R. B. BOULDEN, P.M. and Jeweler; P. O. Millersburg; eldest son of
Ephraim and his second wife Mary, daughter of Major John Baker, of Mason
County, was born May 7, 1838. He began life as a teacher in Dist. No. 1,
in his native county, and afterward in Bourbon County, for several years.
He went upon the river as clerk of a steamboat, where he remained for
several years, the principal part of the time during the war; he was in
the Government employ, in the transportation of troops and munitions of
war, having for a considerable time charge of his boat. After the war
he engaged for several years as clerk in a general store in the country;
was for five months U.S. storekeeper at Clay and Pierce's Distillery, No.
80, and afterward traveled for that firm in the State of Mo. He returned
to Ky. and engaged in mercantile business at Cynthiana and Claysville,
Harrison Co.; failing in that business he returned to the river life,
and acted as clerk on a boat plying from Memphis, Tenn., to Jacksonport,
Ark., where he remained until he received his license as Captain of a
boat plying in the Western rivers; he subsequently returned to Ky. and
engaged as traveling salesman for the wholesale firm of H. C. CLay &
Co.; this position he held until receiving the appointment of P. M. of
Millersburg, Ky., October 24, 1878; by a series of blunders he did not
receive his commission until Jan. 25, 1877. He was married Nov. 20,
1878 to Carrie, eldest daughter of James W. and Lovina Conway of Bourbon
County; she a granddaughter of James H. Johnson, of Nicholas County. Mr.
Boulden is a cripple, but a man of fine personal, social and business
habits, and a man commanding the highest respect of the citizens of
his community.
