Albert L. Bollinger Biography >From "History of Davenport and Scott County" Vol. II by Harry E. Downer-S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago. To view the picture of Albert L. Bollinger that accompanies this biography, please go to the main Scott county, Iowa page at: http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ and click on Pictures/ Documents section. Surnames: Bollinger, Bauman, Smith, Livermore, Wills, Block, Becker. In looking over the past history of Davenport with regard for the citizens whose earnest lives contributed in no small measure to raising the standard of manhood in the city, respect must be paid to Albert L. Bollinger, who before his death was one of the well known business men here and also one of those who, as an old soldier, was ever an inspiration to the patriotic young men. He was born in Lancaster, Peoria county, Illinois, May 14, 1839, a son of Samuel F. and Catherine (Bauman) Bollinger, both natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. In the town of his birth he was reared and received his early education, later attending college at Abingdon, Illinois. In his young manhood he enlisted in the Union army at the beginning of the civil war and throughout the struggle was engaged in active service, although his duties were frequently not upon the scene of battle. He was particularly useful in recruiting, for he had a fine tenor voice and, being able to play several musical instruments, could accompany others or inspirit the troops with the sound of martial music. He had also the power of eloquent speech and on many occasions he fired the patriotism of the soldiers by his noble words in support of the Union cause. For a time he also served as secretary to General Sherman at the latter's headquarters so that, if the bullets but seldom whizzed by hi! s head and the dangers of engagements were infrequently his, he performed as invaluable a service as those who were not so well endowed with talents and could only prove their devotion to their country through valor in front of danger. He was taken ill after the battle of Perryville and was subsequently taken prisoner but being a non-combatant he was paroled. At the close of the war Mr. Bollinger went to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he learned the finishing part of carriage-making, and then returned to Illinois, opening a carriage factory at Geneseo, which he conducted with success for a number of years. In 1873 he came to Davenport and accepted a position as traveling salesman for the Seig Iron Company, with which he was connected until his death. He advanced rapidly becoming vice president and secretary of the company in 1887, and in November, 1890, was made president, treasurer and business manager, serving as such throughout the remainder of his life. Through steady and unremitting toil he had proved worthy of the highest responsibilities and in guiding the reins of this important business he proved himself a man capable of great things. In the small affairs of life, as in the larger ones, his word was as good as his bond, honor and integrity distinguishing all of his relations in the business world. On the 18th of June, 1866, Mr. Bollinger was united in marriage to Miss Emily D. Wills, a daughter of James Wills, who lived and died in Canton. Her mother was Miss Charlotte Smith before her marriage and a cousin of Mary Livermore of Vermont. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bollinger: Judge James W. Bollinger, of Davenport; Mrs. Louis Block; and Mrs. Waldo Becker. Mr. Bollinger was always a stanch advocate of the principles of the republican party and, while he never aspired to official distinction, he was always interested in questions of national or local importance and was preeminently public-spirited. A man of broad views, he found the tenets of the Unitarian church most in accord with his own ideas of progress and development. Energetic, ambitious, endowed with large ability and the traits of character which command the respect of and admiration of others, he was deeply mourned at the time of his death, September 11, 1901, especially by his family and those who knew him most intimately. ~~~~~~*~~~~~~ Elaine Rathmann ACC Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project List Adm: *IA-CIVIL-WAR *IA-DANES