Boli, Ed L.

Posted By: Wally Garchow
Date: 24 January 2003

transcribed from Frazer Wilson's History of Darke County, v. 2, 1914, pp 386-387.

ED L. BOLI

Mr. Boli is a native son of Darke county and was born at Ithaca July 9, 1852, a son of Lewis and Julia Trager) Boli. His father, a native of Gaugrehueiler, Bavaria, Germany, emigrated to the United States as a lad of sixteen years, landing at New York alone. Traveling by way of the Hudson river and Erie canal to Buffalo, N. Y., steamer to Cleveland then canal to Navaree, Stark county, as at that day there was no other mode of travel; where for a short time he was employed by his elder brother. Subsequently he went to Cincinnati and was employed by Mitchel & Rammelsburg Furniture Company as cabinet maker. On June 11, 1848, he was married to Miss Julia Trager. In the spring of 1852 they moved to Ithaca, Darke county, Ohio, traveling as far as West Baltimore by train, and the rest of the way by wagon, as train only came that far. At Ithaca, Ohio, he established himself in the furniture and undertaking business, being one of the earliest funeral directors of that place. He was a man of good business ability and made the most of the opportunities offered him and became a substantial and highly respected citizen, holding many offices of public trust. To their union was born six children: Ed L. and Charles Theodore, who survive. They received their education in the public schools of Ithaca. Ed L., when but ten years of age, secured employment on a farm. Later he was for sometime associated with his father in the furniture and undertaking business and also accepted whatever other honorable employment presented itself in the meantime carefully saving his earnings with the idea of becoming his own employer. On February 6, 1879, he was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Hunt, daughter of James and Eliza (Seybold) Hunt, who lived at different times in both Montgomery and Preble counties. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Boli: Virgil T., Pearl B., Opha and Clara, the two latter are deceased. Virgil T. Boli was married to Ulree L. Broderick, daughter of Lem and Lutisea Broderick of Harrison Township, January 27, 1909. Two children, Velma and Eugene, bless this union. Mr. Boli now resides in Greenville and is a mail clerk on the P., C., C. & St. L. railroad, between Pittsburgh, Pa., and Indianapolis, Ind.

On May 24, 1909, Mrs. Ed Boli was laid to rest in the cemetery at New Madison. She was well known, industrious and respected and was mourned for by a wide circle of friends, being a devoted mother to her family and a woman of influence in the neighborhood in which she lived.

Ed L., since marriage, has always followed the occupation of farming and moved but three times, always living in Darke county, now residing on the Boli homestead in German township) with his brother C. T., and daughter Pearl.

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