McDonough ILGenWeb

HOLTON, Henry A., a substantial and highly respected farmer, of Lamoine Township, McDonough County, Ill., was born in Westminster, Vt., March 15, 1829. His father and mother, William and Betsey (Mason) Holton, were natives of Vermont, the latter being born in Cavendish, that State. His paternal grandparents, William and Olive (Rockwood) Holton, were also natives of Vermont, as were the grandparents on the maternal side, Daniel and Betsey (Spaulding) Mason. The great-grandfather, Joel Holton, was born in Northfield, Mass., July 10, 1738, and the great-grandmother, Bethiah Farwell, was born in Mansfield, Conn., in 1717. She was a daughter of William and Bethiah Eldridge, of that town. Joel Holton was a son of John, born August 24, 1707, and Mehitabel (Alexander) Holton, of Maryland. John was a son of William and Abigail (Edwards) Holton, from Northampton, England. William was a son of John and Abigail Holton. John was a son of William Holton who, in 1634, came to Massachusetts, from Ipswich, Suffolk County, England. In 1636 he was the first settler of Northampton, Mass., where he died August 12, 1791. His wife. Mary, died November 16, 1791. He was elected deacon of the first church of Northampton, member of the first Board of Magistrates, and Representative to the General Court. He made the first motion in town meeting to prohibit the sale of intoxicating drinks, and was the first Commissioner to the General Court in Boston, in furtherance of that temperance measure.

William Holton, father of Henry A., came to McDonough County in 1835, and settled in Bethel Township, on land bought at auction, in Section 30. His wife died in 1841 and he afterward married Maria Sophia Waddill, by whom he had two children, John Wesley and Elizabeth Rachel (Mrs. Jacob P. Myers). The subject of this sketch was the second of six children. He staid with his father until he was twenty-one years old, and first worked out at grubbing for a neighbor to whom his father was indebted. He never had but a half-dollar of his own until after he became of age. When he came to Illinois he journeyed with teams and wagons, starting September 10, 1835, and arriving December 14th, of the same year. Before he was twenty-two years old, Mr. Holton married and commenced farming on rented land. This he continued two years, and then worked one year for his oldest brother. At the end of this period he bought a farm of eighty acres, where he now lives, having added to it until he now owns 220 acres in Sections 26, 34 and 27. He carries on general farming and raises cattle, horses and hogs.

On February 4, 1851, Mr. Holton was married to Rebecca Scott, who bore him the following children, namely: William S., who died in infancy; Mary (Mrs. John Cavot), John, Jeremiah, Catherine (Mrs. David Rodenhamer), Emma (Mrs. William T. Price), who died December 14, 1902; David, who is at home, and has one girl living; Amos, and Belle (Mrs. J. B. Ruffner), of Macomb, Ill. Mrs. Holton died April 4, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Holton also raised a nephew (his sister's child), viz.: James Allen Toland, who was born December 6, 1871, whose mother died when he was six days old, and who now resides at Downer's Grove, Ill. Religiously, Mr. Holton is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, he is a Republican. He enjoys the sincere respect and esteem of all who know him.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, pages 909-910, extracted 09 Mar 2019 by Norma Hass.