Biography of James N. Holcomb, 1902, Baker Co. Oregon: Surnames: Holcomb, Houseman, Bowen, Kenney, Gale, Kiersey. ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access and not to be removed separately without written permission. ************************************************************************ Transcribed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: W. David Samuelsen - December 2001 ************************************************************************ An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties, pub. 1902 by Western Historical Pub. Co. of Chicago. page 286 James N. Holcomb Mr. Holcomb was born at Ionia, Michigan, in 1845, being the son of Gideon and Nancy (Houseman) Holcomb, natives of New York and Ohio, respectively, who also crossed the plains and took part in the development of this section till they were called to pass away, the father dying in Eagle valley and the mother in Prairie City. At the age of twenty our subject enlisted in Company A, Twenty- first Michigan Infantry, and for twenty-two months did valiant service for his country, being wounded in the arm by buckshot and in the leg with a minie ball. In 1867 he came by water to the coast and settled first in Canyon City and two years later returned to the states for his folks. In 1870 he settled in Eagle Valley and began to raise fruit, and although when he was fifty-two years old he won the gold medal for accurate shooting, he has won fully as great commendation for his efforts in the quieter field of husbandry and as an orchardist, having at the present time over four thousand bearing peach trees, besides much small fruit. He is also interested in apiarian pursuits, having two hundred colonies of the little honey gatherers. Mr. Holcomb has a fine farm., where he resides, besides other property. He is interested in political matters and has held several county offices. He is also affiliated with the G.A.R., of Pine Valley. In 1866 Mr. Holcomb and Miss Marchy Bowen celebrated their marriage and one child, W. A. Holcomb, was the fruit of the union. At the early age of twenty- two years Mrs. Holcomb died, leaving one child and her husband to mourn her untimely demise. The second marriage of Mr. Holcomb was with Miss Eliza Kenney, and to them were born six children: Gideon; Sarah, deceased; Maud; James, deceased; Newton, deceased; Marcy, deceased. A third time he went to the nuptial altar, this time with Carrie Gale, daughter of ex-Governor Gale, and one child graced this union, Hazel, deceased. Mr. Holcomb celebrated his fourth marriage when Miss Emma Kiersey became his bride and to them have been born three children: Earl, Ralph, Emily.