William Wheeler Bolster was born in Rumford, Maine on July 6, 1823, the son of General Alvan Bolster (Militia title), a former State Legislator and leading citizen of Rumford.
William graduated from Harvard Law School in 1847 and practiced law in East Rumford before moving to Dixfield in 1852 where he practiced his profession for the next twenty years.
From 1861 to 1867 he was County Attorney for Oxford County and became somewhat of an expert on municipal affairs, publishing books on the collection of taxes and the surveying of highways.
In 1868 he was elected State Senator from Oxford County and reelected in 1869 and 1870, serving as President of the Senate in the latter year.
Following his senatorial terms he moved to Auburn where he formed a law partnership with A.M. Pulsifer in Lewiston.
He served in several appointive capacities for various Governors and was a member of the Executive Council under Governor Robie.
In 1893, he served as Mayor of Auburn. A man of many interests, Bolster was President of the Little Androscoggin Waterpower Company and President of the Maine Mortgage Loan Company.
It is interesting to note that following his graduation from law school, he served for ten years as a clerk in the Secretary of State’s Office in Augusta and for six sessions of the Maine Legislature he was head of the Engrossing Department.