Biographies | 1896 Bios
William Holsman
Mr. Holsman was a native of the Keystone State, born in Union county, Pennsylvania, March 1, 1814.. His parents, George and Hannah (Lenhart) Holsman, were also natives of that State, and the former, born near Philadelphia, was of German lineage. About 1816 they removed to Perry county, Pennsylvania, locating on the banks of the Susquehanna river, twenty-seven miles from Harrisburg. They became the parents of nine children, six sons and three daughters, namely: Mary Ann, George, William, James, Peter, Susan, Margaret, Henry and John. The last named is the only one now living, his home being in Sedalia, Missouri. The father died in Liverpool, Perry county, Pennsylvania, at the age of forty-five years, and his wife, who long survived him, passed away at the home of her son William in Guthrie county, Iowa, at the advanced age of eighty-three. The father was a shoemaker by trade. His religious faith was that of the Lutheran Church, and his wife, for more than half a century, was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. Holsman of this review was reared in Perry county, Pennsylvania, acquired his education in the district schools, and learned the trade which his father followed, becoming an expert workman. When he had thoroughly mastered the business, he traveled through Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and at various points in those States was employed as a journeyman shoemaker. He worked in several of the larger cities, including Chicago, Pittsburg and St. Louis, and his ability along this line made it an easy task for him to secure a situation. In 1839 he visited Chicago when the now magnificent city-the metropolis of the West-was hardly more than a village, and gave little promise of its future phenomenal development. He also visited Galena, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri.
During this time Mr. Holsman had always considered Pennsylvania his home, but in 1840 he bade adieu to the State of his nativity and took up his residence in Senecaville, Guernsey county, Ohio, where the following year occurred one of the most important events in his life-his marriage with Miss Lucy Dilley, who was born and reared in that county. Her parents, Robert and Hannah (McDonald) Dilley, were both natives of New Jersey, the former of English and the latter of Scotch decent. As the years passed by sons and daughters; to the number of nine, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Holsman. In order of birth they were as follows: George, who was born in 1843, was a veteran of the late war, serving three years as a member of the Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry. He died in 1892, leaving a widow and eight children. Hannah is the wife of G. W. Reed, a farmer and stock-raiser of Baker township, Guthrie county. Julia is the wife of W. C. McCool, an implement dealer of Salem, Nebraska. Susan married Judge J. B. Carpenter, an attorney of Oklahoma. John is living on the home farm. Lucy M. is the wife of Frank M. Hopkins, a banker of Guthrie Center, Iowa. Harry B. is a prominent attorney of Omaha, Nebraska. Two children died in infancy.
During his residence in Ohio, Mr. Holsman followed shoemaking, and also engaged in the raising of horses and cattle. In 1856, however, he disposed of his interests there and came to Iowa, making the journey by rail as far as St. Louis, thence up the river to Keokuk, and on by the rougher method of travel by team. At length he arrived in Orange township, Guthrie county, where he had purchased 280 acres of land. He remained on the farm for two years, but farm products at that time brought low prices, corn being only ten cents a bushel, and he believed he could make more by following his trade. In consequence he removed to Panora, .where by his untiring labors he made from $12 to $15 a week. Subsequently he traded his land for the old homestead on Bear creek, then comprising 160 acres, on section 26, Baker township. This land had been claimed in 1853 by Joseph Fleek, one of the early pioneers of the State, and was partly improved at the time it passed into the possession of Mr. Holsman. With characteristic energy he began its development and as his financial resources increased he extended the boundaries of his farm from time to time until it comprised 500 acres, a large portion of it being rich bottom soil along Bear creek. The place was well tilled and the waving fields of grain indicated the care and supervision of the owner. He was also largely interested in stock-raising, keeping on hand between one and two hundred head of cattle. He has also purchased land in other localities until at the time of his death his possessions aggregated more than 900 acres. His name was synonymous with honorable dealing. His success came to him as the result of earnest effort, steady application and good management and was certainly well deserved. From humble surroundings he arose to a position of wealth and affluence, and as he mounted higher step by step he commanded still more the admiration and confidence of the community.
Previous to 1860 Mr. Holsman was identified with the Democratic party, but in that year supported Abraham Lincoln for the presidency, and was ever afterward a stalwart advocate of Republican principles, taking a deep .interest in political affairs, and supporting all the candidates of his party. He attended every State convention with two exceptions from 1860 until called to his final rest, and was frequently honored with positions of public trust, wherein he discharged his duties with a promptness and fidelity that won him high regard. Shortly after his removal to Panora, he was appointed Sheriff of Guthrie county to fill an unexpired term, at the end of which he was elected for a two-years term. After an interval of two years he was once more elected, in 1863, and served until 1865. In March, 1879, he was appointed Postmaster of Guthrie Center, holding that position for nearly eight years, or until August 30, 1886. In 1889 he was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board of Supervisors, and in the autumn of the same year he was elected for a full term. The confidence reposed in him was never misplaced. He discharged his duties to the best of his ability and that ability was of a high order. He was a recognized leader for his superior intelligence, excellent executive ability and unsullied character well fitted him for leadership.
Mr. Holsman was long identified with the Masonic fraternity. He became a charter member of Orange Lodge, No. 123, F. & A. M., which was named in honor of his old home in Orange township. He served as Tyler of this lodge on its organization and was afterward its Treasurer for a number of years.
In 1874 Mr. Holsman was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died in November, at the age of fifty-six years. She was a devoted wife and loving mother, and had the warm regard of a large circle of friends. Some years after her demise Mr. Holsman paid a high tribute to her memory in the following words: “She was one of the best women that ever lived, and I miss her all the time." He was called to his final rest July 25, 1895, in the eighty-first year of his age. His life was indeed a successful one. He was numbered among those pioneers of the county who had watched its growth from an early day, and he had ever borne his part in the work of progress and improvement. He possessed a positive character, being intense in his likes and dislikes and no element of hypocrisy found a place in his nature. Among all the citizens of Guthrie county none had a warmer place in the hearts of the people, and on the announcement of the death of Mr. Holsman a feeling of sadness pervaded the whole community. He was laid to rest with Masonic honors, and his funeral was one of the largest ever held in the county, friends assembling from far and near to pay their last tribute of respect to one whom they had long known and honored.
A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company 1896, pg. 585.