Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Holm, Henry J 
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Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

Henry J. Holm is the owner of valuable farming, dairy and creamery interests 
in Homer township, and in the control of his business displays sound judgment, 
executive force and keen sagacity. He is today the owner of a splendidly 
improved farm property and is so conducting his business interests that 
success is crowning his efforts. He is one of Illinois’ native sons, his birth 
having occurred in Kensington, on the 9th of February, 1857. His parents were 
John and Caroline (Hock) Holm. The father was bom in Mecklenburg, Schwerin, 
Prussia, and was eighteen years of age when he crossed the Atlantic to 
America, landing after a voyage of six weeks. He did not tarry on the eastern 
coast, but proceeded at once into the interior and for some time was employed 
at farm labor in Will county. Subsequently he engaged in sawing wood for the 
Illinois Central Railroad Company and in this way made about sixteen hundred 
dollars. He wisely invested this money in land at Worth, Cook county. The 
place was then raw prairie and it required strenuous labor to bring it under 
the plow and make it a productive tract, but being industrious and energetic, 
Mr. Holm succeeded in transforming the wild land into a valuable property. As 
his financial resources permitted he extended the boundaries of his land and 
became the owner of three hundred and sixty-five acres, comprising a valuable 
farm, on which he lived until his death, which occurred in August, 1906, when 
he was seventy-five years of age. His political allegiance was given to the 
republican party and at one time he filled the office of township 
commissioner. His religious faith was that of the Lutheran church and he was a 
man whose many good traits of character were widely recognized. His wife, who 
was also born in Mecklenburg, Schwerin, was sixty-eight years of age at the 
time of her death, which occurred in 1905. She, too, was a member of the 
German Lutheran church. In their family were five children: Henry J., of this 
review; Mrs. Mary Handorf, of Marley, Illinois; Dora, the wife of Dan Laufer, 
of Homer township; Fred, who married Bertha Polkman and lives upon one of his 
fathers farms; and Carrie, the wife of Paul Hampel, of Washington Heights. 
Henry J. Holm spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Cook and Will 
counties. He acquired his education in the public schools of Worth township. 
Cook county, and Blue Island, and started out in life on his own account in 
1881. Success has attended his efforts and as the years have passed he has 
made extensive investments in real estate, being now the owner of three 
hundred acres of land in Homer township and a fifth interest in three hundred 
and sixty-five acres in Worth township. In connection with his fanning 
interests he raises cattle and conducts a dairy upon his place, which is 
pleasantly located about a half mile from Goodings Grove. He is also one of 
the stockholders of the Percheron Horse Company, of Homer. He began business 
in Will county at the time of his marriage in 1881, having one hundred and 
forty acres of land. From time to time he has erected substantial farm 
buildings and now has a well equipped property. His barn is so large that it 
will accommodate eighty tons of hay at a time and there are stalls for the 
stock in the basement. It was largely through his efforts that Goodings Grove 
Co-operative Creamery was established and he was the first to accept of the 
stock and furnish money for the enterprise, now owning eighty-two shares of 
stock. He was chosen secretary and treasurer of the company and was made its 
manager. Under his control the business steadily and constantly increased and 
the enterprise became one of the most profitable of this section of the state. 
Mr. Holm has always believed in raising good stock and fine farm animals are 
found upon his place. On the 11th of April, 1881, was celebrated the marriage 
of Mr. Holm and Miss Louise Sahs, a daughter of Henry Sahs, of Oaklawn. She 
was born February 13, 1860, and died March 7, 1896, leaving five children: 
Henry, Louisa, Alice, Cora and Carrie. On September 29, 1901, Mr. Holm was 
again married, his second union being with Louisa Kelm, who was born in 
Lemont, Illinois, in 1882. They have one child, Verna. Mr. Holm is a 
republican in his political views and for a number of years has served as a 
member of the school board. He is director of the Homer Mutual Fire Insurance 
Company, an organization which has proven of great benefit to the farmers of 
this township. Reared in the Lutheran faith, he has always favored its 
doctrines and supported its enterprises. He is a substantial citizen, who has 
never sought to figure prominently in public life, but in business affairs has 
been found reliable, energetic and progressive and has thus made a creditable 
name, at the same time gaining a gratifying measure of prosperity. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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