CHRISTIAN BOLLINGER
Bio-Pen Picture
SURNAMES: FARMER, WEINBERG,
was born in 1817, in Bollinger County, Missouri. At that early date it was a wild and unsettled country, and his pioneer parents not possessing an abundance of this world's goods, his youth and early manhood were spent in hard and unceasing labor at farming and kindred pursuits, which left his opportunities for securing an education even more limited than was necessitated by the primitive condition of the country. But his inborn good sense, coupled with untiring energy, has enabled him to overcome many of these disadvantages, and to successfully compete with the more favored but less ambitious portion of humanity, in the race for wealth and position.
At the early age of nineteen years, Mr. Bollinger was united in marriage with Miss Sallie Farmer, the daughter of Reuben Farmer, of Bollinger County, and together they traveled life's road for more than forty-four years, the wife's death occurring in 1880. To Mr. and Mrs. Bollinger were born nine children, of whom five are now living: David, George, Mary, Catharine, and Emma. All are married and living either in Santa Clara or San Mateo County. For his second wife, Mr. Bollinger married Mrs. Vinnie Weinberg, of Contra Costa County.
The subject of our sketch is justly entitled to the distinction of being one of the pioneers of California, he having emigrated to this State early in 1852. He first lived in Napa County, for about a year, and then came to Santa Clara County. Here he spent another year, and again removed, this time to San Mateo County, where he became possessed of large and valuable tracts of land in the foot-hills of the Coast Range. In 1883 the Spring Valley Water Company, of San Francisco, having need of Mr. Bollinger's land in extending their water system, made him advantageous offers, which he accepted. Having thus disposed of all his real-estate interests in San Mateo County, he returned to Santa Clara County, and established his residence on a 184-acre tract of fine farming land on Saratoga Avenue, a little southwest of Santa Clara. This property he sold in 1887, realizing a fine return upon his investment. He then removed to Santa Clara, where he has since made his home.
Mr. Bollinger
owns some fine orchard property on Saratoga Avenue, within the limits of Santa
Clara, and there he intends to build a home, in which to spend his remaining
years, where, surrounded by all needed comforts, he may enjoy the rest which his
long, energetic, and industrious life justly entitles him to receive.
Pen Pictures From The
Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, Illustrated.
- Edited by H. S. Foote.- Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1888.
Pg. 565