Bio of Bolton, Thomas G. (b.1843) Wabasha Co., MN
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Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Timm
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This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1920.
Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab3.htm
There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some 
of the bios on her pages.

Bolton, Thomas G. (page 258), business man, agriculturist, druggist,
editor and city official, for many years exerted a strong influence upon
the affairs of Plainview and the surrounding territory. As a business man
he was ever alive to Plainview's best interest; as a druggist he was
accurate, courteous and obliging; as a newspaper man he labored constantly
for the progress of the village; as an official he succeeded in
introducing a number of municipal improvements; and as an agriculturist he
foresaw the future and ever urged the breeding of better stock and the
adoption of constantly improving methods. He was born in Logan, Ohio,
November 12, 1843, the son of Graham and Nancy (Miller) Bolton. The father
was born in county Derry, Ireland, in 1816, and died in 1852. He was
married in New Jersey, in 1837, to Nancy Miller, who, like himself, was a
native of County Derry, Ireland, and born in the same year, on April 19,
1816. She had come to America as a girl and met Mr. Bolton for the first
time in New Jersey. In 1842, accompanied by their two first born children,
Ruth and John, they settled in Logan County, Ohio. Later two other
children were born to them, Thomas G. and Martha. After Graham Bolton's
death his widow removed with her four children to Cleveland, Ohio, and in
1855 brought them to Wabasha County, Minnesota, settling in Wabasha. She
spent a long and useful life here, and died at the home of her son, Thomas
G., at Plainview, September 12, 1898. Thomas G. Bolton came to Wabasha
with his mother and the other members of the family, when that city
consisted of a few buildings on the banks of the Mississippi river. When
about fourteen years of age, he spent two years as a cabin boy on a
Mississippi steamboat. In 1861 he commenced his long business career as a
druggist in the employ of James Crowley, of Wabasha, and in 1863 he
assumed the management of the first drug store in Plainview, opened as a
branch of the Wabasha store. Two years later he returned to the Wabasha
store for a short time, but soon started a drug store of his own in Eyota,
where he lived several years. In 1874 he returned to Plainview for a
permanent residence, again engaging in the drub business, this time as a
partner of George S. La Rue, whom he later bought out. This, however, was
only oneof many business activities. For a while he was Plainview agent
for the Laird-Norton Co. of Winona, and for some time he was an implement
dealer. He also found time for the development of a fine farm on the site
of the old village of Greenville, one of the deserted store buildings of
that village being used by him as a sheep shed. He was one of the most
progressive farmers of the county, at a time when scientific farming was
not so common as at present, he being one of the first to introduce
superior breeds of blooded stock on Greenwood Prairie. He was editor of
the Plainview News, which was the development of smaller papers which he
had previously published in Plainview and Eyota. He held several important
city offices, and was a leader in all the progressive movements for
advancing the welfare of the community one of the most beneficial being
the organization of the Electric Light co. of which he was manager until
his illness. Not only in the business world was his influence strongly
felt, but also in the social and religious life of the city. His ready
humor, inexhaustible fund of stories, reminiscences of his travels,
practical wisdom and literary tastes, made him a delightful companion, and
the generous hospitality of his home, gathered about him a large circle of
friends, by whom he is still sadly missed. Mr. Bolton's life exemplifies
strongly the fact that hardships of pioneering tend to develop all one's
latent powers, for probably considerable of his ability as a leader,
resourcefulness and power of initiative were gained during those early
years of our country's history. He took an active part in the Greenwood
Prairie Old Settlers' Association, regretting exceedingly that he could
not attend the 1917 meeting, the last meeting before his death. Although
he had received but a common school education he was a life-long student,
reading extensively and gaining a wealth of valuable information from
various sources, as well as by keen observation. For many years he was a
prominent member and officer of the Methodist Episcopal church, a fine
Bible student, and a Sunday school worker. He was a member of the Masonic
brotherhood, and the Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Bolton was married September 1, 1869 to Ella Foster, only
child of A. P. and Harriet (Thompson) Foster, and this union was blessed
with four children: Alonzo C., Miller T., Mary L. and John F. Mrs. Ella
Foster Bolton died October 7, 1884. Alonzo G. was born June 15, 1870, and
died November 15, 1887. He was a high school student and deeply beloved
for his upright life and engaging qualities. Miller T. and John F. are
Plainview druggists. Mary Lee was born July 1, 1874, was educated in the
Plainview schools, enlisted in the service of the W. F. M. S. (most likely
the Women's Foreign Missionary Society of Methodist Episcopal Church), was
sent to France, where she did notable work in the war, and in the
devastated regions after the war, and returned to America in November,
1919.