| Notes |
- Data courtesy of Nancy Pope oregongirl@earthink.net
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN DROLLINGER
Benjamin Franklin Drollinger, a well known farmer and a highly respected citizen of Jefferson township, was born January 16, 1869, on the farm where he still resides, it comprising two hundred and forty acres on sections 11 and 12. Besides this property, he also owns forty acres two miles northwest of that place in Jefferson township. His father was Benjamin Wesley Drollinger, who was born in Indiana, December 4, 1830, and was a son of a Mormon preacher. When four years of age the father was taken by his parents to Missouri and at the age of thirteen removed to Illinois. His father had died in Clay county, Missouri, and for some time Benjamin Wesley Drollinger lived with his mother in Quincy, Illinois, and later in Nauvoo, that state.
Benjamin W. Drollinger married in Lee county December 14, 1850, Susan L. Wilson, who was born in Hancock county, January in 1834. and they became the parents of nine children, of whom two died in infancy. The others are: George Monroe, a resident of Clark county, Missouri; Burrel Perry, of Kalispell, Montana; Emma Louisa, the wife of Frank Holmes of Jefferson township; Frances Ellen, the wife of C. W. Stewart of Kahoka, Clark county, Missouri; Mary Melvina, the wife of L. P. Conlee of the same county; Benjamin Franklin, of this review; and Anna Letitia, the wife of Fred B. Kent. During the pioneer days the mother of these children spun, wove and made all of their clothes by hand and performed many other arduous tasks that the housewife of the present day is not called upon to do. She was familiar with Indian manners and customs, as her early life was spent upon the frontier. She was a daughter of George and Rebecca Wilson. The father of our subject came to Lee county in 1844 when only fourteen vears of age. His father had died previous to this time and his mother accompanied the Mormons on their removal from Nauvoo to Utah. On becoming a resident of this county he worked at anything that he could find to do and attended school when the opportunity presented itself. For a time he was employed on steamboats plying up and down the river and learned the plasterer's trade with Josiah Kent, to which occupation he continued to devote his attention until his marriage, when he located on a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits. As a farmer he met with most excellent success and eventually became the owner of over sixteen hundred acres of valuable land in this state and in Missouri. After a well spent and useful life he passed away on the 2gth of September, 1906. His wife survived him a few years, dying June 3, 1912.
Benjamin Franklin Drollinger was reared and educated in the usual manner of farm lads and since attaining his manhood has devoted his attention to general farming and stock-raising. He is one of the most progressive agriculturists of his county and success has attended his well directed efforts. On the loth of September, 1891, he wedded Miss Mary Alora Bullard, who was born in Jefferson township, January 6, 1871, and they have become parents of five children, namely: Lucret, Pauline, Pearl, Mildred and Marion. Like her husband, Mrs. Drollinger comes of an old and honored family of Lee county, being a daughter of Alexander and Martha (Dodson) Bullard. Her father was born in Putnam county, Indiana, December 25, 1835, and was only two years of age when brought to Lee county by his parents, the family locating on a farm two and a half miles from Fort Madison. There he was reared and on reaching manhood was married. He died on his farm in Jefferson county in 1900, and his widow now makes her home in Fort Madison.
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1869 - 1966 (97 years)
