John Alonzo Bolich Sr. was born on this day in 1871, in Catawba County, to Amos Elkanah and Barbara Caroline Dellinger Bolich.
He was educated in the public schools in Catawba County, and he began his railroad career in 1887. He worked for the Southern Railway for 50 years, as engineer and train master of the Asheville and Winston-Salem divisions.
John served as mayor of Saluda in 1911-12, and was a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from Polk County in 1913-14.
John was appointed by Governor Bickett as a member of the Forsyth County Council of Defense during World War I.
John was active in the National Association of Retired Railway Employees and in the Masonic Order.
John was married first to Sallie B. McMahan and second to Julia Josephine Potts. He passed away in 1948.
Photo courtesy of Forsyth County Public Library Photograph Collection.
