Married October 1st 1879
in Livonia, Livingston County, New York.
********************************
The Livonia Gazette
Livonia, Livingston County, New York.
Friday, March 23, 1928
ILLNESS FATAL TO E. R. BOLLES
Well-Known Livonia Resident Ill Since May - Had Interesting Career - Funeral Will Be At Commercial Hotel Sunday Afternoon.
"Ellie" Bolles, his name was Elton, he always signed himself as E. R., but people knew him the countryside over only as Ellie - died at his home at the Commercial hotel, Livonia, yesterday morning at 6 o'clock at the age of 72.
Only strength of a powerful will and the hardiest of constitutions held him until this time. Mr. Bolles underwent a serious breakdown last May, and although he recovered from that to a greater degree than any one anticipated, he never regained his former vigor of body and mind. Even previous to last May his health had been visibly failing, but he could not bring himself to give up. He had never before been sick, and this was a new and distasteful experience for him. It became necessary, however, for him to relinquish his leadership and to allow his business enterprises to be conducted by his friends and associates, who did so as nearly as possible in accord with his known desires.
Mr. Bolles was born the 11th of February, 1856, in what later came to be known as the Rodney Hatch place, how owned by George Boyd, about a mile south of Livonia village on the state road. His parents were the late Jerry and Caroline Kimbark Bolles. Later the family moved to the widely known Jerry Bolles summer resort at Conesus lake subsequently and until recently owned by Mrs. Susette Woodworth, where they lived and conducted their famous hostelry. A fascinating book could have been written regarding this place, where Mr. Bolles spent his earlier days, and regarding which he wrote with great interest in the Gazette three years ago. After seventeen years at the lake, about 1891, the family moved to Livonia village; where E. R. Bolles bought the Joe Lewis livery. He had meantime (October 1, 1879) married Miss Jennie Johnson, and upon coming to the village he and his wife went into the house now owned and occupied by John Morrissey, while his parents took the next house east, where the Smith and McClelland families now reside. Mr. Bolles conducted the livery business for five years, at the expiration of which Dr. A. F. Becker, joined him for a short time. At the conclusion of this partnership Mr. Bolles formed a partnership with Morrissey brothers, which lasted about two years, when the later bought the business. They conducted it for two years, during which time Mr. Bolles worked the John Bolles farm at the lake, part of that time running a milk route in Livonia village. At the end of this two-year period Mr. Bolles bought back the livery business. He conducted it this time for four years, and in 1903, sold it to John Morrissey who has owned it ever since. Mr. and Mrs. Bolles moved from the Morrissey house to the Johnson house on High street, now owned by Mrs. M. G. Sharp, subsequently buying of Dr. A. F. Becker the brick house on commercial street, known as the whitney place. Here he lived until 1923, when he sold it to Frank Thomas, the present owner and occupant. It was at this time that he moved to the Commercial hotel, which he and his brother-in-law, H. B. Johnson, had purchased. Mrs. Bolles had died on August 12. 1919. Mr. Bolles was known widely, particularly as a showman, auctioneer and real estate man. Back in his days at Conesus he gained, or developed, his liking for the show business in various forms, and he carried it through life. He promoted a great many kinds of entertainment, in the interest local organizations, and as manager for out-of-town events. Once he got together a troup of Tonawanda Indians and went on the road with them, and at one time he and Mrs. Bolles showed on the road with the Hotchkin family, musical entertainers. He coached many home-talent plays, the most famous of which was probably Uncle Tom's Cabin, in which he himself took the parts of Gumption Cute and Phineas Fletcher, while Mrs. Bolles starred as Topsy. Few of this old cast are left, the death of one being recorded also this week, Dr. Clapp, who always tickled the audience as Marks, the lawyer. Seventeen years ago Mr. Bolles started the Livingston & Ontario carnival, which he nurtured and shaped until it became a, unique and established institution in the summer entertainment life of a wide area. Sometimes he lost money, sometimes he made it, but he kept on every year, taking the obligations and risks, and making such alterations in his programs as he thought would please his public and himself personally. During his illness last summer the carnival was his greatest concern, it was impossible to relieve his mind of the details of the undertaking.
About 1896 Mr. Bolles began auctioneering under the tutelage of the late J. R. Hopkins, whose years of experience gave his helper valuable training. Eventually the two joined as partners, and when Mr. Hopkins died in 1901 Mr. Bolles succeeded Hopkins & Bolles, Auctioneers. During this more than a quarter of a century since he entered upon this work, Mr. Bolles had sold thousands upon thousands of dollars worth of property at hundreds of auctions. He made an enviable reputation for himself and was in constant demand for many miles around during the entire year. Since his health began to fail he associated with him John VerPlank, who has recently conducted his sales.
As a real estate man Mr. Bolles had a wide and varied experience in dealing with all kinds of property, and his services were by no means limited to local transactions. His latest partnership in this field was with M. H. Annis.
Mr. Bolles was president of the village of Livonia for three terms, 1919-1921, and was for a period president of the Union cemetery association.
He leaves no family. The death of his wife nine years ago has been noted. They had a boy, Harry J. who died at the age of only a few months, but there were no other children. A half-sister, Mrs. Jessie West Crary, died recently. Her two daughters, one of whom lives in California and the other in Chicago, and a cousin; Dan Kelly of Groveland, are his nearest surviving relatives.
The funeral services will be held at the Commercial hotel Sunday afternoon at 2:30, with burial in Union cemetery..
Any obituary notice of E. R. Bolles can be but a suggestion and a reminder of his unique life. Those who knew him can readily visualize his unusual career; those who did not, can easily read between the lines. His autobiography would have been exhaustive and of intense human interest. He lived apart, in that he belonged to no organization, either fraternal or religious; yet his life was one of continuous contact and dealing with the public.
Mr. Bolles death takes from Livonia a rare and distinctive character, which could scarcely be duplicated.
********************************
Married October 1st 1879
in Livonia, Livingston County, New York.
********************************
The Livonia Gazette
Livonia, Livingston County, New York.
Friday, March 23, 1928
ILLNESS FATAL TO E. R. BOLLES
Well-Known Livonia Resident Ill Since May - Had Interesting Career - Funeral Will Be At Commercial Hotel Sunday Afternoon.
"Ellie" Bolles, his name was Elton, he always signed himself as E. R., but people knew him the countryside over only as Ellie - died at his home at the Commercial hotel, Livonia, yesterday morning at 6 o'clock at the age of 72.
Only strength of a powerful will and the hardiest of constitutions held him until this time. Mr. Bolles underwent a serious breakdown last May, and although he recovered from that to a greater degree than any one anticipated, he never regained his former vigor of body and mind. Even previous to last May his health had been visibly failing, but he could not bring himself to give up. He had never before been sick, and this was a new and distasteful experience for him. It became necessary, however, for him to relinquish his leadership and to allow his business enterprises to be conducted by his friends and associates, who did so as nearly as possible in accord with his known desires.
Mr. Bolles was born the 11th of February, 1856, in what later came to be known as the Rodney Hatch place, how owned by George Boyd, about a mile south of Livonia village on the state road. His parents were the late Jerry and Caroline Kimbark Bolles. Later the family moved to the widely known Jerry Bolles summer resort at Conesus lake subsequently and until recently owned by Mrs. Susette Woodworth, where they lived and conducted their famous hostelry. A fascinating book could have been written regarding this place, where Mr. Bolles spent his earlier days, and regarding which he wrote with great interest in the Gazette three years ago. After seventeen years at the lake, about 1891, the family moved to Livonia village; where E. R. Bolles bought the Joe Lewis livery. He had meantime (October 1, 1879) married Miss Jennie Johnson, and upon coming to the village he and his wife went into the house now owned and occupied by John Morrissey, while his parents took the next house east, where the Smith and McClelland families now reside. Mr. Bolles conducted the livery business for five years, at the expiration of which Dr. A. F. Becker, joined him for a short time. At the conclusion of this partnership Mr. Bolles formed a partnership with Morrissey brothers, which lasted about two years, when the later bought the business. They conducted it for two years, during which time Mr. Bolles worked the John Bolles farm at the lake, part of that time running a milk route in Livonia village. At the end of this two-year period Mr. Bolles bought back the livery business. He conducted it this time for four years, and in 1903, sold it to John Morrissey who has owned it ever since. Mr. and Mrs. Bolles moved from the Morrissey house to the Johnson house on High street, now owned by Mrs. M. G. Sharp, subsequently buying of Dr. A. F. Becker the brick house on commercial street, known as the whitney place. Here he lived until 1923, when he sold it to Frank Thomas, the present owner and occupant. It was at this time that he moved to the Commercial hotel, which he and his brother-in-law, H. B. Johnson, had purchased. Mrs. Bolles had died on August 12. 1919. Mr. Bolles was known widely, particularly as a showman, auctioneer and real estate man. Back in his days at Conesus he gained, or developed, his liking for the show business in various forms, and he carried it through life. He promoted a great many kinds of entertainment, in the interest local organizations, and as manager for out-of-town events. Once he got together a troup of Tonawanda Indians and went on the road with them, and at one time he and Mrs. Bolles showed on the road with the Hotchkin family, musical entertainers. He coached many home-talent plays, the most famous of which was probably Uncle Tom's Cabin, in which he himself took the parts of Gumption Cute and Phineas Fletcher, while Mrs. Bolles starred as Topsy. Few of this old cast are left, the death of one being recorded also this week, Dr. Clapp, who always tickled the audience as Marks, the lawyer. Seventeen years ago Mr. Bolles started the Livingston & Ontario carnival, which he nurtured and shaped until it became a, unique and established institution in the summer entertainment life of a wide area. Sometimes he lost money, sometimes he made it, but he kept on every year, taking the obligations and risks, and making such alterations in his programs as he thought would please his public and himself personally. During his illness last summer the carnival was his greatest concern, it was impossible to relieve his mind of the details of the undertaking.
About 1896 Mr. Bolles began auctioneering under the tutelage of the late J. R. Hopkins, whose years of experience gave his helper valuable training. Eventually the two joined as partners, and when Mr. Hopkins died in 1901 Mr. Bolles succeeded Hopkins & Bolles, Auctioneers. During this more than a quarter of a century since he entered upon this work, Mr. Bolles had sold thousands upon thousands of dollars worth of property at hundreds of auctions. He made an enviable reputation for himself and was in constant demand for many miles around during the entire year. Since his health began to fail he associated with him John VerPlank, who has recently conducted his sales.
As a real estate man Mr. Bolles had a wide and varied experience in dealing with all kinds of property, and his services were by no means limited to local transactions. His latest partnership in this field was with M. H. Annis.
Mr. Bolles was president of the village of Livonia for three terms, 1919-1921, and was for a period president of the Union cemetery association.
He leaves no family. The death of his wife nine years ago has been noted. They had a boy, Harry J. who died at the age of only a few months, but there were no other children. A half-sister, Mrs. Jessie West Crary, died recently. Her two daughters, one of whom lives in California and the other in Chicago, and a cousin; Dan Kelly of Groveland, are his nearest surviving relatives.
The funeral services will be held at the Commercial hotel Sunday afternoon at 2:30, with burial in Union cemetery..
Any obituary notice of E. R. Bolles can be but a suggestion and a reminder of his unique life. Those who knew him can readily visualize his unusual career; those who did not, can easily read between the lines. His autobiography would have been exhaustive and of intense human interest. He lived apart, in that he belonged to no organization, either fraternal or religious; yet his life was one of continuous contact and dealing with the public.
Mr. Bolles death takes from Livonia a rare and distinctive character, which could scarcely be duplicated.
********************************
Family Members
Siblings
Children
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
