Adam Bohlander
A residence of sixteen years has been sufficient to cause Adam Bohlander, who owns three hundred acres of land on section 24, Nishnabotny township, to be recognized as one of the representative farmers of Crawford county.
He was born in Cook county, Illinois, on the 18th of December, 1850, and is a son of John G. and Catherine (Gloss) Bohlander. The parents were natives of Germany, from which country they emigrated to the United States in 1832. They were among the pioneer settlers of Cook county, having located there immediately upon their arrival in this country, continuing to make it their home until about 1855 or 1856, at which time they removed to Du Page county, Illinois. The mother passed away in 1852 and the father in 1861. Seven children were born to them, the son Adam being the youngest. The others are: John G., Sr., a resident of Hinsdale, Illinois; Peter, who is living in the same place; Mary, the wife of Rudolph Pfister, of Brookfield, Missouri; Margaret, deceased; and Phillip, who was a veteran of the Civil war; and Henry, also deceased.
Adam Bohlander remained in Cook county, Illinois, until he was twelve years old, acquiring his education in the common schools. He saw both Chicago fires and relates many interesting reminiscences of the great fire of 1871, the light from which was so brilliant that it was possible to read a newspaper with perfect ease at his home. Before this he had moved to Du Page county, where he continued to reside until 1877 or 1878, when he went to Creston, Illinois, where he remained for a year, and then went to Pottawattamie county, Iowa.
After spending three years in the latter place he removed to Shelby county, Iowa, coming from there to Crawford county in 1893, where he has lived continuously since. When Mr. Bohlander took up his residence in this county he first located upon a farm a mile and a half north of Manilla, where he resided until five years ago, when he removed to town. During the entire period of his active life he has been identified with agricultural pursuits, in which he has met with success, having acquired a fine farm of three hundred acres on section 24, Nishnabotny township, and a very pleasant residence in Manilla, and he is now able to live retired enjoying the mental and physical ease assured by a comfortable income.
In 1874 in Du Page county, Illinois, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Bohlander and Miss Dora A. Niemann, and unto them have been born five children: Alfred, who is a resident of Norfolk, Nebraska; Lewis, of Nishnabotny township; Frank, of the same place; Bertha, the wife of Gustave Lapel, living north of Manilla; and Emma, who is at home and is engaged in teaching school.
His political support Mr. Bohlander always accorded the democratic party until the adoption of the "sixteen to one" platform, following which he transferred his allegiance to the republican party. Although he takes an interest in civic affairs, he has never held any official position save that of school director.
Left an orphan at the age of twelve years, Mr. Bohlander is entirely a selfmade man, having attained the position he holds today through his own unaided efforts. He has a very high sense of integrity and justice and takes great pride in being able to say that he has never either been under arrest nor sued.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.