SAMUEL BOLTON

was born in Lancashire, England, May 3, 1816. He was the eldest son in a family of eleven children of William and Grace Bolton. His father was a block-printer by trade, and followed that business during most of his life. Samuel received a fair education in the schools at home, and learned the business of block-printing, which he followed while he remained in England.
In 1838 he married Elizabeth Dugdale, or Yorkshire, England, who was born in 1816. Their children, born in England, are Joseph, William, Crumbie, Mrs. H. E. Colburn, of Vermont, and Mrs. Isaac Dugdale, of Lansingburgh, N. Y. In the year 1848 Mr. Bolton with his family left the country of his nativity and came to America, settling in Lansingburgh, where he has since resided. Upon arriving in this country his means were nearly exhausted, and almost a penniless adventurer in a foreign land he set about to find something to do, whereby he might support his family and honorably discharge the duties of the citizen. For nearly nineteen years he worked for D. Powers & Sons, oil-cloth manufacturers of Lansingburgh, and during these years, with the assistance of a devoted wife, he gave his children such opportunities for an education as his means afforded. In 1865, with little capital, he began in a small way the brewing of beer, which during the latter years, while an employee of D. Powers & Sons, he had to some extent carried on, doing most of his work during the leisure hours of evening, and brewing his beer in a small boiler. The visits of friends, and the social glass of ale, soon proved a very strong advertisement for Bolton’s “home-brewed ale,” and so popular did this become, that when Mr. Bolton gave his attention wholly to its manufacture the demand for his pure ale rapidly increased.
His industry, economy, fair dealing, and desire for justice to all, and his manly character, have gained for him the confidence of all who knew him. At the Centennial Exhibition of 1876 he received a medal and a diploma from the commission in honor of the purity and superiority of his ales over others manufactured in this country.
Mr. Bolton has never been active in politics, and has generally been identified with the Republican party. His sons, William and Crumbie, were soldiers through the entire late Rebellion. The former was a member of the 24th Regiment Infantry, New York Volunteers, and was for some six months held as a prisoner of war in the South; the latter belonged to the 77th Regiment Cavalry, New York Volunteers.
Sylvester, Nathaniel B. History of Rensselaer Co., New York: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers. Philadelphia, PA: Everts & Peck, 1880. 332.

Samuel Bolton, Senior.

Samuel Bolton, Sr., founder of the brewing firm of S. Bolton & Sons, died at his residence 329 Second avenue, Saturday morning from Bright’s disease. Mr. Bolton was born in Lancashire, England, in 1816, and came to this country in 1848. He secured employment with D. Powers & Sons, and remained with them until 1865, when he engaged in the brewing business. By industry, close application to business and honesty he attained a competency, and became one of the leading brewers in this section of the country. He is survived by four sons and three daughters.
Lansingburgh Courier. November 10, 1888: 3 col 3.