HOLLY, IRA A.

HOLLY, SOWDEN

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 10/26/2025 at 20:32:15

BURLINGTON CITY.
(P. O. BURLINGTON)

HOLLY, IRA A., Superintendent Water Company ; born at Seneca Falls, N. Y., March 27, 1842; in 1859, he went to Lockport, N. Y.; was connected with the Holly Manufacturing Co. for three years, then returned to Seneca Falls, where he remained until March, 1868, when he went to Sparta, Wis.; he started machine-shops there which he conducted until his shops were destroyed by fire in June, 1868 ; went to La Crosse, Wis., soon after the fire, and took charge of the machine-shops of Geo. M. Leach ; remained there only a short time; in July, 1868, he came to Burlington, and entered the shops of the National Iron Works ; afterward became superintendent of the iron works of Charles Sowden ; continued in that position until 1874. Mr. Holly was engineer of the Fire Department of Burlington from 1869 to November, 1875; he then went to Evanston, Ill., as Superintendent of the Water Works of that city; remained in that position until Feb. 15, 1878, when he returned to Burlington and erected the Holly Water Works for the Burlington Water Co., after completion of the works, in June, 1878, he was appointed Superintendent thereof Mr. H. served his apprenticeship with Downs & Co., manufacturer of pumps, Seneca Falls ; afterward, he was engaged in woolen manufacturing business.

Source: BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY IOWA
CHICAGO: WESTERN HISTORICAL COMPANY, 1879

Transcription typed/proofed as article was originally published in 1879