Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-12-07


den had been in failing health several
years, but he was able to be on the street
until Oct Is. After that he remained at
home, but was not confined in bed until
Nov. 20.
Mr.. Holden was born in Warwick, Mass,
Sept II. 1928, and was a son Of Chaplin
and Lucy (Jacazson) Holden. When he
was 10 years old the family moved to
West Orange, Mass, and there Mr.. Holden
attended school and learned the carpen-
ter's trade of his father. At the-age of
II he was employed in the surve If the
Vermont and Massachusetts, railroad,
working between Orange and Millers
Falls. Then he took up bridge building
for railroads, being first employed in
northern New York.
He built a number of bridges on the
Hudson River railroad and then was en-
gagged by the New Jersey Central railroad,
having charge of a gang Of men in the
construction Of a long span for the lat
ter road when he was 20 years old. In
the same capacity he worked for the
Boston & Troy railroad and then for the
Missouri Southern Pacific road While in
the West he had malaria, which caused
him to resign his position and return east
in 1852. For several years he worked in
the car shops of the Boston e. Albany
Railroad company in Springfield. Mass,
and the Wason car shops in the same city,
and in 1856 the Dwight Manufacturing
company of Chicopee engaged him as
master mechanic.
After leaving Chicopee Mr.. Holden was
employed for a time in Erving making
piano cases and then he bought a factory
in West Orange and made piano cases on
his own account. On Sept l, 1867, he
came to Brattleboro and entered the en-
ploy of the Estey Organ company. He
began in the old Bratrheboro House fac
tory, and when the company established
its present plant on Birge street Mr.. Hol-
den was promoted to be general super
intendent and held the position rs years
when his health failed He enjoyed the
greatest confidence of the late Dea. jacob
Estey the late Gov. Levi K. Fuller and
the late Gen. julius ]. Estey, members
OF the Estey firm, and being an expert
Judge Of lumber he was sent regularly fol
many years to northern New York TO Sc
lect choice material to be used in th'
manufacture of organs. For a part o.
the time when the company maintained {
private fire company Mr.. Holden held thu
position of chief engineer
Mr.. Holden Joined the Masonic fraternit!
in Chicopee, Mass, Jan. 20, 1868. He wa!
a charter member Of Brattleboro lodge
No 1922 A. F. & A. NJ. At one time h
was a prominent member Of Fort Dunn
mer chapter, Royal Arch Masons, ant
Beauseant commandery, Knights Templar
He was a member of the First Baptis
church of Brattleboro.
On Nov 90, 1855, Mr.. Holden marrie'
Miss Lovina Ballou of Richmond, n. H.
who survives with one son and two daugh
tiers, all of Brattleboro. They are Fred II
Holden, druggist Mrs. oliver Bastian an
Miss Hattie NJ Holden. Mr.. Holden ais
leaves one brother, Samuel Holden OF Bos
ton, the Oldest conductor in active servic
on the Fitchburg division of the Bosto
& Maine railroad, and one sister, MT
Maria Underwood of North Adams, Mass
Mr. Holden was a man Of large phys
iaue and in his younger days he was we
qualified from the standpoint Of both hi
personal presence and his wide expert
ence to fill the position which he held S
long for the Estey company, for whose IN
terests he was watchful constantly. II
was man of genial Temperament
and his failing sight and consequent aoi
ity to recognize his friends readily wa
a source of annoyance to him in his late
years.
The funeral was held at his late hon
at 2 O'Clock yesterday afternoon Rev
H Webb, of the Methodist church. o.
i6ciating in the absence of Rev. George
Lawson, of the First Baptist churc
There were many handsome floral piece
Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur Maynard sang tV
selections, and the burial was IN Prospe'
Hill cemetery, the bearers being J.
Amidon. c. F. Reed, E. r. Thayer al
w. L. Warren. Those present from o.
of town were Mr.. and Mrs. Samuel no
den of Boston, Mrs. Maria Underwoo
Mrs. w S. Underwood and Edwin Unoe
wood OF North Adams and Mrs. Mary re
kins of Greenfield