BIO: James Williamson Bosler, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

                            CHAPTER XXXVIII.

                          BOROUGH OF CARLISLE.

370  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

  JAMES WILLIAMSON BOSLER (deceased), late capitalist, of Carlisle, is 
deserving of more than a passing notice in this work.  He was born 
April 4, 1833.  He assisted on the farm until he entered Cumberland 
Academy, at New Kingston.  Two years later he entered Dickinson College 
and remained through his junior year.  During vacation he conceived the 
idea of going West, which he did with the approval of his parents.  He 
taught school at Moultrie, Columbiana Co., Ohio, during the winters of 
1853-54.  He then went to Wheeling, W. Va., where he read law and was 
admitted to the bar.  He then moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where he 
formed a partnership with Charles E. Hedges, to engage in real estate 
business.  They then established the Sioux City Bank, under the firm 
name of Bosler & Hedges, and later they engaged in furnishing goods, 
cattle and general supplies for the Interior and War Departments of the 
Government, on the north Missouri River.  The partnership was dissolved 
in 1866, and Mr. Bosler continued the business until the time of his 
death.  During his residence in Sioux City he was an active politician, 
and in 1860 was sent as a delegate to the Charleston Convention.  
Having, by dint of energy and business capacity, acquired a 
considerable fortune, he returned, in 1866, to his native county in 
Pennsylvania and built a beautiful home in the suburbs of Carlisle.  
Here he continued to reside until his death.  He was a member of the 
Republican National Committee of 1880, and he, John Roach, ship 
builder, and Senator Chaffee, of Colorado, were a committee appointed 
in charge of the interest of Hon. James G. Blaine, at the Chicago 
convention in that year.  For many years he was Mr. Blaine's warm 
personal friend.  After the nomination of Garfield, he became one of 
his strong supporters.  In 1882 he was nominated by the Republicans of 
the Nineteenth District for senator.  This district had 1,800 
Democratic majority and he reduced it to 130.  He was at the time of 
his death, December 17, 1883, president of the Palo Blanco Cattle 
Company, of New Mexico, and of the Carlisle Manufacturing Company, and 
director of the Carlisle Gas and Water Company.  No man was ever more 
generally beloved in a community than Mr. Bosler in Carlisle, for his 
benevolence was as broad as his means were great.  With a strong 
intelligence and remarkable judgment he united great kindness of heart.  
In 1860 he married Helen, a daughter of Michael G. and Mary (Herman) 
Beltzhoover.  They had five children, four of whom are living:  Frank 
C., Mary Eliza, De Witt Clinton and Helen Louise.  Mrs. Bosler and son, 
Frank, are members of the Second Presbyterian Church, of Carlisle.

See http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/bios/beers1886/bosler-abraham.txt