Person:Adam Holtslander (1)

Adam and Elizabeth removed from Mt. Morris, Livingston Co., New York to Mt Morris, MI. in 1847. They became taxpayers there in 1855. Will of Betsy Holtslander filed Nov. 2, 1877.

http://www.holtslander.com/history/lineage.cfm

Adam's Obituary Died in Mt. Morris, Mich., on the 27th day of February last, after a short illness, Adam Holtslander, at the advanced age of 89 yrs. All of the old settlers of this village now living will remember him. He was b. in Goshen, Orange County in this state in 1783, and moved to this place in 1799. He married Betsey Sasha here in 1808, and lived, until he moved west in 1849, in a log house (as the old settlers will remember) located upon the high ground west of the village near the state road on lands now owned by Dr. Joslyn. But a few white families were living here when Mr. Holtslander moved into the settlement, the country around this region was thickly peopled with Indians. He was one of the few residents living here, who volunteered to go in defence of their homes and the country, to the frontier at Niagara in the War of 1812. After reaching their destination, they found the American cause prosperous, the enemy routed and scattered, their services not required, the party returned home after a week or ten days absence, all safe, which event occasioned much rejoicing in this settlement. He helped build the first dam constructed across the Genesee River to divert its waters to our village, thus creating our present water power. He also by his labor helped construct the mill race, which completed the enterprise of affording water power to the village for all time to come. Mr. Holtslander was a tall man, standing six feet and four inches in his stocking feet, and very straight, with a tall muscular and bony frame, strikingly marked features, a good constitution, rendered more hardy by pioneer live and the primitive manner of living in those early days. He was a famous "rail splitter" and furnished the rails to fence a large share of the original improvements in this locality, and no doubt actually split hundreds of rails where the late "lamented Lincoln" split one, yet the latter acquired a national reputation for his labor and skill in this art. Mr. H. was a friendly, good natured man, ever ready to serve his neighbors in every reasonable and just way in his power, and lived on terms of friendship with all. He raised a large family, of whom there are now living three daughters and five sons most of whom if not all reside in the State of Michigan. The hard earnings of daily toil brought up this large family and leaves the widow with a reasonable competency. Mr. H. and his wife lived together sixty four years, the old lady is now 85 years of age, is in good health, smart and active, she does her own housework and milks daily at this time four cows, the writer is informed. They attribute their advanced ages in a great measure to daily labor and contentment with their lot in life, a lesson worthy the consideration of all who wish to prolong their days and render their lives useful. The surviving one of this aged couple fully realizing the separation, and also that this earthly habitation is not her home, is ready and waiting the coming of the messenger from the Father's house, where there are many mansions, to summon her to depart and follow her life-long companion to that Home, we trust, where the redeemed are washed from their sins, and where the pure in heart shall see God. Mt. Morris, N.Y. Nov. 28, 1872

Livingston Co. New York,

An Indian mound, nearly a hundred feet in diameter and form 8 to 10 feet high, covered the site of the late General Mills’ residence. The mound had long been crowned by a great tree, which had recently fallen under the axe… About the year 1820, the mound was removed, and in its removal… a number of skeletons were also dis-interred. Among the bones was a human skeleton of enormous size, the jaw bone of which was so large that Adam Holtslander placed it, mask like, over his own chin and jaw, although he was the largest man in the settlement, and his face was in proportion with the rest of his body.
In

Adam Holtslander, the famous rail-splitter, was born in Goshen, Orange County, in 1783 and removed to Mr. Morris in 1799. In 1808 he married Betsey Sash, who came to Mr. Morris with her father's family in 1902, at the age of fifteen years. They lived until their removal to Michigan in 1849, in a log house which sttod on the high ground a mile to the west of the village and for many years isolated from other settlers. Mr. Holtslander was one of the few residents of this town who volunteered his services and went to the frontier in 1812; but the threatened danger being over he returned to his home after an absence of only a few days. He was a tall man, stanidn g six feet and four inches in his stocking feet, and very straight, with a muscular and bony frame, strikingly marked features and a good constitution, redered more hardy by pioneer life and the primitive manner of living in those early days. He furnished the rails to fence a large sare of the original improvments in this locality. He helped to build the first dam across the Genessee to divert its waters to the village; also the mill-race, which completed that enterprise. He raised a large family, most of who reside in Michigan, and died in Mt. Morriis in that State, (named by his and other families who removed there from this town, February 27, 1872. His wife died at the same place November 28, 1877 in her 90th year.