Born near Basil, Ohio, De Bolt attended the common schools.

He was appointed in 1859 and elected in 1860 commissioner of common schools for Grundy County.

He entered the Union Army as captain in the Twenty-third Regiment, Missouri Volunteers, in 1861.

Captured at the Battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862, and held as prisoner until the following October.

In 1864 again entered the United States service as major in the Forty-fourth Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry.