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History of Allegan and Barry Counties, Michigan
pub. D. W. Ensign & Co., Philadelphia - 1880


         [p. 475-476]
         
         FRANCIS HOLDEN
         
         Among the successful farmers and early settlers of Barry
       County the name of FRANCIS HOLDEN will long be remembered.
       He was a man of more than ordinary sagacity and perception
       and of remarkable energy and determination, and had he re-
       ceived a liberal education would have made an enviable
       reputation in any calling. He was born in Vermont, June 9,
       1812; his father was a farmer and emigrated to Cortland
       County, N.Y., in an early day, but little is known of his
       history further than that he was an industrious, hard-
       working man, but lacked the faculty of accumulating pro-
       perty which was a marked feature in the character of his
       son. FRANCIS was thrown upon his own resources at an early
       age, and for several years was employed in some capacity
       on the Erie Canal. In the autumn of 1836 he came to Michi-
       gan. A brother-in-law had preceded him, and had settled
       near Albion, Calhoun Co., with whom MR. HOLDEN spent the
       winter. The following spring he went to Richland, Kalamazoo
       Co., and hired to FOSTER GILKEY, one of the pioneers of
       that town; with him remained several years; his wages were
       carefully husbanded, and his first investment was in eighty
       acres of government land in the town of Prairieville, Barry
       Co. This was in 1837, and from that time until his death,
       in 1877, a period of forty years, his career was remarkable
       from the fact that upon his arrival in Calhoun County he
       had but three dollars and died the wealthiest man in the
       county. He dealt in farm property extensively, and at one
       time was one of the largest real-estate owners in the county.
       He seemed to have an intuitive knowledge of values, and his
       judgment in business matters was almost infallible. In 1841
       he married Miss KAIRAIAZIEK, daughter of FREDERICK DAVIS,
       one of the early settlers of Kalamazoo Co. MRS. HOLDEN pos-
       sesses many of the distinguishing characteristics of her
       husband, and his success is, perhaps, attributable in a
       large measure to her thrift and industry. She was born in
       Livonia, Livingston Co., N.Y., Jan. 8, 1822. She is the
       mother of five children, three of whom are living; JOHN,
       the only son, resides upon the old farm; ANN, now Mrs.
       DOTY, lives in Nebraska; MARY is the wife of MR. NORTON,
       of Hastings. The life of MR. HOLDEN is one worthy of
       emulation in many respects, and his history shows the
       rusult of a life of economy and industry. In political
       matters MR. HOLDEN manifested a lively interest. He was a
       staunch Republican, and did much to advance the interests
       of that party. He was a man of marked social qualities;
       he loved a good joke, and enjoyed the society of his 
       family and friends. His early life was one of toil and
       privation, and his early associations were such as in-
       variably depress, although they probably developed many
       strong points in his character that might otherwise have
       remained dormant; but starting in life as he did, with 
       only a good constitution and a strong pair of hands as
       his capital, he is worthy of a conspicuous position 
       among the self-made men of the county.
       
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