lewiston Orchards; Russell, Spokane; Mrs. Molly Greene Asotin; Brace Bolick, Portland; Mrs. Nellie Gilles, Big Bend, OR and Mrs. Bob Sargeant, Lewiston.
The body is at Merchant's funeral home, Clarkston, with funeral arrangements pending.
∼My mother told me that Eli left North Carolina with a sack of flour on his back. Eli and Elvina Forgey Bolick were married at Asotin Flats, Washington in 1886. Eli began with a large vegetable garden and later dry land wheat farming. Information from Frona Marlaine Rich
Sat, July 1, 1950
Death Snuffs Out Pioner Spirit of Eli Bolick, 95
Asotin, June 30 – Eli Bolick, 95, who began ranching in the Anatone district in 1878, died at 8:15 tonight at his home at Asotin after an illness of several months.
Last summer Mr. Bolick raised a large garden and cared for the family cow and a flock of chickens. Until about the same time he drove his own car.
Born in a mountainous rural section of South Carolina, Nov. 18, 1854, Mr. Bolick early felt the urge to seek his fortune in the west. At 22 he had accumulated nearly $100, and started on his journey, eager for land and a home of his own.
The end of the first year's travel found him in Missouri working for wages. Still seeking homesteaded opportunities, he continued to travel west, crossing the southern states by rail and thence by boat to Portland. Again penniless, he worked for six months more to accumulate enough money to take him to Anatone, where he had heard there was still land available.
He arrived at his destination in October, 1878, too late for farming and the working season, and too late for the level farmlands near timberline. So he staked his preemption on "second best" land in the vicinity of rocky hollow. Land in this area was later found to produce heavier and better yields than in the higher level stretches. By exchanging work with his neighbors he was able to get help in dragging logs from the timbered area and notch fitting them together to form a cabin as he had no money for nails and would not resort to borrowing.
Mr. Bolick told of pulling in his first crop to garden and potatoes, which he could not sell. He said he once hauled six sacks of potatoes to Lewiston and took in exchange one pair of gloves.
Helped Neighbors
For money he helped his neighbors erect split rail fences, or worked in the harvests at Walla Walla. Sometimes he received a horse, cow or calf in pay for his services. These formed the beginning of large livestock herds.
Gradually Mr. Bolick bought other farms, offered for sale by discouraged neighbors or by companies holding mortgages until his farm grew to 2000 acres.
He married Vina Forgey, daughter of an Anatone pioneer in the 90's.
Both Mr. And Mrs. Bolick were determined their children would have an education and moved to Asotin during the school term. Mrs. Bolick died in 1916. In 1918 Mr. Bolick married Mrs. Mary C. Loy, of an Oregon pioneer family.
Besides his wife, he is survived by seven children. Dell Bolick who operates the family ranch at Anatone; Wallace of Lewiston Orchards; Russell, Spokane; Mrs. Molly Greene Asotin; Brace Bolick, Portland; Mrs. Nellie Gilles, Big Bend, OR and Mrs. Bob Sargeant, Lewiston.
The body is at Merchant's funeral home, Clarkston, with funeral arrangements pending.
∼My mother told me that Eli left North Carolina with a sack of flour on his back. Eli and Elvina Forgey Bolick were married at Asotin Flats, Washington in 1886. Eli began with a large vegetable garden and later dry land wheat farming. Information from Frona Marlaine Rich
Family Members
-
Maud Lena Bolick
1887–1904
-
Alice Rachel Bolick Adams
1889–1949
-
Wallace Waitsel Byron Bolick
1889–1958
-
Mollie G. Bolick Greene
1890–1966
-
Grace Pearl Bolick
1892–1981
-
Eli Dell Bolick
1894–1972
-
Jeanette Gladys Bolick Gillis
1897–1984
-
Russell Clayborn Bolick
1902–1983
-
Fern Isabelle Bolick Sargent
1906–1954
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement