Search for Names
Last Name:
First Name:
   
Our Family Genealogy Pages

Frederick Joseph Holman

Frederick Joseph Holman

Male 1844 - 1942  (97 years)

Personal Information    |    Media    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Frederick Joseph Holman  [1
    Born 27 Oct 1844  Bideford, Devon County, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Emigration 1870 
    Census 1871  Stratford, Perth County, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Census 1881  Stratford, Perth County, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Census 1901  Stratford, Perth County, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Census 1911  Stratford, Perth County, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Census 1921  264 Brunswick Street, Stratford, Perth County, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Died 7 Jun 1942  272 Brunswick Street, Stratford, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried 9 Jun 1942  Avondale Cemetery, Stratford, Perth County, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I14251  All
    Last Modified 25 May 2016 

    Father Joseph Holman,   b. 25 Mar 1804, Bideford, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 5 Nov 1883, 1 Cooper Street, Bideford, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 79 years) 
    Mother Grace Fulford,   b. 22 Jul 1804, Buckland Brewer, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 Jan 1884, Cooper Street, Bideford, Devon County, England Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 79 years) 
    Married 1 Oct 1828  Bideford, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F3902  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Catherine Craig,   b. 13 Oct 1846, Tuckersmith Township, Huron County, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 4 Sep 1921  (Age 74 years) 
    Married Abt 1871 
    Children 
     1. Frederick William Holman,   b. 10 Jun 1873, Stratford, Perth County, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 22 Feb 1966, Hillside Rest Home, RR #5, Stratford, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 92 years)
     2. Helen Lowe Holman,   b. 5 Dec 1878, Stratford, Perth County, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 29 Jan 1911, Stratford, Perth County, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 32 years)
     3. Hugh Gordon Holman,   b. 28 Nov 1883, Stratford, Perth County, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Oct 1955, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 71 years)
    Last Modified 6 Nov 2007 
    Family ID F3808  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1871 - Stratford, Perth County, Ontario Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1881 - Stratford, Perth County, Ontario Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1901 - Stratford, Perth County, Ontario Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1911 - Stratford, Perth County, Ontario Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - 9 Jun 1942 - Avondale Cemetery, Stratford, Perth County, Ontario Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Photos
    SS Scandinavian
    SS Scandinavian
    Frederick Joseph Holman left his home town of Bideford, Devon, England on July 26, 1870. He travelled to Liverpool where he boarded the SS Scandinavian on July 28th bound for Canada. F. J. Holman settled in Stratford, Ontario.
    Frederick Joseph Holman and brother
    Frederick Joseph Holman and brother
    Frederick Joseph Holman is in the middle. His brother William "Bing" Holman is on the left.
    264 Brunswick Street, Stratford, Ontario
    264 Brunswick Street, Stratford, Ontario
    Frederick Joseph Holman
    Frederick Joseph Holman
    Frederick Joseph Holman and granddaughter, Virginia Coulton
    Frederick Joseph Holman and granddaughter, Virginia Coulton
    Photo was taken at the back of the home at 272 Brunswick Avenue in Stratford, Ontario.
    Frederick Joseph Holman
    Frederick Joseph Holman
    Frederick Joseph Holman 1925
    Frederick Joseph Holman 1925
    and granddaughters (children of Frederick William Holman and Dora Bowman). The shoes worn by the child seated right were called Roman Sandals. The shoes had little buttons and a button hole and they were hooked together with a button hook.
    Frederick Joseph Holman 1928
    Frederick Joseph Holman 1928
    Family at 30 Francis Street North, Kitchener, Ontario
    Family at 30 Francis Street North, Kitchener, Ontario
    Back row left to right are Frederick Joseph Holman, Frederick William Holman, and Louisa Geiger. Front row are daughters of Frederick William Holman and Dora Bowman. Dora is absent in the photo. Photo taken on the front lawn of 30 Francis Street North in Kitchener, Ontario. The photo is double exposed so there are two pictures in one.
    Frederick Joseph Holman and girls
    Frederick Joseph Holman and girls
    Eldest child is Evelyn Bremner, the daughter of Edith Bowman and George Bremner. Youngest two are granddaughters of F.J. Holman.
    Catherine Craig
    Catherine Craig
    Catherine Craig is in the middle of the picture. Her daughter Helen Lowe Holman is resting her hands on her mother's shoulder. Frederick Joseph Holman is to Helen's right.
    264 Brunswick Street, Stratford, Ontario
    264 Brunswick Street, Stratford, Ontario

    Documents
    A list of siblings written by Frederick Joseph Holman
    A list of siblings written by Frederick Joseph Holman
    Page 1 of 2
    A list of siblings written by Frederick Joseph Holman including notes of his passage from England to Canada
    A list of siblings written by Frederick Joseph Holman including notes of his passage from England to Canada
    Page 2 of 2
    Letter April 1911
    Letter April 1911
    Frank Wilkinson wrote this letter to his in-laws several months after the death of his wife and baby. He had returned to England. Reference to his inlaws is made as Mother and Father. The envelope is addressed to Mrs. Holman 264 Brunswick Street Stratford Ontario Canada. (Large file - not for dial up)
    Retirement Party 1914
    Retirement Party 1914
    BANQUET AND PRESENTATION

    Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Holman Recipients of Gifts from G. T. R. Associates.

    ON SATURDAY EVENING

    Program Rendered at Mr. Holman's Residence, and Supper Given at the Sparta

    After forty-one years' faithful service with the Grand Trunk, during which time he has seen many important changes in local railway circles, Mr. Joseph Holman, who retired on a pension over four weeks ago, was pleasantly remembered by his former fellow-employees in the bridge and building department of the Stratford division, having been enjoyably banquetted at the Sparta restaurant on Saturday night, after having been presented with a pair of handsome rockers at his home, 264 Brunswick street. The presentation was made in the midst of an enjoyable program, presided over by Mr. Chas. Forrester, division superintendent, during which Mr. and Mrs. Holman were recipients of many good wishes. The address was read by Mr. J. Spencer, while Mrs. Spencer and Mr. G. Leinweber presented the give. Addresses by Messrs. Forrester, W. Cayley, W. Wharry were also features, while musical selections were given by Miss Grace Cayley, Mrs. Roy Hodgins, Miss Walker, and Messrs. F. Deakin, Nicholson and Walker. At the Sparta a tasty fowl supper was enjoyed, while the singing of "Auld Lang Syne" wound up the evening.

    Mr. Holman was first employed by the company as timber inspector under the old engineering department and later in the bridge and building department, of which he was appointed foreman. He was one of the oldest and best liked officials of the local staff and travellers and friends, of which he has many, will in future miss his kindly figure and cheerful face, so often seen about the station.
    STRATFORD RAILWAY MAN MARKS 94TH BIRTHDAY
London Free Press Oct 29, 1937
    STRATFORD RAILWAY MAN MARKS 94TH BIRTHDAY London Free Press Oct 29, 1937
    STRATFORD, Oct 28 - Frederick J. Holman, 272 Brunswick street, veteran railroader, today celebrated his 94th birthday. Despite his advanced years he is very active and thinks nothing of frequently walking from his home to the downtown area, a distance of well over half a mile.
    Ninety-Six Years Young, December, 1939
    Ninety-Six Years Young, December, 1939
    F. J. Holman

    Ninety-Six Years Young

    "I have wanted to be in the army since the days of the Crimean War." How many men on the National System could make that statement? Frederick J. Holman, of Stratford, Ont., who celebrated his 96th birthday recently, is one of the few men in Stratford who can truthfully make an assertion of that kind. Mr. Holman said he was but a small boy at the time of the Crimean War but remembered that he had wanted to get into it. If he were joining the army today he said he would try to be with the engineers.

    Probably the oldest man in Stratford, and certainly the oldest C.N.R. pensioner in the city, Mr. Holman is exceedingly active and is in full possession of his faculties. "I carry glasses around with me but I don't use them often," he said. He put in 41 years in the service of the railroad, starting in the engineering department of the G.T.R. and working up until he was virtually in charge of the department here. His son, Fred W. Holman, is also a C.N.R. pensioner. Mr. Holman is fond of good music and likes baseball and hockey.
    City's Oldest Resident, Frederick Holman, Dead
    City's Oldest Resident, Frederick Holman, Dead
    Newspaper Article 1942

    City's Oldest Resident, Frederick Holman, Dead

    Dies In 99th Year - Stratford lost its oldest resident on Sunday morning, when Frederick Joseph Holman, retired railroader, died at his home, 272 Brunswick street, in his 99th year. Mr. Holman came to Stratford in 1870 and had lived here ever since.

    Death at an early hour Sunday morning claimed Frederick Joseph Holman, Stratford's oldest resident, at his home, 272 Brunswick street, in his 99th year. Active until about two years ago, when he became ill, he had been confined to his bed since Christmas.

    Born in the town of Bideford, North Devonshire, England, on October 28, 1844, the late Mr. Holman came to Canada in 1870, and settled in Stratford, where he had resided ever since. About 71 years ago he was married to Catherine Craig, of Stratford, who died on September 4, 1921.

    Upon arriving in Stratford from England in 1870, Mr. Holman entered the employ of the Grand Trunk Railway, now the Canadian National Railways and worked there until his retirement in 1914. He started in the Engineers' Department, now known as the Bridge and Building Department, and worked under A. J. Bailey, who was the district inspector at that time. His career on the railroad was one of steady advancement, and before many years had elapsed he was appointed first assistant to the district inspector.

    He had worked on every bridge from Stratford to Detroit Junction, Union Station, Toronto, Buffalo, London and Goderich, all of which were included in the Stratford district at that time. For years he remembered every detail about bridges and could tell without searching through musty records, the length, breadth, height or any other detail of any bridge in the district.

    Mr. Holman also worked on many buildings for the railway, and the freight shed which fell prey to flames in 1935 was one of the structures on which he worked.

    Having almost complete charge of construction work, Mr. Holman kept in personal contact with the men who worked under him. Most of them were foreigners - French, Germans, Russians, Italians and others, but regardless of their nationality, he always took pains to see that every man was treated alike. He often acted as a teacher, and gave lessons in English to those who could not speak the language.

    Got Royal Salute
    When the late King George V, then Duke of York, visited Stratford in 1901, Mr. Holman was stationed at a bridge near Erie street, as a guard. As the train left Stratford the Duke of York and the Royal party aboard the train saluted the guard, which was one of the proudest days in Mr. Holman's life. Mr. Holman and his son, Fred W. Holman, 272 Brunswick street, had an almost unique record in view of the fact that they were both pensioners from the Canadian National Railways, the father retiring in 1914, while the son went on pension in 1938 after an enviable record as a train dispatcher.

    The late Frederick Joseph Holman was a Past Chief Ranger of Court Good Intent, Ancient Order of Foresters, and a member of St. James' Anglican church.

    Surviving are two sons, Frederick W. Holman, 272 Brunswick street, and H. G. Holman, Toronto, and four grandchildren. A sister, Mrs. F. C. Wilkinson, died in 1910, in England. [Note error: Mrs. Wilkinson was his daughter. Her death occurred in 1910 in Stratford, Ontario.]

    A private funeral service will be held at Heinbuck Funeral Home, 156 Albert street, on Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock, followed by a public service in St. James' Anglican church at 2:30 o'clock. Burial will be made in Avondale cemetery. Rev. F. Gwynne Lightbourn will officiate.

    Headstones
    HOLMAN, Frederick J. HOLMAN, Frederick W. and Dora BOWMAN
    HOLMAN, Frederick J. HOLMAN, Frederick W. and Dora BOWMAN

  • Notes 
    • Federal Census of 1871 (Ontario Index)

      HOLMAN , F J

      Stray: Individual bears a different surname than the head of the family
      Sex: Male
      Age: 26
      Birthplace: ENGLAND
      Religion: Church of England, Anglican
      Origin: ENGLISH
      Occupation: HARNESSMAKER
      District: PERTH NORTH ( 030 )
      Sub-district: Stratford Town ( C )
      Division: 2
      Page: 26
      Microfilm reel: C-9940
      Reference: RG31 — Statistics Canada

  • Sources 
    1. [S106898] Private.




Copyright © Wurm-Hastings. | Powered by TNG