Throughout this year, 2013, we have been reminded of American Civil War events that "celebrate" their 150th anniversary. Each time I hear or read of such commemorations of 1863 events I think of the beheading of Alf Bolin "right here" in the Ozarks. That gruesome happening took place near Forsyth in early 1863. So I am going to present a condensed version of the true story of this whacker in a series of chapters at this site over the days to come. The much more detailed story of Bolin will be found in my still available $10 book called Christian County Memories---for sale at Nixa Hardware and the Christian County Library at Ozark.This condensed story concerns one Alfred Bowling or Bolin or Bolen or Boling or Bolan!!!! One of the initial research problems in tracking down accurate info on the notorious Alf Bolin is that his last name was spelled many different ways in the primitive Ozarks of the 1850s and 1860s.
But the Alf Bolin "recorded" history begins in the 1850 census of Monroe County,TN where the 16 year old lad was living with his family at that time. Their name was recorded as "Boling" in that listing. Alfred was living with his father Clayton Boling who was born in NC in 1800c and his mother Jemima Boling who was born in KY in 1812. His siblings of 1850 were Larkin Boling, age 17; William Boling, age 14; John Boling, age 14; James Boling, age 8; Mary Boling, age 5; and little George Boling, age 3.
At some point, likely, in the mid 1850s Alf and his family came to the newly created Stone County in southwest Missouri. We do not know if Clayton made the trip or not-----for his name does NOT show up in any records of Stone County. Therefore it is very likely that Jemima and her family of 7 kids came to Stone County with NO father present. Rather she probably came to this area because she had family here----that might help her support her youthful brood.
The first firm date that proves the Bolings had arrived in southwest Missouri is revealed with the marriage of William Bowling (note spelling) in June, 1857 to one Perilla Darel. The Justice of the Peace who performed the ceremony was T. C. Lee, who would be Thomas Lee (B1829,VA-died 1868) who lived in the general vicinity of the so-called Floods Settlement and Hooten Town, near the James River. 
We cannot pinpoint where Jemima and family settled because they never owned any land!! 23 year old Alfred would have to work for other folks who did own land to help support his mother and family.
TO BE CONTINUED