Notes for William B. HOLDREN

Notes for William B. HOLDREN

SOURCE: Edith Clark, Spearfish SD. (1978)

William Holdren married 1842 to Sarah Derr at Columbia Co. Pa. Their first three children were born at Chicago, IL. About 1849 the family moved to Melgin Grove in Lee Co. IL. William Holdren enlisted as a private in Comapny I, Regiment 89th Illionis Infantry and lost his life in the Civil War in the battle of Stones River, Murfressboro, Tenn. After William death his wife Sarah Derr married Samuel Carnahan on 1 May 1866. Sarah's sister Phoebe, was married to John Holdren, William brother.

Taken from the book called the Holdren family from 1785,

written by Patricia Morehouse, Barrington Illinois.

A little history about the Battle of Stone River at Murfressboro Tenn, occureed 31 Dec 1862 - 2 Jan 1863 Federal General Wiliiam S. Rosecrans with 41,000 men fought confederate General Braxton Bragg 34,000 men. Bragg after first having the better part of the combat was finally contained and forced to retreat. Rosecrans lost 12,906 men while Bragg suffured 11,739 casualties. Although it was a strategic victory for Rosecrans, His Army was so shaken that he felt unable to advance again for 5 months, despite the urgins of Lincoln and Halleck.

15th edition of Ercy Baitlanica (1978) vol 4 page 677 Roll 55 Civil War Military Records.

William Holdren in the year 1847 built, with the help of his son, Willis, a long one story frame building along the eastern boundary of lot number twenty eight of Christiances division for the village of Melugin, for wood Manufacturing shops, to make the wood parts for hand made buggies and wagons. Iron parts were made at two other shops of the village of Melugin, the Taylor Clemons Blacksmith shop and the Robert Blair and Moses Dumas Blacksmith shop.The wood parts and iron parts were assembled at the Holdren's buggy and wagon Shops and were completed for the farmers. They also made small articles made wood for the settlers. In 1850 the business had increased in growth to the extent that it was necessary for them to build a two story frame addition to the south of the present shops and many years later the business and equipment were moved to Mendota, Illinois, and then the building at the village of Melugin was removed from the village and was moved to the village of Compton. The building was of two parts, one part of one story construction, the other part of two story construction, the part of the building of one story construction was replaced on the north border parallel east and west with the already replaced building on the block facing west on the border of third street, was for a butcher shop. The two story other buildings of the block, north of the Joel Compton barn, was for an ice house for the Butcher shoip. Most buildings were moved to Compton by 1874.

From the story of Melugin Grove by Lewis Montavon.