JOSEPH R. HOLBROOK

HOLBROOK

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/21/2020 at 17:35:08

JOSEPH R. HOLBROOK, of section 2, Quincy township, arriving here as early as 1853, was the first merchant in the county, when there were in the county but nine voters.

He was born in Cheshire county, New Hampshire, November 30, 1831, the son of Luther and Abigail (Britton) Holbrook. His father was born at Boston, a son of William Holbrook, of an old New England family; the mother was also a native of New Hampshire. The subject of this sketch was fourteen years old when the family moved to Perry county, Ohio; in 1851 they moved to Lucas county, Iowa, where they lived about thirty years; then they removed to Hamilton county, this State, and resided near Webster city until death, - the father dying at the age of eighty- three years and the mother when eighty years old. The father was a dairyman the most of his life.

Mr. J. R. Holbrook was brought up in the business of the dairy farm until he was eighteen years of age, when he learned the trade of cabinet and chair-maker, which he followed some four years; and in 1853 he settled at Quincy, then the county seat of Adams county. Here he erected the first house built in town, put in a stock of merchandise, which he had purchased at Savanna, Missouri, 100 miles away. A year afterward he sold out and purchased 200 acres of land on section 16, which he improved and occupied for ten years. Then he bought on sections 14 and 11, 200 acres which he began to improve. In 1873 he purchased where he now lives, in Pleasant valley, on one of the best farms in Adams county, containing 520 acres of bottom, hillside and table-land, - all rich and productive, and within the blue-grass tract. The place is stocked with 100 head of high-grade cattle, besides large numbers of horses and hogs. His barn, 62 x 100 feet, is one of the best in the country. Besides, there is a horse barn, 24 x 32 and three stories high. A plain, old-style house stands on a beautiful plateau of land, which is prettily ornamented with trees, etc., but Mr. Holbrook's residence is a fine, modern structure, with the latest improvements. Pleasant Valley is, indeed, a beautiful place.

Mr. Holbrook was Justice of the Peace eight years, was the first Prosecuting Attorney of Adams county, and served one term as county Supervisor. He is a good business man, well informed and of advanced, progressive views. In political matters he voted the Republican ticket until 1880, when his views underwent a change; since that time he has voted independently.

He was married in Lucas county, Iowa, January 18, 1852, to Miss Mary Ann Miller, a daughter of J. M. B. Miller, who laid out the town of Quincy, and died here in 1855. Mrs. Holbrook's mother was Mary Wiant before marriage, and she died at Quincy. Mr. Holbrook has nine children, as follows: Mrs. Nettie George, John, Mrs. Maggie Mendenhall, Mrs. Lida Deweese, who was before her marriage a school-teacher; Hector, Joseph, Mrs. Josephine Prather, Grant and Alfred. The children have received a good education, enabling them to fill responsible positions in life.