1817 - 1886

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• Birth	1817	,, England
  Gender	Male
  Died	1 Feb 1886	Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio
  Person ID	I65487	Brainard (Brainerd) / Foster / Fish
  Last Modified	15 Sep 2005 00:00:00
  Father	Walter HOLMDEN, b. 8 Jun 1788, Riverhead, Parish of Seven Oaks, England
  Mother	Sarah TERRY, b. 26 Jun 1788, ,, England
  Family ID	F37223	Group Sheet
  Family 1	Sarah HENDERSON
  Children	> 1. Elbridge J. HOLMDEN, b. Apr 1842, ,, Pennsylvania > 2. Charles W. HOLMDEN > 3. Lucy Jane HOLMDEN, b. 21 Sep 1844, Cornplanter, Venango, Pennsylvania   4. Eliza HOLMDEN, b. Abt 1846, ,, Pennsylvania > 5. Henry C. HOLMDEN, b. Aug 1847, ,, Pennsylvania > 6. Miles W. HOLMDEN, b. Abt 1852, ,, Pennsylvania   7. Mary HOLMDEN, b. Abt 1857, ,, Pennsylvania   8. Edwin HOLMDEN   9. Lydia HOLMDEN
  Family ID	F28453	Group Sheet
  Family 2	Jerusha
  Married	11 Dec 1871	, Trumbull, Ohio
  Family ID	F22162	Group Sheet

• Notes

  Venango County Commissioner Oct. 1863 - Aug. 1865 PIT HOLE CITY.~The history of this place seems like a dream of romance. In rapidity of growth and excitement during its short career, it exceeded that of any other town in America. From a single farm house, in May, 1865, it suddenly expanded until, in September of the same year, a period of only five months, it had a population of fifteen thousand. It had its hotels, theatres, lecture halls, churches, and other public buildings, on a grand scale. It is situated on Pit Hole creek, from which it derives its name, about eight miles from its mouth, in Cornplanter township. In January, 1865, the first well was put down, on the Thomas Holmden farm. It was called the United States, and soon produced eight hundred barrels per day. This was far out from other wells. In June the Grant well was struck, flowing at the rate of twelve hundred barrels per day. This incited the country to fever heat. Capitalists rushed in; money flowed as freely as oil itself; and for three months, anything like a correct description of things would seem like fiction. The Holmden farm had been bought by Prather & Duncan, who laid it out in lots. These lots brought large prices; one of them $15,000. At the height of the fever the Holmden farm was sold for $1,300,000, and resold for $1,600,000. But business began to decline. The oil belt was found to be merely a small basin amid the rocks, and was soon drained. The town was deserted; property declined in value; the buildings that had been erected at great expense were removed to Pleasantville, Oil City, and Franklin; until the proud city became but an humble hamlet, sitting down to dream of its former glory. Source:The History of Pennsylvania By William H. Egle, M.D., M.A. Published 1883. Thomas' farm was 180 acres. Came to Cleveland, Ohio via Allegheny Township, Venango, Pennsylvania probably about 1865. (see 1860 census) CENSUS: 1850 Tionesta Township, Venango, Pennsylvania, dwelling 1123. Enumerated as Thomas Homden. His brother Walter and wife are in dwelling 1124. His brother John and wife are in dwelling 1126 along with their mother, Sarah, aged 62. CENSUS: 1880 Thomas HOLMDEN Self M Male W 61 ENG Privateer ENG ENG Jerusha HOLMDEN Wife M Female W 50 OH Keeping House OH OH Mary HOLMDEN Dau S Female W 25 PA ENG OH James MACKEY SSon S Male W 19 OH At School OH OH -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Source Information: Census Place 12th Ward, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio Family History Library Film 1255007 NA Film Number T9-1007 Page Number 350A Thomas and his wife, Sarah, were the guardians of his brother John's two children, Edwin and Lydia. OBIT: Name: Holmden, Thomas Date: February 4, 1886 Source: Cemetery record; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #038. Notes: Holmden- At his late residence, No. 829 Scranton ave., Thomas Holmden, in his 69th year. Funeral Thursday at 2 p. m. Friends of the family are invited to attend. Warren, O., papers please copy. 1817 - 1886. Monroe Cemetery Cleveland, Ohio.