Robert L. Holman

As printed in 1881

ROBERT L. HOLMAN, farmer; P. O. Springfield. Born in Worcester Co., Mass, April 7, 1828. Is a son of Parley and Nancy (Young) Holman, natives of Massachusetts, and whose lives were spent in their native.State. He died in the winter of 1849. She died in March, 1845. They were parents of eleven children, four now living—Caroline, now Mrs. Mellen, of Springfield; Robert L., Leonard and Ester, now Mrs. Phelps, of Springfield. Our subject, at 9 years of age, left his home to work his own way through life; working here and there among strangers wherever he could find work and a home, till about 17 years of age, when he went to learn the carpenter trade. Being naturally possessed of mechanical genius, he became a very successful mechanic, and became quite an efficient millwright and pattern-maker. This business proved quite lucrative, and his skill as a workman procured him plenty of business. He was married, May 3, 1853, to Martha M., daughter of Sylvester and Mary Hildreth, natives of Massachusetts. By this union they have four children—Arthur D., Walter H., Herbert W. and Edward P. In the fall of 1854, Mr. Holman removed from Massachusetts to Ohio, locating in Springfield, where he engaged in mechanical business, which he followed during his residence there of twenty years, with the exception of four years, during which he was in the mercantile trade. He was the inventor of the Buckeye Hominy Mill, which is so well known and acknowledged to be the best in use; from which invention he received quite a remuneration, and which has since been sold to a Baltimore firm for $200,000. In March, 1875, Mr. Holman, for the interests of his boys who were then arriving at the age of manhood, bought and located upon the farm where he now lives and has since resided. This farm he purchased from the heirs of James Hawk, which consists of 1733 acres of excellent land on Sec. 34, in Moorefield Township. It has good buildings and improvements, and constitutes a fine home and farmer's residence. Mr. Holman's success in life, starting out as he did, a poor wandering boy, has shown a fine ability, which, coupled with industry and economy, has placed him in such favorable circumstances to enjoy for the rest of his days the comforts of life.

As printed in The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.