An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company,
Spokane, WA., 1905, pages 420-421.

WILBUR BOLTON, who stands at the head of the mercantile firm under the style of
Bolton & Company, in Antelope, has in charge the largest general mercantile
establishment in the town. His trade is extended, and he does a large business
each year. His stock is always kept up to date with a fine assortment and he has
constantly on hand about fifteen thousand dollars, worth of goods. Mr. Bolton is
an enterprising and substantial business man and a very influential citizen,
whose labors are constantly for the improvement and betterment of the country.      

Wilbur Bolton was born in Wasco county, Oregon, on October 29, 1860, the son of
Daniel and Elizabeth (Fullweider) Bolton, natives of Virginia. The father died
in The Dalles, in 1887. His father was a native of England. The mother's parents
were of Irish extraction. She died in The Dalles. The parents were married in
Iowa and came across the plains with ox teams in 1854, settling first in the
Willamette valley. Shortly thereafter they came to The Dalles, and later took
land on Fifteen Mile creek, securing a donation claim and a homestead. He did
stock-raising and farming and dwelt many years in The Dalles with his family.
Our subject was educated in the Wasco Independent Academy, under the tuition of
Prof. Gatch, now president of the Oregon Agricultural College at Corvallis.
After school days, Wilbur was on the ranch with his father several years, then
spent a year with the Wasco Warehouse Company at The Dalles, and in 1887 came to
Antelope and engaged in the general merchandise business with his brother,
Virgil, and McFarland & French of The Dalles. In 1891 the firm dissolved and
reorganized without Mr. McFarland. In 1893, Virgil Bolton died leaving his
interest to his widow, Nellie French Bolton, who is the daughter of J.W. French,
of The Dalles. Thus the firm is comprised today.      

On December 25, 1883, at The Dalles, Mr. Bolton married Miss Jennie Gilmore, a
native of the Willamette valley, and sister of Mrs. Judge Fulton. Mr. Bolton has
the following named brothers and sisters: Zenas, a farmer in Yakima county,
Washington; Simeon, county clerk in Wasco county; Virgil, deceased; Mitchell,
deceased; Ella, wife of W.A. McFarland, of Seattle. The children born to Mr. and
Mrs. Bolton are: Vivian Gatch and Vernon, students at Corvallis; and Virgil and
Wilbur, Jr., at home. Mr. Bolton is a member of the A.F. & A.M., while he and
his wife both belong to the O.E.S. She has served several terms as matron and
has also been delegate to the grand lodge several times. They are both members
of the Methodist church, and are progressive people, highly esteemed and of
excellent standing.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. 
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.