Grundy County IL Archives Obituaries.....Holderman, Abraham 1887
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com October 23, 2006, 12:17 am

Morris Herald, Nov 21, 1887
Holderman, Abraham - Seriously Injured. Abraham Holderman one of Grundy's 
oldest settlers, met with an accident Monday which will likely terminate 
seriously. In company with Dr. Wilcox, of Seneca, he was driving into Seneca 
after having paid a visit to his old pioneer neighbor, Jonathan Wilson, in the 
town of Vienna, and when descending the hill south of the canal in Seneca the 
horse commenced kicking, succeeding in upsetting the buggy and, in falling, 
Mr. Holderman struck on the back of his head, at least that part reveals 
several cuts and contusions, while injury to the spinal column has paralyzed 
his body from the center of the back down, and his hands can be used very 
little and with difficulty. Dr. Ridgway, of this city, was at once telegraphed 
for, who hurriedly drove down, and was met there by Dr. Dyer, of Ottawa, who 
had just arrived in answer to a telegram to visit Mr. Wilson. Dr. Ridgway 
remained with the injured man all night and has since made trips at short 
intervals. Mr. Holderman has been a resident of this county since 1831, the 
year before the Black Hawk war. His long residence here, therefore, has made 
him a prominent figure among the people of this county, who will be pained to 
learn of his misfortune. 

ABRAHAM HOLDERMAN. 

The readers of The Herald are familiar of the accident which befel Abraham 
Holder, man while returning from a visit to Mr. Wilson on the evening of Nov. 
21, which resulted in his death last Sunday evening. Of him the "History of 
Grundy County" says: "Abraham Holderman is a son of Abraham and Charlotte 
Holderman, who came to what is now Grundy county in the fall of 1831, the year 
before the Black Hawk war. Subject was then 9 years old, being born in Ross 
county, Ohio, January 23, 1822. At the time of his first recollection of this 
county there were but two houses between Holderman's Grove and Chicago, and no 
bouses from there to Bioomington. Went to mill over thirty miles, and the 
nearest trading place was Chicago. Their first school was taught in the winter 
of 1834, obtaining a teacher at $10 per month. At this time there was not a 
sawed board nor a nail in any of their buildings. Some years they lost all 
their hay from prairie fires." Owing to his shrewdness and farsightedness he 
accumulated a vast amount of land, over which great herds of cattle may be 
seen at all times. His landed possessions at the time of his death amounted to 
something in the neighborhood of 5,000 acres, and this aside from dividing 
2,000 acres among his children. He was a close friend of Chief Shaubanee, and 
was closely identified with the early history of this county. He was a strong 
and powerfully built man, and was an athlete in many ways. He was a lover of 
the chase; sitting astride his horse and followed by a dozen or more hounds 
Mr. Holderman was in ecstacy, and many times was he rewarded on his return 
with a liberal quantity of game—deer, fox, wolf, raccoon, etc. He was 
peculiarly eccentric, but his heart was big and he was known for miles around 
as one of the most hospitable people to be found. He leaves a wife and five 
children to mourn his death, and left property that would represent nearly a 
half million dollars. The funeral took place from his late residence in 
Errienna township last Tuesday noon, and the remains were laid to rest in the 
country burial grounds at Holderman's Grove, the remains being followed to 
their last resting place by a large concourse of sympathizing friends. Their 
toil is over. Mrs. A. Holderman and family call upon The Herald to return 
their heartfelt thanks to their many friends and neighbors for such warm 
expressions of their sympathy during their late sad affliction—a balm that 
goes far to alleviate a sorrowstricken wife and children in so sad and painful 
an ordeal. 

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