George Frederick Bollinger
Encyclopedia
George Frederick Bollinger (1770–1842) was born in Tryon County, North Carolina
. Both Bollinger County, Missouri
and Fredericktown, Missouri
are named after him.
He was the eleventh of the twelve children of Heinrich Bollinger. George Frederick persuaded twenty other families to leave North Carolina
in the fall of 1799 and settle in a region immediately west of what is now Cape Girardeau, Missouri
. To acquire the land, Bollinger first had to sign of a document asserting that he and his fellow settlers were all Catholics. In reality, most of the group were members of the German Reformed Church, and none were Catholic. However, Don Louis Lorimier
, the Spanish Land Commandant of Cape Girardeau
, had been impressed by Bollinger on an earlier visit and was willing to bend the rules for him and his fellow settlers.
Tryon County, North Carolina
Tryon County is a former county which was located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It was formed in 1768 from the part of Mecklenburg County west of the Catawba River, although the legislative act that created it did not become effective until April 10, 1769. Due to inaccurate and delayed...
. Both Bollinger County, Missouri
Bollinger County, Missouri
Bollinger County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 12,363; despite a 2009 estimate that showed the population to be 11,841. The county seat is Marble Hill, which is the only city in Bollinger County...
and Fredericktown, Missouri
Fredericktown, Missouri
Fredericktown is a city in and the county seat of Madison County, Missouri, United States, in the northeastern foothills of the Ozark Mountains. The population was 3,928 at the 2000 census...
are named after him.
He was the eleventh of the twelve children of Heinrich Bollinger. George Frederick persuaded twenty other families to leave North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in the fall of 1799 and settle in a region immediately west of what is now Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Cape Girardeau is a city located in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is located approximately southeast of St. Louis and north of Memphis. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 37,941. A college town, it is the home of Southeast Missouri...
. To acquire the land, Bollinger first had to sign of a document asserting that he and his fellow settlers were all Catholics. In reality, most of the group were members of the German Reformed Church, and none were Catholic. However, Don Louis Lorimier
Don Louis Lorimier
Louis Lorimier was born in the Etienne parish of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He is considered to the founder and first European settler of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where he later served as the Spanish Land Commandant...
, the Spanish Land Commandant of Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Cape Girardeau is a city located in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is located approximately southeast of St. Louis and north of Memphis. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 37,941. A college town, it is the home of Southeast Missouri...
, had been impressed by Bollinger on an earlier visit and was willing to bend the rules for him and his fellow settlers.