The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-01-07
Mr.. and Mrs. Clark Holden
Observe Golden Wedding
NO CELEBRATION HELD
Honored Couple Have Been Lifelong Res
idents Of This Place-Mr. Holden
Is a Prominent
Citizen.

Just fifty years ago yesterday, Janu.
airy 9, 1857, Mr.. and Mrs. Clark Holden
Of IA South Main street, two Of Barre's
Oldest residents, We're united in marriage.
It had been tue plans of other members
of the family tos celebrate the occasion
today in an informal way, by extending
general invitation to friends to call,
but this had to be given up for the pres
ent, anyway, on account of the illness
Of Mrs. Holden, who has been confined
to her bed most Of the time since Christ
mas day with the grippe. Notwithstand-
ing the TACT that they cannot call to do
50, the many friends and old acquaint-
ances OF the much respected couple Join
in extending their healtiest congratlla-
tions and best wishes for many more
years of happy married life for them.
Each Of the aged couple is ~ years old,
Mrs. HolIlden being only two months
the older, and their entire lives have
been spent in Barre. From a young man
up TO year and d half ago, Mr.. Holden
had been in active business. and has
held office after office of public trust in
the early days Of the town and village
corporation, always with integrity and
for the best interests Of the community
Mr.. Holden was born November 17,
1894, on farm on the road to Williams.
town, Just out Of the present village Of
South Barre. His father, William Hol-
den. who died when the son was seven
years of age, was the leading carpenter
in this vicinity in those DAYS and built
the old Methodist and Congregational
churches, the old Thwing house and
many of the old brick houses in TIE
town. His mothers name was Miss Lu-
thera Gale. He received his education
in the district school and at the Barre
academy. After the death of his father
he lived four years In the family OF
the late Israel Wood, and from there he
went TO live with Orvis French and un.
til he reached his majority clerked in
MFR. French store, which was located at
that time where the Granite Savings
bank now stands.
On becoming Of age he bought out the
store and conducted the business until
1865, when he together with Frank A.
Stafford. bought out the fork shop and
established the Stafford, Holden & Co.
firm. which was conducted un-
til 1873. when a stock company was
formed under the name of. Stafford &
Holden Manufacturing company. Mr.
Holden was superintendent of this com
panv until 1885, when he was appointed
postmaster by President Cleveland. He
was the postmaster at the time the office
was moved from the old city hall build
ing into the opera house building that
was burned in 1893 This position he
held for five years and three months,
In 1889. Mr. Holden and John Trow es-
tabhshed the we'll known firm Of Trow
q Holden, granite tool manufacturers,
which business they continued until
year ago last July, when the business
was sold to Mr. Holden's son, William
NJ. Holden. who on account of the busi.
ness having become too extensive for
the old plant ON Granite street, last
spring purchased the old fork shop build
ing and has there had equipped one of
the largest and most modern plants for
the manufacture Of granite tools in the
state
Besides being postmaster, Mr. Holden
was the first town clerk and treasurer
Of Barre village in 1860. to which office
he was afterwards elected sixteen times.
He has also been bailif, justice of tie
peace, member of the school board six
years and for many years cemetery COM
missioner. He was town clerk and treas
urer at the time tie town bonded to
have the Central Vermont railroad run
into the village. Mr. Holden has broth
or. George, and a sister, Mrs. George
Whitcomb, now living in Claremont. n
r. He is one OF the oldest Masons in
-he city and was first secretary Of Gran
tie lodge. holding that Office for about
zen years. He was one OF the organiz.
,rs Of Torrent Engine company, No. /,
.he first fire company organized in Barre,
,nd was its foreman for twenty-five
years,
Mrs Holden was born September 1s,
1924, on a farm on the East hill She
lad one sister. now deceased. Her father
vas Merrill Albee and her mothers maid
n name was Miss Maria Taft Both
he Albee and Holden families were
imong the very first settlers in the
own. Mr. and Mrs Holden were mar.
led by the Rev. Andrew Royce, who
vaa then the congregational minister Of
he village. As a coincidence, the mar
iagc was performed on the same even.
ny that the old State iiatte NJ Mont
,elier burned. Three children were born
o them, William NJ, Mrs George \.
Iilden, both Of this city, and another
laughter, who died at the age of two
md half years.