Fred Eldridge Bolton was born on December 6, 1869 in North Andover, Massachusetts. He spent most of his life in Boston; moving there at the age of two.

His father, Charles S., enlisted as a corporal in Co. H, 17th Massachusetts Infantry on July 2, 1861. He reenlisted into Co. A as a private on February 29, 1864. He was wounded at Wise's Forks, North Carolina on March 5, 1865 and mustered out on July 11, 1865.

Fred joined the Admiral Winslow Camp 31, Roxbury, Massachusetts on October 24, 1887. He then joined the John A. Andrews Camp 96, Boston as a charter member on May 8, 1889. He became Division Commander on February 22, 1895. Next, he joined as a charter member of the Gen. Nelson A. Miles Camp 46, Roxbury, Massachusetts on June 26, 1895. He run unopposed for Commander-in-Chief in 1910.

He served in the 6th Regiment of Infantry M.V.M. as a Captain and Paymaster.

Fred was a Deputy Assessor for Boston, served as Chairman of the Republican City Committee, held an office on the Board of Aldermen, and was a Representative for Roxbury in the Massachusetts House (1907).

He was a Senior Past Commander of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, a Past Potentate of the Aleppo Temple of the Mystic Shrine, and a Mason.

Fred married Ottalea Bailey and they had one son and two daughters.

Brother Bolton died on route to Havana, Cuba on October 2, 1938. He was on a trip with the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company for their 301st Fall field day tour of duty. A Masonic memorial service was held aboard the steamship Rotterdam. He is buried at Forest Hills Cemetery, Boston.