Person:Lester Holcomb (1)

Transcribed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: W David Samuelsen - November 2001

An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties, pu b. 1902 by Western Historical Pub. CO of Chicago. page 347

Lester L Holcomb

This prominent farmer, mining man and political leader of the vicinity of Richland was born in Rollersville OH, on July 7, 1846. His parents, James T and Amanda (Loomis) Holcomb, natives respectively of Connecticut and OH, were engaged in farming there and he lived with them until about twenty-tw o years of age, being absent, however for four months during the Civil w ar as a member of Company H, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth OH. When he became twenty - two he gave inception to his independent career, engaging first in farmi ng in the commonwealth of his nativity. Later he moved to Central CO Kansas, where he farmed about seven years, thereupon crossing the plains with hors e teams to Eagle valley, in Baker CO. He made his advent into the countr y during the Bannock war, when travel was exceedingly dangerous, but thou gh the trains ahead and behind his suffered losses in the conflicts with the Indi ans, his train escaped uninjured.

For the first year Mr. Holcomb lived in the upper end of the valley. He th en took one hundred and twenty acres of land one and one-fourth miles east of Richland postoffice, where he has ever since lived, engaged in general far ming and stock raising, at the same time giving some attention to mining ventur es. He owns several placer and quartz mines on Snake river.

Fraternally our subject is identified with Phil Kearney Post, No. 66, G.A. R, of Pine vlaley. In politics he is an ardent Republican, and in the counci ls of his party he is quite active. He was one of the first justices of the pea ce in Eagle valley, being elected first in 1880, and again two years later, whil e his interest in the cause of education has made himprominent in the affai rs of the local school district.

On October 15, 1868, Mr. Holcomb married Miss Candace, daughter of Jose ph H and Eleanor (Evans) Jennings, natives of the state of OH. To this union si x children have been born: Donna M, now Mrs. Strayer; Alta M, now Mrs. Reynolds; James T, deceased; Addie, Noval and Linn, at home.

Mrs. Holcomb's father was a prominent man in the politics of his state, a nd in the Civil war he did valiant service, first as a member of Company A, One Hundred and Eleventh OH and later as captain of Company G, One Hundred and Sixty-nine OH.

added by Jon Jay Shultz, January 2004.