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History of Adair
County, Iowa, 1915.

Biographical.  Volume 2.

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Fred G. Holcomb.

Fred G. Holcomb, one of the enterprising young men of Greenfield, has been engaged in the automobile business since 1914, is also dealing to some extent in real estate and is interested in the loan business.  He was born in Lorain county, Ohio, March 1, 1864, a son of Moses and Hannah (Tenant) Holcomb, who were natives of Ohio and New York respectively.  The father farmed in Ohio and there lived until the 4th of June, 1881, when he arrived in Cass county, Iowa.  He purchased land there at twenty dollars per acre and improved and operated his place until his death, which occurred April 25, 1897.  The mother survived for a decade and passed away at the home of her son Fred on the 1st of August, 1907.

Fred G. Holcomb was a youth of seventeen years when the family removed from the Buckeye state to Cass county, Iowa, where he completed his education, which had been begun in the schools of Ohio.  For two years he studied at Oberlin, that state.  He remained under the parental roof until he had reached the age of twenty-three years, when he began life on his own account by farming rented land in Cass county.  He there remained until 1899, when he came to Adair county and cultivated rented land for seven years, at the end of which time he purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section 27, Grove township.  This place he improved and operated until his wife's demise, which occurred on the 27th of August, 1913, when he sold his land and took up his abode in Greenfield.  In September, 1914, he engaged in the automobile business, handling the Studebaker and Maxwell cars, and in this connection he is meeting with success here.  He has a splendid location, being situated one block from the public square, has a well equipped establishment and is able to meet the demands of the people.  He likewise handles real estate and loans money and in this connection is also successful, for he keeps himself informed as to land values, knows what property is upon the market and always gives his clients a fair deal.

Mr. Holcomb was married on the 17th of October, 1888, to Miss Emma Stark, a daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Hedrick) Stark, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Tennessee.  The father farmed in his native state until 1883, when he made a removal to Cass county, where he was similarly engaged until 1900, when he disposed of his property there and located in Adair county.  He purchased land north of Greenfield and operated the same until on account of ill health he was forced to retire from active business life.  He passed away March 1, 1915.  His widow survives and is making her home with a daughter in Sheridan, Missouri.  To Mr. and Mrs. Holcomb was born one child, who died in infancy.  Mrs. Holcomb departed this life August 27, 1913, having been an invalid for three years prior to her demise.

In politics Mr. Holcomb is a republican, while in religious faith he is a Methodist and fraternally is an Odd Fellow and a Woodman.  For six years he served as trustee of Grove township and in this relation was faithful in the discharge of his official duties.  He is one of those representative men who quickly discern and take advantage of opportunities and who brook no obstacles that can be overcome by honorable and determined effort and he is favorably known in business circles because of his capability and laudable ambition.

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