Otis Billings Holman

OTIS BILLINGS HOLMAN, living in the west half of section 24, township 34, range 20, in Hackberry township, Labette county, Kansas, has been prominently identified with thegrowth and development of that county since1879. He was born in Kosciusko county, Indiana, in 1845, and is a son of C. W. and Delilah (Burns) Holman.

C. W. Holman was born in Wayne county, Indiana, in 1822. He was a farmer and stockman, and in 1878 removed to Labette county, where his death occurred, in November, 1899. He married Delilah Burns, who was born in Indiana, in 1820, and died in Labette county, in 1880. They reared five children, namely: Otis Billings, the subject of this sketch; G. W., who is an attorney at Rochester, Indiana; Amelia, who married Daniel Jones, and who died in Fulton county, Indiana, in 1900; John D., a boot and shoe merchant of Rochester, Indiana; and J. Frank, who is an electrician of Neosho, Missouri.

Otis Billings Holman was reared in his native county, and learned the tilling of the soil on his father's farm. After his marriage he removed to Ohio, where he lived for two and a half years, and then returned to Fulton county, Indiana, where he remained five years. In February, 1879, he bought the southwest quarter of section 24, township 34, range 20, in Hackberry township, Labette county, Kansas, and this has been his home since that date. The farm had been preempted by A. C. in the county. The northwest quarter of this Tullis, and part of the land was broken and two acres of orchard had been set out, when Mr. Holman bought the place. He has added to this extensively, made many important improvements, and his farm is one of the finest section had been bought by Mr. Holman's father-in-law, and was later deeded to Mrs. Holman. This gives them half of the section, and it is kept in a high state of cultivation. Mr. Holman built a large, nine-room house, in 1888, and in 1898, he erected a barn 60 by 42 feet in size, and 20 feet high, above the basement, which is of stone. This barn is one of the largest and most substantial in Labette county. Mr. Holman now has five acres of orchard, and has set out hedge about the farm. He has dealt largely in stock, - buying and feeding hogs, mainly. Mr. Holman is a man of much executive ability, and the careful management of his farm shows the natural ability of its owner. He started with less than $1,000 and by thrift and perseverance has become one of the most prosperous farmers in the township.

Mr. Holman was married, in Ohio, to Nancy A. Bloomer. She was born in Ohio, in 1850, and is a daughter of Elijah Bloomer. She was the youngest of a large family of children, and her mother died when she was very young. She removed with her father to Indiana, where she lived with a sister until her marriage to Mr. Holman. They have two children: Della Delilah, who married Ernest Leap, of Hackberry township, and has three children, - Alice L., Harold H. and Otis G.; and Elijah B., who was born in Labette county in 1880, and is living at home.

Politically, Mr. Holman was a Democrat until Cleveland's administration, and since that time has been a Populist. He has held various township offices, and was treasurer of District No. 70. Fraternally, he is a member of the I. 0. 0. F., and was formerly connected with the Grangers. He is a member of the Anti-Horsethief Association. Religiously, he prefers the Christian church.