- Alexander Thompson Holden was born July 4, 1823 in Jefferson Co. Indiana, Republican Twp. near Madison, Indiana. He was the son of John and Mary Polly (Thompson) Holden. He was raised on a farm, along with his brother Robert Elder Holden and five sisters, Isabella, Esther, Eleanor, Mary, and Eliza Jane.
Alexander was only twelve years old and the oldest in the young family of seven children at the time of his father's death and was raised by his widowed mother on the farm.
On March 9, 1847, Alexander married Jane Bain, whose father Samuel Bain, was the executor in his father's will. Of this union were born five sons and one daughter. They were John Robert Holden, born in 1848,died in the Civil War and was buried in a National Cemetery near St. Louis. Samuel Wilson Holden born 1850, died in infancy. Thomas Alison Holden born 1851, also died in infancy. Elizabeth Jane Holden born in 1853, never married and died in 1877. It was told she died on her wedding day. She is buried in Oakhill Cemetery, near Danville. Edward Wallace Holden was born 1855, died in 1928 and is also buried in Oakhill Cemetery. He was a life long resident of the Potomac Ill. area.
It is believed that shortly after the birth of Edward in 1855, Alexander and Jane left Jefferson Co. In. and came to Rossville, in Vermilion Co. Il. In May 1857, Jane gave birth to William Hood Holden and shortly afterward she died, leaving Alexander with an infant son. Unable to properly care for the young son, Alexander allowed William Hood to be adopted by Alvan Gilbert, a well known and prominent farmer in the Rossville area.
On January 12, 1861 Alexander met and after a short courtship he married Sarah Andrews. She came to Rossville area in July 1860 from Hamilton Ontario, Canada. Alexander and Sarah lived in the Rossville and Potomac area on the famous eight mile prairie until around 1870. They later moved to Oakwood Twp. in Vermilion Co. Ill. and settled on a farm in the Batestown area with Alexander's son Edward Wallace Holden and their four sons, Charles Henry Holden born in 1862, Oscar Vincent Holden born in 1864, Logan Tincher Holden born in 1866, and Alvan Gilbert Holden born in 1868.
They later had three daughters and another son, they being Esther Ann Holden (Eve) born in 1872, Cora Ellen Holden(Mauck) born in 1873, Mary Isabel Holden (Wonderlin) born in 1877, and Alexander Thompson Holden Jr. born in 1881. All of the above family were buried in Oakhill Cemetery in Batestown.
DEATH OF AN OLD CITIZEN
February 8,1894
Alexander T. Holden, one of the oldest citizens of the county, died yesterday morning at his residence 6 miles west of the city. Mr. Holden was very well and favorably known, and he leaves a large circle of friends to mourn his death. The funeral services will be held at the Batestown Church, Wednesday February 10, at 2 o'clock, Rev. Parker Shields officiating. Burial will be at the Chester Cemetery. (aka Oakhill Cemetery)
|
Fisher-Gunn Families Genealogy
1823 - 1894 (70 years)
