Holbrook, Bernard D.

HOLBROOK, CHAPLIN, WELLS, CONNELLY, OLIVER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 1/5/2008 at 19:28:09

Source: History of Monona County, Iowa 1890
Pub: Chicago National Com

Bernard D. Holbrook, one of the firm of Holbrook & Bros., banking, at Onawa, is a descendant of one of the first colonist of New England. From Morse’s Genealogical Register we find that Thomas Holbrook, a native of Dorsetshire, England, sailed from Weymouth, on the south coast of “white-cliffed Albion” on the 20th of March 1635, with his wife, Jane Holbrook, and four children, John, Thomas, Anne and Elizabeth, and came to the Phymouth Colony, Mass., and settled at Weymouth. He died in 1674. Thomas, his second son, who was born in England in 125, and was, therefore, ten years old when he crossed the water, became one of the leading citizens of the towns of Scituate, Weymouth and Braintree, and died in the latter place in 197, leaving a family of children, among whom we may find Deacon Peter Holbrook. The latter was born in 1655, and died May 3, 1712, at or near Mendon, in the Old Bay State. Among his children was John, who was born September 24, 1679. He married Miss Hannah Chapin, and after raising a family, departed this life, full of years, May 11, 1765, at Bellingham. His widow died at the same place, April 12, 1770, in her eighty-sixth year. Josiah, the son of John and Hannah Holbrook, was born January 17, 1714. He served in the Colonial militia through both of the French wars, and in the latter years of his life transplanted his family from Massachusetts to New York State, settling at Pompey. There he died February 4, 1873. He was the husband of two wives, Peggy Ives and Mary Moffett, and had a family of children. One of these, David, whose birth occurred July 28, 1760, served as a soldier during our struggle for independence, receiving a severe wound at the battle of Bennington. After the Revolution he settled at Lafayette, N.Y., where he engaged in the practice of medicine, and there died November 29, 1832.

Henry L., fourth child of Dr. David and Mehetabel (Wells) Holbrook, was born in Onondaga County, N.Y., February 28, 1799. He received the elements of his education in that part of the great Empire State, principally at Pompey Hill. While there, in his younger manhood, he spent several years in teaching school, but about 1828 he removed to Somerset County, Pa., and for several years was principal of the Somerset Academy. While residing there, May 12, 1829, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Connelly, a native of the county, who was born in 1804. In 1834 he removed to a farm which he had purchased in the vicinity, where he made his home until 1865. In the Spring of that year, with his family, he removed to the State of Iowa and settled in Monona County, where he made his home until called away by death, February 11, 1874, his wife only surviving him until the 30th of May following. Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Holbrook were the parents of seven children: Charles H., of the firm of Holbrook & Bro., bankers, of Onawa: Eggleton W.: Bernard D., of whom this sketch is written: Norman Bruce, now President of the Iowa County Saving Bank, at Marengo, Iowa: Marcellus, the President of the Valley Bank, at Missouri Valley, Harrison County: Emily J., the wife of Herbert E. Morrison, of Onawa, a sketch of whom appears in this volume: and Mary B., the wife of M.A. Freeland, one of the leading business men of Onawa, whose life narrative is given in another part of this work, Henry L. Holbrook was, during his residence in Somerset County, one of its leading citizens and a stanch and trusted member of the Democratic party and filled the office of County Surveyor there for many years. He never engaged actively in business after moving to Iowa. Of sterling integrity and simple tastes, like most of the race from which he sprang, the result of his life, upright and simple, has had its influence upon those left behind, and will prove “footprints on the sands of time” to lead his descendants for many generations in the paths of moral rectitude.
Bernard D. Holbrook, of whom this narrative is written, was born in Somerset County, Pa., May 22, 1834, and is the third son of Henry L. and Mary (Connelly) Holbrook, above mentioned, and was reared to manhood in that portion of the Keystone State. He received his elementary education in the common schools of his native county, finishing with a year at Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Washington County, Pa. Then a few years were passed in working on the home farm in summer and teaching country schools in winter until March, 1855, when he came to Iowa County, Iowa where he engaged in surveying and in the study of law. In November, 1856, he returned to the place of his birth, where he remained through the following winter, pursuing his legal studies. In the spring of 1857 he came to Monona County. He had been here in the summer of 1855, in company with C.E. Whiting and others from Iowa County, and had invested his earnings in Monona County lands. On his arrival, in 1857, he and his brother, C.H., became interested in the Monona Land Company and surveyed and platted the town of Onawa. During that summer he was engaged in surveying in the neighboring Territory of Nebraska, and spent the following winter in Omaha. In spring of 1858, he returned to Onawa and at the spring term of the District Court was admitted to the bar, Judge M.F. Moore being on the bench. He carried on the practice of law, at the same time engaged in the real estate business in connection with his brother, Charles H. His law business he transferred to Monk & Sellick in 1867, up to which time he had prosecuted it continuously. In 1865 the firm of Holbrook & Bro. had commenced the general banking business in connection with their real estate dealings, and to this Mr. Holbrook devoted his entire attention after giving up his law practice. He has been prominently identified with public affairs, having served as a member of the board of county supervisors, Mayor of Onawa, and many years as one of the board of education of the latter city.
Bernard D. Holbrook was united in marriage, May 13, 1862, with Miss Mary F. Oliver, a daughter of Henry W. Oliver. She was born in Ireland, July 14, 1838, and came to America with her parents when she was but four years of age. Her father settled in Pittsburg, Pa., where he died November 25, 1888, at the age of eighty-two years. Her mother is still living in Pittsburg. By their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Holbrook are the parents of nine children, of whom the following is the record: Olive E., born June 21, 1863, died February 8, 1864: Parker K., born September 23, 1864: Margery O., born June 14, 1866, died January 31, 1874:: George O., born December 27, 1867: David O., May 29, 1872: Evans, January 15, 1875: Norah, December 21, 1876: Edith, March 27, 1880: and Frank L., born August 26, 1882, died April 18, 1883.
Mr. Holbrook is a member of Vesper Lodge, No. 223, A.F. & A.M. and has been for several years Master of the lodge.
A member of the Onawa Improvement Company, Mr. Holbrook gives a large share of his attention to the upbuilding of his home city and county, and has the interests of the community at heart. In politics Mr. Holbrook is a stanch Democrat, and was a member of the National Peace Convention in Philadelphia, in 1866, and the National Democrat Convention of 1868.

There is a picture of B.D. Holbrook, in this History