Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Holden, Darius March 24, 1922 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nan Wheaton wheaton1624@yahoo.com September 12, 2018, 6:15 pm Ionia County News - Thursday, March 30, 1922 Darius Holden was born in Chautauqua county, New York, June 24, 1832, and was at the time of his death, which occurred at his home in Ronald, March 24, aged 89 years and 9 months. While still very young, his parents move to Cleveland, Ohio. In early boyhood he was attracted by the allurements of the life of a sailor, and for 20 years much of his time was spent on the Great Lakes, sailing chiefly between Buffalo and Chicago. Shortly after the breaking out of the Rebellion, in response to President Lincoln's first call for volunteers, he offered his services to his country by enlisting and serving under the command of George McClellan, and by a later re- enlistment was joined to the army of General Grant, where he served until the close of the war, being mustered out June 15, 1865. In that same year, Sept. 1, accompanied by his wife, who was formerly Miss Elzina Allen, and whom he had married in October, 1853, Mr. Holden came to Muir and settled on a farm north of Union church in Ronald, where Mrs. Holden died three years later, leaving one son, Newel, with whom Mr. Holden had resided several years previous to his death, one son, Noel, having died in childhood before their removal to this state. In 1870 Darius Holden was married, secondly to Miss Mary Warren, who departed this life Dec. 2, 1909, leaving one daughter, Sarah Louise, wife of Henry J. Cook, of Ionia. One brother, Hiram Holden, of Conneaut, Ohio, still survives. In 1880 Mr. Holden came to the farm home where his last days were passed, and being hospitally inclined, his home was open to his neighbors and friends. Many a one can attest to a temporary home beneath his roof. Many years ago Mr. and Mrs. Holden made a home for Miss Meda Osman, then a little orphan girl, who found and enjoyed there all the comforts and privileges that might be accorded an own daughter until her death, which occurred nearly ten years ago. Even in his declining years Mr. Holden maintained a lively and active interest in the work of the farm, and also in the social and political questions of the day. Being a man of upright and sterling qualities of character, he stood for clean living, regular habits and the substantial things of life. These and a remarkably jovial disposition made him a respected citizen, amiable home-maker, and won for him a wide circle of friends. Additional Comments: Age: 89 Services: 27 March 1922 N. Plains cemetery Sec. 1-#33 Ctf. b. N.Y. June 24, 1832 son of Ebenezer Holden & Ms. (Woodruff) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/h/holden8260gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/ File size: 3.1 Kb