Extracted from Bent & Wilson History of Whiteside County Page 229
Henry H. Holbrook was born May 24 1815 at Cornish NH. He married Caroline Ross April 11 1833. He came west and settled in Genesee Grove December 5 1838. Mr Holbrook was a practical farmer, but worked at shoemaking in the winter season, and when not otherwise employed. Children: Jane, Abigal, John, Silas, Sarah, Alzina, Emeline, Watson, Eliza, Mary, Isaac, Adeline and Nancy. Silas, Alzina, Emeline and Nancy are dead. Mr. Holbrook first settled at a spring in the Grove, but after 4 years removed to where he now lives. As late as 1838, the cabins were all built in the timber. The belief was universal that no person could live on the prairies on account of the severe winters. The father and mother of the subject of this sketch came from Steuben county NY. They travelled in a buggy drawn by one horse while the family and goods were conveyed by two horses. They started in October 1838, and came to Erie PA where Mr. Holbrook shipped one large box on a sail vessel. After traveling five weeks, making over one thousand miles, they arrived at Genesee Grove in December 1838 having suffered severly from the cold and exposure. Edward Richardson accompanied them and traveled the whole distance on foot. The vessel on which the box was shipped was wrecked, but a portion of the goods was received about a year afterwards. The father and mother were both old at the time they came west and died a long time ago. A man calling himself Sharp, squatted in a vacant cabin in the neighborhood in the winter of 1838-39. One of the hogs belonging to one of the settlers was missing one day, and the proof was conclusive that Sharp was the guilty person. The settlers went to his cabin, compelled him to hitch his horses to his wagon, while they loaded his goods, and sent him off. He was never heard of afterwards.
