W. W. Bolls
19th Century Mississippi Baptist Pastor
and Home Missionary
W. W. Bolls was born near Salem church, Jefferson county, Mississippi, December 2, 1827, and died on the 27th of January, 1896, being in his sixty-ninth year. While he was quite young his father died, leaving a widow and six children. The loss of his father and the care of the family deprived him of early educational advantages. Being of studious habits, however, he acquired considerable information by his own efforts. Later he attended Howard College, but did not remain to complete his course.
When about fifteen years old he professed faith in the Savior, uniting with Flower Hill church, in Warren county. His marriage to Miss Ann Stephens occurred in June, 1846. He was licensed to preach in 1851 and ordained in 1853. After his ordination he moved to Copiah county, where he was pastor of a number of churches, and into whose membership he baptized more than a thousand persons. In 1870 he went to Wilkinson county as missionary of the Mississippi Association, where he labored two years. His next move was to Amite county, where he was again the pastor of a number of churches, and remaining some fifteen years. He took a decided stand for prohibition and was among the first advocates in the struggle. He was moderator of the Mississippi Association for eleven years, viz., 1771, 1872, and from 1877 to 1885, inclusive.
During the latter part of his ministry Mr. Bolls moved back to Jefferson county and was pastor of Fellowship and Rodney churches. One who knew him well pays this tribute to his memory: "He was a man of great consecration and never failed to meet his appointments if it was possible for him to do so. The Lord greatly blessed his efforts, and I think he baptized about two thousand persons."
Mr. Bolls was buried at Utica, Miss., Pastor I. H. Anding, conducting the funeral service from the Utica Baptist Church. Thus there passed from earth another faithful servant of God who had stood before thousands of men and women pleading for repentance and salvation.
=========================== [From History of the Mississippi Baptist Association, by T. C. Shilling, 1908, pp. 130-131. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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