BIO: Philip BOLINGER, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 392-393.
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  PHILIP BOLINGER, Valley Point, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in 
Tell township, Huntingdon county, Pa., January 19, 1842. He is a son of 
Jacob and Rachel (Gifford) Bolinger. His paternal ancestry is German, 
his great-grandfather having come to America from the fatherland, 
enlisted in the Revolutionary war, and settled in Tell township, 
Huntingdon county, after the close of the war. His son, the grandfather 
of Philip Bolinger, was a farmer. The maternal grandparents, the 
Giffords, were natives of New Jersey, where Mr. Gifford was a farmer 
and blacksmith. They had nine children. Both Jacob Bolinger and his 
wife were born in Huntingdon county; he was a farmer during all of his 
life. He filled the office of supervisor. He was married in 1826; his 
wife was the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Stillwell) Gifford. Of their 
children, three have died: Mary, died in 1843, aged two years; Sophia, 
died in 1874, aged thirty-eight years; and Margaret A., died in 1890, 
aged sixty years. The remaining children are: John; Elizabeth (Mrs. 
George Swanger); Hannah (Mrs. James Barkley); Jemima; Philip; and 
Christiana (Mrs. Jacob Love). The father died in 1888, at the age of 
eighty-four; his wife died in 1880, aged seventy-four years. They were 
members of the Dunkard church.
  The education of Philip Bolinger was carried on in the winter school, 
the common school of his township, which he attended until he was 
eighteen. After leaving school, he assisted his father in the work of 
the farm on which he had grown up, until he became of age, and a few 
years beyond that time. In August, 1864, Mr. Bolinger enlisted in 
Company K, Two Hundred and Second Pennsylvania Volunteers, Capt. A. W. 
Decker, and served until the close of the war. This patriotic service 
performed, he went back to the homestead, and assisted his father there 
for another year. In 1867, he went to Kansas, and worked for one summer 
on a farm in that State; also as a general laborer. In the fall of that 
year, he came back as far as the State of Indiana, and remained there 
until the spring of 1868. Then he came to Black Log valley, Huntingdon 
county, and for a few years did various kinds of work. After this he 
purchased a farm, and regularly engaged in cultivating it; he has made 
this his business ever since. The township offices which Mr. Bolinger 
has held are as follows: supervisor of Shirley township, one year; a 
few years later school director for one year; in 1895, again elected 
supervisor, served a year; re-elected in 1896, and still holds the 
office; election offices, such as judge and inspector, at various 
times; for some years he was clerk. He is a member of General Kane 
Post, No. 292, G.A.R., of Mount Union.
  Philip Bolinger was married September 14, 1871, to Melinda, daughter 
of David and Mary (Crownover) Gilliland. Their children are: David F.; 
Laura A. (Mrs. Frank L. Oppel), of Oppelsville, Juniata county; and 
William O.
  The parents of Mrs. Bolinger were born in Huntingdon county. Her 
father was a blacksmith, and later a farmer. His wife, Mary, was the 
daughter of Daniel and Grace Crownover. Their children are: Melinda 
(Mrs. Bolinger); and Elliot. The father died at the age of eighty-six 
years; Mrs. Gilliland died aged sixty-four years. They belonged to the 
Methodist Episcopal church.