Valentine Boller, druggist and grocer, and one of the enterprising business men of Elkader, was born in Baden, Germany, Feb. 14, 1827, and was a son of John and Martha Boller. The subject of this memoir received his education in the schools of his native country, and afterward learned the trade of druggist. In 1849 he emigrated to the United States, landed in New York City, where he remained a short time, and from there he went to Pittsburg, Pa. He obtained employment in a machine shop in Pittsburg, and in 1850 came to Galena, Ill., where he engaged in the drug business until 1855, when he came to Elkader, where he has remained since. In 1854 he married Julia Weck, who was born in Milan, Italy, Feb. 19, 1838. By this union there is a family of five children, four living- Emma, now the wife of Frank Granger, of Kansas; Lena, Ferdinand A., and Mattie. Mr. Boller is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Elkader Lodge, No. 72. Mrs. Boller and her daughter Emma are members of the Congregational church, and Lena of the Methodist. Mr. Boller has been identified with the county for over a quarter of a century. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 651-52 |