HENRY WHITCOMB HOLLEY:

Henry Whitcomb Holley was born in Jefferson County, New York, May 5, 1828, the son of David and Betsey (Randall) Holley. He graduated from Norwich University, Vermont in 1849. From 1849-1856, he was a contracting engineer for railroads in Ohio, Indiana, and Wisconsin.

Holley came to Minnesota in 1856 and settled in Chatfield. He was editor of the Chatfield Republican (1856-1861); a state senator (1859-1861); and receiver of the U.S. Land Office at Winnebago City (1861-1869). He began his engineering career with the Southern Minnesota Railroad in 1865, became chief engineer of construction, and was also the company's general manager and superintendent.

Other interests of Holley included: the Root River State Bank, of which he was one of the organizers, and land and real estate in Faribault County. Holley was also one of the organizers of the Root River State Bank and was in land and real estate in Faribault County. He also published a number of volumes of poetry.

Holley married Eliza Jane Christie in 1855. The children born to the couple were Maud, Kate, Elizabeth, Mabel, and Henry. Holley died in Everett, Washington in either 1897 or 1898.

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The earliest papers consist of receipts (1854) made out to Holley by various individuals for contracting work, probably in Ohio or Wisconsin, and a payroll (1855) dated from Frankfort. Correspondence (1858-1864) pertains to Holley's activities as editor of the Chatfield Republican and as receiver of the land office at Winnebago City. The majority was written by George F. Potter, La Crescent, Minnesota and relate to the collection of bills, the placing of advertisements, politics, and Potter's hopes of obtaining a position with the Minnesota legislature. Letters written by Horace Thompson of the First National Bank in St. Paul concern land scrip (1864).

Later correspondence and papers relate to Holley's career with the Southern Minnesota Railroad Company. Included are monthly payrolls of the engineering department (August, 1865; May and December, 1866; January and December, 1867; and June and August, 1871); excise tax and real estate receipts and notices (1866, 1869, and 1873); invoices and bills from various Winnebago City merchants (1860s); signed petitions urging Republican voters of the 1st Congressional district to support William G. Wood (1880); and school reports for Holley's children enrolled at St. Mary's Hall, Faribault (1875-1876) and Shattuck School (1888). Correspondents include Constant R. Marks (1873), Judson W. Bishop (1874), O. D. Brown (1870s and 1880s), and Charles H. Whipple (1876).

Also included are printed brochures, leaflets and catalogs containing illustrations and price lists for railroad equipment. Items of interest include those from the Railroad Watertank Manufacturing Company, Chicago (1870s); Fontaine's Improved Smoke-stack for Locomotive Engines, Fort Wayne, Indiana (November 1870); Charles F. Ketcham Engineer's Materials, New York (July 1, 1871); and Combination Car Spring Company, New York (November 1, 1872).

Two folders containing specifications, estimates, drawings and maps all relate to the construction of culverts, pilings, piers, abutments, and trestles for the Southern Minnesota Railroad Company.

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Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Henry Whitcomb Holley Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 9280; 9295; 9309

Processing Information:

Catalog ID number: 990017300640104294

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This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

Business enterprises -- Wisconsin.

Education -- Minnesota.

Railroads -- Design and construction.

Railroads -- Michigan.

Railroads -- Minnesota.

Real property -- Minnesota.

Taxation.

Persons:

Bishop, J. W. (Judson Wade), 1831-1917.

Brown, Orville, 1812-1901.

Marks, C. R. (Constant R.), 1906-

Potter, George F., ca. 1826-

Thompson, Horace, 1827-1880.

Whipple, Charles Henry, 1849-1932.

Organizations:

Bradley and Metcalf, Boots and Shoes (Milwaukee, Wis.) -- Billhead, -- 30 Sept. 1881.

C. H. Twiss Livery and Sale Stable (Winnebago City, Minn.) -- Billhead, -- Feb. 1973.

C. J. Farley Paint Store (Winnebago City, Minn.).

F. F. Harlow General Merchandise (Winnebago City, Minn.).

Frank Pumerville, Harness Shop (Houghton, Mich.) -- Billhead, -- 27 Jan. 1882.

Gold and Frank, Dry Goods (Milwaukee, Wis.) -- Billhead, -- 1 July 1881.

John Pritzloff, Iron and Hardware Merchant (Ontonagon, Mich.) -- Billhead, -- 16 July 1881.

Moulton and Dendon, General Merchandise.

North Star Stock Farm (Caledonia, Minn.) -- Letterhead, -- 6 May 1876.

Republican Party (Minn.).

Shattuck School.

Slayton's Lyceum Bureau (Chicago, Ill.) -- Letterhead, -- 25 Oct. 1878.

Southern Minnesota Railroad Company.

St. Mary's Hall (Faribault, Minn.).

U.S. Wind Engine & Pump Co. (Batavia, Ill.) -- Letterhead, -- 187-.

United States. General Land Office.

United States. Root River Land District (Minn.

Places:

Chatfield (Minn.).

Minnesota -- Economic conditions -- 1849-1858

Minnesota -- Economic conditions -- 1858-1898.

Minnesota -- Newspapers.

Minnesota -- Politics and government -- 1858-1898.

Winnebago City (Minn.).

Document Types:

Billheads.

Letterheads.

Maps

Price lists.

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