Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 860 - 861

MRS. REBECCA BOLICK, widow of the late Henry Bolick, of Wichita, owns and occupies a comfortable home at No. 601 Mosley avenue, South, of which she took possession in July, 1887. She is a native of Hocking County, Ohio, and was born Feb. 1, 1846, at the rural homestead of her parents, John and Susan(Burwell) Foster, natives respectively of Germany and Pennsylvania. Her father emigrated to America with his parents when a lad of eleven years, was reared to farming pursuits, and thereafter followed agriculture all his life, most of the time in the Buckeye State. The parental household included fourteen children, of whom Mrs. B. was the sixth in order of birth. Mr. Foster was a man prominent in the affairs of this county, intelligent and well read, and held many responsible offices, among them that of Postmaster, Roadmaster and Constable. He departed this life in March, 1859. The mother is still living in Hocking County, Ohio.

            The lady of whom this sketch is written was trained by her excellent parents to habits of industry and economy, and received her education in the common schools of her native county. Upon reaching womanhood she was united in marriage with Henry Bolick, at the home of her parents, on the 13th of May, 1866. Mr. Bolick was born in Snyder County, Pa., Feb. 3, 1844, and was the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Gelwick) Bolick, who were also natives of the Keystone State. The father was a stonemason by trade, from which he developed into a contractor, and carried on an extensive and lucrative business, although making his home in the agricultural districts. Thus Henry was reared upon a farm, where he remained until after the outbreak of the late Civil War.

            Mr. Bolick now, although but nineteen years of age, proffered his services as a Union soldier, and in the meantime having removed to Illinois, became a member of Company D, 46th Illinois Infantry, in which he served a period of twenty-six months. He met the enemy in many important battles, and was once captured by them, but only held, however, a short time. He endured, in common with thousands of others, hardships, privation and exposure, and, as a result of these, contracted a disease from which he was confined eighty-five days in a hospital, and came out a cripple for life.

            After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bolick settled on a farm in Seneca County, Ohio, where they continued five years, and then changed their residence to Hancock County. Mr. Bolick, in the meantime, although unable to labor very much, possessed the clear head and good judgment required for the successful direction of others, and was prospered. He sold out his property in Hancock County in 1879, and coming to Wichita, purchased a home on Mead street, and also eighty acres of land in Butler County. Mr. Bolick, after a brief illness, departed this life on the 26th of October, 1884. Three years later Mrs. B. sold the property on Mead street, and took possession of her present residence.

            There came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bolick six children, who were named respectively: Catherine E., now Mrs. Frank S. Burt, of Wichita; Mary A., Mrs. W. T. Henry, and the mother of one child, Inez I.; Flora A., Lucy M., William H. and Laura E. They are all living, to be the comfort and solace of their excellent mother, and the four younger continue under the home roof.

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