My Genealogy Hound

EUGENE N. BOLT, a representative farmer and dairyman of the town of Dix, was born in Schuyler County, November 12, 1846, and was the only child of his parents who lived to maturity. One sister, Emma J., died at the age of six years. His father was also a native of this county, while his grandfather, William Bolt, was a native of Saratoga County. The latter came to this county when a young man, and here married Sarah Van Zandt, who was born in the eastern part of the state. Grandfather Bolt was an extensive farmer in this section of the country, owning some four hundred acres of land, together with a saw and grist mill, which were the first mills in this section of the country. They were built by James Van Zandt, the great-grandfather of our subject, who was a millwright by profession. The Van Zandt family is well remembered by the early settlers in this county.

Our subject’s father married Ruth Pangborne, a daughter of John and Maria Pangborne, who were also natives of this county. After their marriage, they located on a farm of four hundred acres in the town of Dix, which the former proceeded to clear and cultivate. For many years he occupied a prominent position in the county, and was an influential man, making a success in life, and holding a number of town offices. In politics he was a Democrat. He died on the old homestead in 1890, at the age of sixty-two years, and his wife died in 1885. Both are buried in Lima Cemetery, near Watkins.

The subject of this sketch grew to manhood on his father’s farm, and was educated in the common schools. In early manhood he took charge of the home place, and has here since continued to reside, it being the only home that he has ever known. His farm consists of four hundred acres of good land, and for the past six years, in addition to his general farming, he has given special attention to dairying, and is proprietor of the Hillside Dairy. He furnishes milk to the village of Watkins, running two wagons, and for two years has furnished milk to the sanitarium. He has thirty-five head of cows, one-half of which are Jerseys, and also has a large number of full-blooded Shropshire sheep. Besides his other interests, he also gives some attention to the raising of fine horses, formerly making a specialty of Hambletonians, but of late has raised Percherons. Mr. Bolt has had little time to give to politics, but has held local offices, and for the past fifteen years has voted the Prohibition ticket.