WilliamC. Bollman  

WILLIAM C.BOLLMAN, Postmaster at Browning, is a native of Pike county, Illinois,born March 13, 1839. His parents were John and Rebecca (Hedgen) Bollman.Both were natives of Ohio and came to Illinois in 1837, locating in Pikecounty, where the father died in 1850, and the mother died in Quincy, ofthe cholera, when it was raging there. There were seven children by thismarriage, and two by the former one. The brothers and sisters of Williamwere: Michael, deceased; our subject was the next child; Samuel, stillliving in Pike county, married; John, deceased; Orville, deceased; SarahMassey of Fulton county, Illinois; Mary O., married; Aaron Finton residesnear Pittsfield, Illinois. The other two are dead.

William grew to manhoodin Pike county, and married there Miss Amanda Preston, of Ohio. Her parentswere John and Hannah Preston. The father died when Mrs. Bollman was a child,but the mother died in Browning with her daughter, Mrs. Bollman.

Mr. Bollman farmedfor many years in Pike county, and then removed to Browning, Schuyler county,where he lived until 1861, when he enlisted in Company H, Third IllinoisCavalry, as a private, and became Quarter Master Sergeant of his regiment.He served four years and two months, and participated in the battles ofPea Ridge; was with Sherman when he made the attack on Haines’ Bluff, atVicksburg; was at the capture of Arkansas Post, and from thence to HollowSprings, Mississippi; did scouting duty in Mississippi, and afterward hada serious engagement at Gravelly Springs, Tennessee, and he was also engagedin many other skirmishes and battles of less importance. After the surrenderof the rebel armies, the regiment was sent across the plains to award theIndians, and remained there until October, 1865. They were mustered outat Minneapolis, October 10, 1865. Mr. Bollman returned to Browning, andengaged in farming, and remained in that business until 1887, when he engagedin mercantile business. He was appointed Postmaster in 1890, and stillholds that position.

Mr. and Mrs. Bollmanhave had nine children, but only one of that number is living, Frank, nowtwenty-three years of age, is married and resides in Beardstown, Illinois.The Bollman family are of German and Irish origin. Mr. Bollman is a Republican,though he entered the army as a Democrat, but changed his views while inthe service, and has faithfully voted with the Republican party ever since.He is a member of the G. A. R., also of the I. O. O. F.
Browning Lodge, No.309. He is a P. G., and has represented his lodge for two years at theGrand Lodge of the State. Mr. and Mrs. Bollman are members of the MethodistEpiscopal Church.

Mr. Bollman was notthe only member of his family who served in the late war; a brother, Samuel,served three years in the Ninety-ninth Illinois Infantry. Both escapedinjury, except to general health.
 

Biographical Reviewof Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical ReviewPublishing Co., Chicago, 1892, pages 201-202.

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