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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published by Biographical Review Publishing Company in 1896.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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HORACE HOLBROOK, the well-known dealer in meats and provisions at Northampton, residing at 228 State Street, was born in Buckland, Franklin County, Mass., on April 5, 1844, son of Amasa C. and Lucretia (Clemens) Holbrook.

His paternal grandfather, Isaac Holbrook, was born in Vermont, and was a farmer in humble circumstances. He married a Miss Saunders, who was also a native of the Green Mountain State; and she bore him four sons and two daughters. With the exception of one daughter who went to Ohio during the early settlement of that State, where she died, leaving some property, all were married, and reared families of their own. Grandfather Holbrook also went to Ohio; but, being taken ill with consumption, he returned East, and died about 1816. His widow died in Michigan in 1850 at a ripe old age.

Amasa C. Holbrook, who was born in Colerain, Mass., in 1812, married Miss Lucretia Clemens, of Charlemont, Mass., a daughter of Joseph Clemens. The latter was a machinist, and followed his trade for a considerable part of his life. He worked in iron and steel, and had a shop of his own on his farm, where he made dental tools and other implements; but he was also employed for a time in Greenfield, Mass. His widow is now the wife of Harvey Churchill. She was born on Washington’s Birthday in 1813, and, though now in her eighty-third year, has retained a clear mind, and enjoys a fair degree of health, notwithstanding injuries from a fall, which necessitate the use of crutches. She bore her husband two sons and three daughters, as follows: Elizabeth Thompson, a widow residing at Shelburne Falls, Mass.; Horace; George R., residing in Ontario, San Bernardino County, Cal.; Emily, who married William Hanks, of Ashfield, Mass., and died, leaving two children; and Mrs. Elvira A. Phillips, who died in Colerain, leaving two sons and a daughter.

Horace Holbrook attended Arms Academy two terms after completing his studies at the district school, and at home was reared to farm work. At eighteen years of age, in September, 1862, he enlisted in Company E of the Fifty-second Massachusetts Regiment, with which he served about a year, being a nine months’ man. For two or three years after his father’s death he was in Illinois, but since 1868 has engaged in his present business in Western Massachusetts. He first established himself in Montague, remaining there for several years, and about 1879 came to Northampton, where he is carrying on a thriving trade.

He was married on October 4, 1868, to Miss Maria R. Gloyd, of Plainfield, Mass., a daughter of Benjamin Gloyd, a Plainfield farmer. Mr. Gloyd died in 1876, at sixty-three years of age, leaving a widow and four children. Mrs. Gloyd died in 1884, also aged sixty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Holbrook have four children, namely: Charles H., who is married, and lives in Northampton; Louis George, who married Miss Rose B. Abell, and is employed by his father; Nelson D., who is married, and lives at Everett, Mass., and Fred Amasa, a youth of fifteen years, who is attending school.

Mr. Holbrook is an adherent of the Republican party, and has been a member of the W. T. Baker Post, No. 81, Grand Army of the Republic, ever since its organization. He is also a Chapter Mason. His present residence, which he purchased about eleven years ago, is on a large corner lot and a very desirable property.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published in 1896. 

View additional Hampshire County, Massachusetts family biographies here: Hampshire County, Massachusetts Biographies

View a map of 1901 Hampshire County, Massachusetts here: Hampshire County Massachusetts Map

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