San Joaquin County
Biographies
HERMAN CHARLES HOLMAN
H. C.
HOLMAN, proprietor of the United States Hotel, Stockton, one of the most popular
landlords of the city, first engaged in the hotel business here in 1871, when,
in conjunction with Charles Schmieder, he bought the Columbia House. They
conducted it until 1873, when they took charge of the old Pacific House and
named it the United States Hotel. It has a prominent place in the early history
of the city. The original building was partly constructed from lumber that had
been brought around Cape Horn. One of the early proprietors, known as “Uncle
Billy,” was a well-known figure in his time. A Mr. Freeman, since deceased, was
a later proprietor, and after him was Henry Lewis, now of Modesto. In February, 1873, Messrs. Holman and Schmieder took
charge and changed the name to its present style. The partnership continued
about eight years, when Mr. Holman bought his partner’s interest, and has since
been the sole proprietor. On the 30th of October, 1879, Mr. Holman
purchased the building and property from John B. Nye, paying $10,000. On the 20th
of August, 1881, the structure was destroyed by fire, being a total loss. There
was but $3,000 insurance on the building, and none on the furniture. Mr. Holman
did not allow his heavy loss to crush his spirit, but at once set about
rebuilding. As a result of his enterprise the present handsome and commodious
structure, corner of Center and Market streets, known as the United States
Hotel, was thrown open to the public on the 4th of March, 1882.
There are about eighty rooms; and in this particular, as in that other
essential, the table, the house enjoys and deserves a high reputation.
The proprietor, Mr. H. C. Holman, is a
native of Germany, born at Dötlingen, Oldenburg, February 24, 1843, his parents being Henry and
Katharine Holman. When he was six years of age he lost his father by death, and
six years later, by the death of his mother, he was left totally an orphan. He
attended school between the ages of six and fourteen years, and thereafter was
engaged at farm work as long as he remained in his native country.
In 1862, taking passage on a sailing
vessel, he emigrated to the United States,
landing at New York. Thence he proceeded to Chicago and found employment in a flouring mill on Clark street. In the spring of 1864 he went to Peoria,
Illinois, and there joined a party destined for California. Crossing the Mississippi river at Burlington and the Missouri at Council
Bluffs, they proceeded by way
of Fort Kearney and Laramie, Salt
Lake City, and the Sink of
the Humboldt to California. The trip was a pleasant one in most respects,
though, as the season was a dry one, some delay was necessitated for the
purpose of recruiting stock. On bringing up at Mokelumne Hill, Mr. Holman
turned his attention to mining for a time, but gave up that occupation to enter
the service of the country of his adoption. He enlisted in Company E, Seventh
California Volunteers, for three years or during the war. The command assembled
at the presidio, and after drilling for a time there they were sent to Arizona, to fight Indians. By this arrangement Mr. Holman saw
considerable active service, returning when the trouble was over, from Tucson to the presidio, where he was discharged in June,
1865, after a service of about eighteen months.
For the succeeding three years Mr. Holman
followed agricultural pursuits on a farm about three miles from Waterloo, in
this county, and then embarked in the hotel business in Stockton, as already
mentioned. His success since that time show his fitness for the position of
landlord--one of the most difficult to fulfill known to the business world.
He was married September 13, 1876, to Miss
Hattie Grupe, daughter of J. Carsten Grupe, a prominent pioneer who, though now
deceased, is properly remembered in an extended mention elsewhere in this
volume. Mr. and Mrs. Holman have three children - Charles Francis, George
Alexander and Lelabd Hermann. Mr. Holman is a member of Stockton Lodge, No. 11,
I. O. O. F., and is a trustee of Parker Encampment; is also a member of the
Stockton Turn-Verein, and of Rawlins Post, No. 23, G. A. R. Concerning national
issues he is a Republican. Mr. Holman is a pleasant, affable gentleman, having
a host of friends among the citizens of the county and the traveling public.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 310-311. Lewis Pub.
Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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