Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-06-07
BLOOMINGTON NEWS
Gathered by Our Hustling West
Grant Correspondent.
CASTILLO N. HoLFoRD DEAD.

The death of CASTILLO N. Holford,
at his home in Washington, D. c.,
last week, in the 59th year of his
life, removes a man who was for
many years prominently identified
with the history of Grant county,
particularly the literary history.
Mr.. Holford was born in Beetown
in 1916, son of Mr.. and Mrs. William
G. Holford. His brother, Lyman
D., who passed most of his life here,
removed to California last year.
The brother, VIM. H.. is still a
resident Of this village. Mrs. DR..
E. B. Orr, of Mt. Hope is a sister.
G. N. Holford enlisted for the
war on August IL, 1862, when a
mere STRIPPING of boy, but he
served with fidelity and distinction
for three years and one month.
He was always a great student,
and Notwithstanding his lack of
school advantages in those early
days he rapidly acquired much
knowledge, picking up not only the
common school branches but foreign
languages as we'll. Almost all of
his very extensive education was &C
quired IN odd moments-the time
spent by nearly all boys in play and
frivolity. By this method of self
study Mr.. Holford became splendid
scholar, not only of the English lam
guage, but of foreign languages as
we'll.
Mr.. Holford was married to Miss
Jeanette Brooks in 1875, who with
two sons and three daughters sur
wives him. Their home is at Arl-
ington, Va, near Washington.
The West Grant Advocate was
established by Mr.. G. N. Holford in
1873, at Bloomington. He had as a
partner Rev. j. j. Clifton. The
next year the paper was moved to
Lancaster and the name was
changed to the Grant County Ad-
vocate. Mr.. Holford had as part
ners Patrick BARLEY and A. Ref
stock, afterward Fred A. Hess. Hol-
ford and BARLEY withdrew in 1876,
and Relfsteck discontinued It's pub
LEGATION at the end of the year. Hol-
ford started the Grant County
Argus the same year, and continued
its publication about two years, be-
ing succeeded by Reifsteck & Mar
tin, who continued it's publication
until 1880. He was also editor and
proprietor of the Bloomington Re-
cord IN the 'S0s for few years.
During these trying years of pio-
neer newspaper work Mr.. Holford
did considerable literary work of
great merit. He gathered his poems
and hadIthem published in volume
about twenty years ago. The
historical fiction Indian romance,
"Cofach1qua," dealing with the
march of DeSoto across the south,
is a splendid poem of considerable
length, and an illustrious name
would have made it famous. Some
of the poems deal with soldier life.
the beauties of Grant county and
miscellaneous subjects.
''Aristopia," novel of the ITO
plan class, appeared in 1896, pub
lished by the Arena company of
Boston. 1t had fair run.
The history of Grant county was
compiled in 1896. and published by
the Lancaster Teller. 1t is finely
edited, particularly the chapters
relating to the mineral deposits of
the county.
Had Mr.. Holford not been SO seri-
ously handicapped by poor health
and annoying business difficulties,
he might have made bright mark
in the field of letters. There is no
denying his genius. The few gems
left by him have the music of the
true poet, and reveal depth of
thought and general intelligence
which would be a credit to our
greatest poets and authors.
Mr.. Holford was the student,
thinker, and scholar, as natural as
all other happenings in Nature. He
did not understand business or con-
slider it worth while. AS a conse-
quence he was not successful in
business, and experienced many
hardships, until the government at
Washington employed him some
years ago, where he had since re-
manned, always in demand in de-
partments requiring special ability.
The Congregational church has
been painted and papered. 1t is now
very neat.
Mesdames Joseph Geiger and DR..