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Remembering Joseph Bolton

My name is Jesse Kent. I am the daughter of Moss and Nellie (Bolton) Jones and a great granddaughter of Joseph Bolton who we are remembering here today.

My great grandfather, Joseph Bolton, was born in 1840 in Franklin County, Alabama, about four miles from this cemetery. He was the older brother of Daniel Bolton who we are also remembering today. Joseph was the first of four children born to Ephraim and Mary Bolton. Joseph’s father who is my great great grandfather, Ephraim, was the first male Bolton (from the Bolton Family of Pickens County) to purchase land and make Franklin County his home. By the early 1850’s five of Ephraim’s brothers and three of his sisters also came to Franklin County.

Joseph Bolton married Virginia Ann Smelser in 1860, in Franklin County, Alabama. It is believed that Joseph’s father, Ephraim, built the log house, known as the Joseph Bolton place, for Joseph and Virginia in 1860. That log house was located just a few hundred yards west of this cemetery. It was the oldest standing log house in this area until the late 1990’s when it was disassembled. The Daily house just east of here is now the oldest standing log house in this area. Joseph and Virginia raised a family of seven children, five sons and two daughters.

Josephine was their first child. She was born in 1861 and died in 1878 at the age of 17. She is buried in this cemetery.

John Monroe Bolton, the second child, married Mindy Thorn and lived about four miles from here in Colbert County. John and Mindy are also buried in this Cemetery.

My grandfather, William Amos Bolton, was the third child of Joseph and Virginia. He married, Jose Phine Ligon and they lived their entire married life in the Lost Creek area. Both of my grandparents are buried here in the Bolton cemetery.

James Arthur Bolton, the fourth child, married Lola (maiden name unknown) and lived in St. Louis for awhile before moving to Alaska where James Arthur is buried.

Alpha Dena, the fifth child married Joseph (Wes) Morgan and moved to Paragould, Arkansas.

Sidney Dant Jehu Bolton married Olive Vivian Dickinson and lived in Mississippi. Sidney and Olive are buried in Columbus, Mississippi.

Nothing is know about Joseph and Virginia’s last child Robert.

Jesse Kent reads Remembering Joseph Bolton.

In November of 1861, Joseph and his brother Daniel enlisted in the 4th Battalion of the Mississippi Cavalry at Iuka, Mississippi. Eight months later, July 28, 1862, Joseph received a disability discharge because he had been unfit for duty for the last 60 days. Joseph’s discharge papers stated he was 5 feed 10 inches tall, had dark hair, and hazel eyes. On September 14, 1862, Joseph, his brother Daniel, along with other men from this area, enlisted in Company E of the 4th Alabama Cavalry, at Spencer Bell’s blacksmith shop, where he served under General Roddy for over two and an half years. Joseph returned home from the war in May of 1865. Except for the time he served in the Civil War, Joseph lived in Franklin County, in the old log house built by his father, his entire married life. Like most men living in that area he was a farmer. On December 17, 1874, Joseph was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace for the Frankfort Beat of Franklin County.

Joseph Bolton passed away on August 29, 1896. Joseph and Virginia were married for thirty six years. Joseph’s death date was found on Virginia’s Civil War pension application that was filed in June of 1902. Joseph was young, only fifty six years old when he passed away. He may have died suddenly due to an accident or a heart attack. Joseph’s will was never found so it is believed he did not have one, and that’s why it is thought he died suddenly and unexpectedly. Joseph preceded his father, Ephriam, in death by four months.

In the early 1990’s, two of Joseph’s great grandchildren, Merelene Renfro and Buck Jones, applied for and received a Civil War Veterans marker which was placed here to mark Joseph’s grave.

On behalf of the descendants of Ephraim Bolton we want to thank everyone for being here and sharing this special time with us.

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