Samuel E. Holden
Samuel E. Holden - Of the firm of B. F. Sawyer & Co., Napa, was born in Concord, New Hampshire, February 3,1845. His father, Benjamin F. Holden, was for many years engaged in woolen manufacturing at that place, and was founder of the firm of B. F. & D. Holden, afterwards incorporated, and now doing business under the name of " The Concord Manufacturing Company." Mr. S. E. Holden still retains an interest in this company, and is also a partner with his brother, B. F. Holden, Jr., in the firm of Holden & Co., woolen manufacturers of Bristol, New Hampshire. In early life most of his vacation from school, and spare time, was spent working in the factory, by which he gained familiarity with machinery, habits of industry, and an acquaintance with wool He prepared for college at the New Hampshire Conference Seminary at Tilton, New Hampshire, where he was attending school at the breaking out of the Rebellion. In September, 1862, he enlisted in the 16th Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers, and served one year in the army under General N. P. Banks, during his Louisiana campaign. Returning from the army he completed his preparatory course, and in 1865 entered Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, where he graduated in 1869: Returning to Concord he at once entered the law office of Minot & Mugridge, where he remained for three years, and in 1872 was admitted to the bar of Grafton County, New Hampshire. He formed a law partnership at Bristol, New Hampshire, with . Hon. S. K. Mason, under the name of Mason & Holden, which continued until 1875, when he came to Napa. A charter had been obtained for the Bristol Savings Bank; Mr. Mason was made president, and Mr. Holden, treasurer, which position he also held at the time of his coming to California. The bank, without any capital, in a little town of two thousand inhabitants, in the space of three years accumulated deposits to the amount of 860,000. In 1869 Mr. Holden married Mary E. Taylor, daughter of J. S. Taylor, Esq., of Sanbornton, New Hampshire. One child, Hattie M., died in infancy. In 1875 the failing health of his wife induced him to bring her to this State, but, as is often the case, the change was made too late to be of any benefit, and she died in Napa two months after leaving New Hampshire. On his arrival in Napa he became book-keeper for B. F. Sawyer & Co., and was also interested with them in the purchase of fleece wool. On their reorganization, April 1,1880, he became a member of the company. He has devoted himself entirely to business during his stay in this State, and only allowed the claims of one institution, the Napa Collegiate Institute, to divide his attention. He is at present a member of its Executive Board and president of its Board of Trustees. January 8,1879, he married Anna Smyth, daughter of Hon. Robert Smyth of Mount Vernon, Iowa, a pioneer preceptress of Napa Collegiate Institute. They have one child, Robert, born May 13,1880.
History of Napa and Lake Counties,: San Francisco, Cal.: Slocum, Bowen & Co., Publishers, 1881
Transcribed by Julie Appletoft, June 2007 Pages 482-483
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Last updated May 2007