John N. Holman

HOLMAN, GASSERUD, GREGGERSON, ERICKSON, JOHNSON, ENGEBRETSON

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 5/5/2007 at 15:54:01

The contribution which Norway has made to the citizenship of Winnebago county is a most valuable one, for those who have come from the land of the midnight sun have, on the whole, been men of business ability, possessing the industry, determination and enterprise which characterize the Norwegian race. They have therefore contributed in a very large measure to the substantial development, progress and prosperity of this section.

John N. Holman, living on section 24, Eden township, was born near Drammen, in Modum, Norway, January 6, 1868, a son of Nels Anderson and Gunhild (Gaaserud) Holman, who were farming people. Their family numbered seven children, of whom four are yet living: Maren, who is still in Norway; Julia, the wife of Gregger Greggerson, of Norway; Andrew, living in Grand Forks county, North Dakota; and John N. The father died when the last named was but four years of age and the mother afterward married Lars Erickson, by whom she had two children: Lewis, a resident of Polk county, Minnesota; and Gunda, the wife of Theodore Johnson, of Eden township. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lars Erickson have now passed away. They came to the United States when Mr. Holman of this review was but twelve years of age, establishing their home in Eden township, Winnebago county, in 1880. There they lived for two years and then removed to Steele county, North Dakota, where Mr. Erickson took up a homestead. Later they returned to Winnebago county and took up their abode with Mr. Holman. Mrs. Erickson died at the home of her son and was laid to rest in Bethel cemetery. About two years before Mrs. Erickson died Mr. Erickson returned to Norway to visit his daughter and while there passed away.

John N. Holman is largely indebted to the pioneer schools of Iowa and of Dakota for the educational opportunities which he enjoyed. He continued his studies to the age of sixteen and afterward worked as a farm hand for others until he had passed the age of thirty years. He next rented a farm in Logan township upon which he lived for six years, and his energy and industry during that period brought to him the capital which enabled him at length to purchase land. He acquired one hundred and twenty acres on section 24, Eden township, upon which he placed excellent improvements, and upon that farm he has since made his home.

In 1896 Mr. Holman was united in marriage to Miss Mary Engebretson, a daughter of Christian and Maren Engebretson, of Logan township, and they are the parents of seven living children: Nora, Gina, Mabel, James, George, Andrew and Melvin, all of whom are still under the parental roof. They also lost one son, Clarence, who died at the age of sixteen years.

The religious faith of the family is that of the United Lutheran church, while in political belief Mr. Holman is a republican, and his fellow townsmen, appreciative of his worth and ability, have called him to various public offices in which he has capably served. For three terms he was township assessor, was for four years township trustee and from June to November, 1912, was a member of the board of county supervisors. He has also been a precinct committeeman of the republican party and he does all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of his party in Winnebago county. He keeps abreast with modern political thought and is able to support his position by intelligent argument. He is today the owner of a fine farm, and while he started out empty handed, he is now numbered among the men of affluence of his district.

Source: History of Winnebago and Hancock Counties, Iowa, Vol. II, 1917, page 504.