John Johnsen Holm (1846-1926)

HOLM, NELSON, NILSON, JACOBSON, KNUTSON, ANDERSON, LENNING, GJERDE

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:14

From Nevada Evening Journal November 17, 1926 (page 1)

JOHN HOLM WAS REAL PIONEER

HAD LIVED IN COUNTY FOR 60 YEARS, MOT OF TIME ON SAME FARM.

Special to the Journal.
Roland, Nov. 17.--In the recent death of John J. Holm, 80, northern Story county lost one of its pioneer citizens, Mr. Holm having lived here for over 60 years.

John Holm was one of those who purchased his farm in prairie state, without a single furrow, a tree or a building upon it and saw it grow through his work into one of the finest homesteads in the great cornbelt.

The funeral services for Mr. Holm were held at Salem's church Monday afternoon. The deceased was born at Ostholm Ryfke, Norway, Sept. 19, 1846.

He came with his parents to Ottawa, Ill., at the age of 9 years, spent his childhood days there. Then he came to Story county in 1866. Later he purchased a farm northeast of Roland, which he has improved. He bought it as prairie, not a single furrow nor a tree or a building on it.

He was married in 1872 to Miss Johanna Nelson. To this union two children were born. A baby girl died at birth a few years before her mother. Then on Dec. 5, 1875, Mrs. Johanna Holm died and their little boy, Daniel, three months after his mother.

A few years later, March 14, 1879 he was married to Miss Caroline Jacobson. To this union nine children were born, three sons and six daughters. two have preceded the father in death. Eddie, three years old, died Feb. 1, 1887, Hannah, 17 years old died May 11, 1906. He leaves to mourn his departure his beloved wife and children. They are Lewis at Roland, Mrs. Sarah Knutson at Radcliffe, Mrs. Bertha Anderson, Radcliffe, Mrs. Emily Lenning at McCallsburg, Mrs. Amy Gjerde at McCallsburg, Eddie and Jennie Holm at home, twenty-one grandchildren, one brother Jacob Holm, of Storm Lake, Iowa. Mr. Holm had been failing these last months, still up and around until the last four days. Then a severe heart trouble set in. He died Nov. 5, 1926, at his old homestead, where he had lived for over 52 years. He was laid to rest in the Roland cemetery beside his other family.