Born in Muskingum County, Ohio, December 31, 1834, and is the son of William and Julia (Grimsley) Boling both of whom were natives of Virginia. He received his education in the old subscription schools common at that early day and at the age of ten years began working at the plasterers trade with his father. In August of 1862, he enlisted in Company F. of the One Hundred and Twenty-second Ohio Volunteers. He was immediately commissioned Second Lieutenant. Mr. Boling was discharged on December 30, 1861 in Columbus, Ohio were he remained until January. 1865, when he removed to Fairfield. During the first five years after his arrival he was in the employ of the American Express Company, but his health so failed him that he was compelled to change his occupation and for a time he worked at the plasterer's trade. This was followed by one year spent as a contractor and in January, 1874, he entered upon the duties of the office of Auditor of Jefferson County, in which capacity he served the people acceptably for six years, his worth and ability having been tested and found to be in merit even above what his friends had anticipated. In 1879, he was honored with an election to the State Senate and served in that body during the sessions of 1880 and 1882. In the first Assembly, he was Chairman of the Committee on Penitentiaries, which originated a bill creating the office of warden in the penitentiary at Anamosa. He was the active spirit in securing an amendment to equalize the good time earned by convicts. Up to this time counties could vote on public improvements only at general elections, and as a result when one party championed any public enterprise, the other felt bound to oppose. It thus became difficult for a county even to erect a courthouse, and it was through the instrumentality of Mr. Boling that an amendment was passed permitting such questions to be voted upon either at general or special elections. During the session of 1882, he was Chairman of the Committee on Public Buildings and secured the passage of a bill appropriating a half million to complete the State Capitol. Former appropriations had been so small that they were largely consumed in paying the salaries of those selected to look after their expenditure and in the passage of this bill Mr. Boling performed an important work. Socially, he belonged to the Masonic and Odd-Fellows fraternities and to the Grand Army Post of Fairfield, of which he is a charter member. Mr. Boling chose as a life companion Miss Hester A. Younkin, their marriage being celebrated on the 17th of January, 1865.

Born in Muskingum County, Ohio, December 31, 1834, and is the son of William and Julia (Grimsley) Boling both of whom were natives of Virginia. He received his education in the old subscription schools common at that early day and at the age of ten years began working at the plasterers trade with his father. In August of 1862, he enlisted in Company F. of the One Hundred and Twenty-second Ohio Volunteers. He was immediately commissioned Second Lieutenant. Mr. Boling was discharged on December 30, 1861 in Columbus, Ohio were he remained until January. 1865, when he removed to Fairfield. During the first five years after his arrival he was in the employ of the American Express Company, but his health so failed him that he was compelled to change his occupation and for a time he worked at the plasterer's trade. This was followed by one year spent as a contractor and in January, 1874, he entered upon the duties of the office of Auditor of Jefferson County, in which capacity he served the people acceptably for six years, his worth and ability having been tested and found to be in merit even above what his friends had anticipated. In 1879, he was honored with an election to the State Senate and served in that body during the sessions of 1880 and 1882. In the first Assembly, he was Chairman of the Committee on Penitentiaries, which originated a bill creating the office of warden in the penitentiary at Anamosa. He was the active spirit in securing an amendment to equalize the good time earned by convicts. Up to this time counties could vote on public improvements only at general elections, and as a result when one party championed any public enterprise, the other felt bound to oppose. It thus became difficult for a county even to erect a courthouse, and it was through the instrumentality of Mr. Boling that an amendment was passed permitting such questions to be voted upon either at general or special elections. During the session of 1882, he was Chairman of the Committee on Public Buildings and secured the passage of a bill appropriating a half million to complete the State Capitol. Former appropriations had been so small that they were largely consumed in paying the salaries of those selected to look after their expenditure and in the passage of this bill Mr. Boling performed an important work. Socially, he belonged to the Masonic and Odd-Fellows fraternities and to the Grand Army Post of Fairfield, of which he is a charter member. Mr. Boling chose as a life companion Miss Hester A. Younkin, their marriage being celebrated on the 17th of January, 1865.