NEWELL HOLCOMB, an old settler of Jo Daviess County, is a true type of the noble-hearted, intelligent, stalwart, resolute pioneers, whose enterprise and energy have been prominent factors in developing the resources of this region and bringing it to its present advanced state of civilization and wealth as one of the foremost counties of Northern Illinois. He has long been identified with the farming interests of this part of the State, and his 270-acre farm, on sections 26 and 27, Woodbine Township, in point of cultivation and improvement, is considered one of the best in this locality. It is well-stocked, and his sleek and well-kept herd of graded Short-horns compare with the finest cattle in the township, and his Poland-China hogs are of a high grade, and bring the best market prices.

Mr. Holcomb was born Aug. 15, 1819, on the Isle of Mott, in the waters of the beautiful Lake Champlain, in Grand Island County, Vt., and he was derived from good old New England stock. His father, Jonathan Holcomb, was born near Burlington, Vt., and was for thirteen years a sailor on Lake Champlain. He was also a cooper and jeweler by trade. He died at Nora, Jo Daviess Co., in the spring of 1875, rounding out an honorable life at an advanced age. He had settled in this county in 1845, as one of the pioneers. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Electa Clark, and she was a daughter of Truman and Affina (Wheeler) Clark, her mother having been a cousin of ex-Vice President Wheeler. There were ten children in the subject’s parents’ family – Newell, our subject; Lydia, deceased; Asa, of Warren; Henry, of Storm Lake, Iowa; Alonzo, of Dakota, Ill.; William, of San Francisco, Cal.; Electa Ann, of Elizabeth; Reuben, of Storm Lake, Iowa; Melinda, deceased, and Clarinda, of Red Oak, Iowa, were twins. William, an extensive dealer in wheat, shipping it to Liverpool, is now very wealthy – he and his partners being worth $3,000,000. He went to California in 1851 on foot, a barefoot, penniless young man; on the way was taken sick, and laid down on the ground in a brickyard to die; a kindly Samaritan picked him up, took care of him until his recovery. He then went to work with a will, and gradually built up his present fortune.

Our subject removed with his parents to Plattsburg, N. Y., when about fifteen years old, and he was on the old battle-ground many times. Three years later they removed to St. Lawrence County, N. Y., and in the fall of 1838 our subject came to Springfield, Ill., and in the following spring he walked from that city to Galena, carrying all his worldly possessions in two cotton handkerchiefs. When he arrived in Springfield he had seven bits in his pocket, and started for Galena, and that was his entire capital to start out in a new life. He soon found work in the employ of Judge Stone, on the Portage farm, at gardening, etc. In 1840 he assisted in building Gillett’s mill, and was there engaged in making flour barrels the ensuing four years. He then coopered at Thompson’s mill, on Apple River, and after that he went to Stephenson County, and, where Lena now stands, entered 480 acres of government land, and on what is now Main street, that town, afterward cradled harvests of wheat. He was actively and profitably engaged in raising grain there for some time, and used to haul his wheat to the mill to have it ground, and then peddled flour all through the mines, and thus carried on an extensive business from which he made much money. He still, however, retained his residence in this county, and improved his present farm, providing it with substantial buildings, etc.

Mr. Holcomb has been three times married. His first marriage, July 9, 1845, was to Miss Louisa, daughter of Andrew Kellogg, and they had two children – Maria L. and George W. Maria married Sidney Willison, of Rush Township, and they have eight children. George married Mary Tyson, of Savanna, Ill., and they have one child. Mrs. Holcomb died Sept. 7, 1849, after a brief but happy wedded life. The second marriage of our subject, which occurred May 12, 1850, was to Nancy Cressy, and five children were born to them – Bethia J., Marietta E., Ira B. (deceased), Henrietta D., William H. Bethia married Benjamin Claypool, of Orleans, Neb., and they have five children. Marietta married James Rankin, of this township, and they have five children. Ira married Lizzie Roberts, and both died, leaving one son, Clarence, who lives with our subject. Henrietta married William Loven, of this township, and has one child. The mother of these children departed this life July 17, 1869, leaving to them the precious legacy of a life well-spent. Mr. Holcomb was married to his present amiable wife July 4, 1871, and their union has been blessed to them by the birth of three children – Jennie M., Edward M., Mabel A. Mrs. Holcomb’s maiden name was Sarah Montgomery, and she is a daughter of the late Edward and Mary (Shelley) Montgomery. The mother was a native of Pennsylvania, and the father of England. She was born in Galena, Jo Daviess Co.

Mr. Holcomb has amassed a comfortable fortune by intelligent enterprise, and by the exercise of his traits of character that he holds in common with others who have achieved success in life solely by unremitting and well-directed toil, and now, in the enjoyment of a serene and active old age, he may well be proud of his honorable record. Our subject is alive to all public interests, especially to the advancement of education, and, as School Director, he has done much in times past to promote the cause in this township. He has been Road Commissioner - was the first to hold that office in this township – but he generally refuses official honors. He is a valued and active member of the Methodist Church, and is identified with the I. O. O. F. In his political views he is a strong Republican.

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889)