San Diego County
Biographies
GEORGE W. FOX,
banker, and one of the early settlers of Murrietta, was born in Zanesville, Ohio, January 24, 1842. His grandfather and great-grandfather were natives of Virginia. His father, Jesse Fox, was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, in 1803, and was married in that place to Miss Maria Begom, of Pennsylvania. They had four children, of whom the youngest, Mr. Fox, is the only survivor. He received his education in the public schools of Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri, and the Wyman High School, and took a course at Jones' Commercial College on leaving school in 1857. He moved with his parents to Kansas, then a Territory, where his parents died. In 1859 he crossed the plains, and while in Salt Lake City was employed as a clerk. At Camp Floyd was sutler's clerk with Albert Sydney Johnston's army. In 1861 he crossed the plains to Carson City, in charge of an ox train loaded with flour. He visited Sacramento and then returned to Virginia City, Nevada. From there he went to Humboldt County, where he was agent for Wells, Fargo & Co., and overland mail agent at Unionville, Nevada. In 1865 he resigned and went to Idaho, and from there to Montana, where he mined and was very successful. In 1869 he engaged in the banking business in Helena. Montana, and in 1872 organized the People's National Bank and became its cashier. The same year he organized the First National Bank of Roseman, of which he was the president. He continued successfully in the banking business until the fall of 1877. In 1878 he removed to Tombstone, Arizona, and again became interested in mining. In 1879 he went to Old Mexico and returned to San Diego by way of San Francisco, where he was engaged in the newspaper business in 1881. In 1882 he went to Calico and became interested in mining again. He was one of the organizers of the Temecula Land and Water Company in 1884. He removed to Murrietta, where he has been engaged in real estate and banking ever since. He was made a Mason in 1870 and became an Odd Fellow in 1872; he is also a Knight Templar. He has held the office of school trustee, and has been prominent as a politician. He has seen a great deal of frontier life and is a thorough business man. He is the historian of the Murrietta Historical Society, and was a leader and influential in aiding in the construction of the new school-house. For some time he has used the Government instruments in taking the meteorological observations.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California… Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 296-297
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
ROBERT W. BOLLEN,
the Murrietta Postmaster and merchant, was born in
Lockbridge County, Virginia, October 11, 1824. His father, Edward Bollen, and
his grandfather were residents of Rockingham County, but the family originally
came from England. His grandfather and two of his brothers were in the war of
the Revolution. They were at the battle of Fort Meigs when the English
undertook to cross the ditch in front of the fort but were repulsed. Mr.
Bollen's mother was Polly (Beaty) Bollen. They had a family of ten children, of
whom Mr. Bollen was the youngest. Three terms of school of three months each was
the extent of his educational advantages. When twenty years of age he acquired
the carpenters' trade and also some knowledge of the blacksmiths' trade. In 1847
he enlisted in Company F, Third Regiment,
Missouri Mounted Volunteers, and was a participant in the war with Mexico. He
took part in the battle of Santa Cruz, March 16, 1848. He enlisted as
Fourth Corporal and was promoted to Third Sergeant when mustered out. He
returned to Virginia, and after two years spent there, he married Miss Sarah
Ellen Chevrout, a native of Harrison County, Virginia, who was born January 1,
1838. They moved to Iowa, where he engaged in the wagon manufacturing business.
Here he was constable and deputy sheriff during the greater part of his stay. In
the spring of 1860 he started for Nevada, but the Indians became so troublesome
they were obliged to stop at Salt Lake City to winter. While there he took
charge of a furniture manufactory and remained two years. In Nevada he did
quite an extensive carpenter and wagon-making business. In 1867 he removed to
Genoa, Douglas County, Nevada, and dealt in all kinds of wood-work. In 1869 he
was elected Sheriff of the county, which office he held for four years, at the
end of which time his health failed and he got a position in the mint in Carson
City, first as watch, and afterward captain of the watch. In the year 1885 he
removed with his family to Murrietta, California, while it was still in its
infancy. He purchased twenty acres of land and built a house and made
improvements, planting trees, grapes and shrubbery. He assisted in organizing
the Methodist Church, and was one of its first members. He has had thirteen
children, but six of whom are living: Eliza Sapronia, born in Lewis County,
Virginia, January 8, 1855, and married to Mr. J. H. McCormic. They now reside in
Murrietta; Virginia Elizabeth, born February 2, 1858, in Iowa, and married to
Mr. J. H. Langley; Sada E., born in Salt Lake City, June 20, 1861; George W.,
born in Douglas County, Nevada, November 9, 1871, and J. W., born April 20,
1876, in Carson City. Mr. Bollen was elected Justice of the Peace, but resigned
that office when he was appointed Postmaster. He keeps a store (dry goods, boots
and shoes and notions) and also continues his wagon business. He is a member of
the pioneer society of Virginia City, having come to California in 1850. He is
also a leading thirty-second degree Mason and a good citizen.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California… Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 297
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler