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1907 Past and Present Biographies

James W. Holden

James W. Holden, a most enterprising farmer and prominent stockman in Greene county, was born in Iowa City, November 15, 1862, his parents being James and Anna (Murphy) Holden, the latter a native of Ohio. The father was born in Ireland and came to the United States about 1840. After living in Johnson county, Iowa, for some years he came to Greene county in 1875 and bought a farm in Jackson township. Here he remained for fifteen years, improving his farm and adding all the modern equipments which are so necessary today if agricultural pursuits are to be made the most of. He subsequently removed to Nebraska.

James W. Holden received a very limited education in the common schools of his native city and was only thirteen years of age when his father removed to Jackson township. His mother passed away when he was still a child and so lonesome did the home seem that he could stay there no longer. After spending one year in Iowa City he made his way to Colorado, where he was engaged in mining for eight years. So successful were his ventures in this line that he was enabled to return to Greene county and buy land in Greenbrier township. Conducting the cultivation of this piece of land by the most approved methods, he has been able to add adjoining farms to his original purchase until he now owns eleven hundred acres. This is kept in the best of shape and so easily does the general farming move along upon his place that he was able to engage extensively in stock raising and feeding until 1897, when he moved to Scranton. He still supcrintends his farms and owns at present four hundred acres in Scranton township, of which he takes entire charge, two hundred and forty acres in Kendrick township, six hundred acres in Greenbrier, which he rents, and three hundred and twenty acres of land in Hand county, South Dakota. He has one of the best stock farms in the county and has been extcnsively engaged in buying and shipping cattle and hogs.

Tn 1888 Mr. Holden was married in Dallas county, Iowa, to Maria McDonald. a native of Guthrie county, this state. and a daughter of Patrick McDonald of that county. Seven childrcn have been born to this union: Anna S., Edward James, Ira Joseph, Roscoe Francis, Charles Harold, Earl Herbert and Walter George.

Mr. Holden's political support is given the republican party and be has always been actively engaged in its campaigns. He is a self-made man, who, without any extraordinary family or pecuniary advantages at the commencement of life, has worked earnestly and energetically and by indomitable courage and integrity has achieved both character and fortune. At present he is serving on the county board of supervisors and is also a member of the town council. Fraternnlly he is identified with the Masons.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead,"
by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver,
Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

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