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John Smally Holdren

John Smally Holdren

Male 1777 - 1873  (95 years)


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  • Name John Smally Holdren 
    Birth 15 Oct 1777  New Jersey Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Census 1850  Lee Township, Athens County, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Occupation 1850  Athens County, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location 
    shoe maker 
    Census 1860  Lee Township, Athens County, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    Census 1870  Lee Township, Athens County, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Death 2 Mar 1873  Lee Township, Athens County, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Burial Town House Cemetery, Athens County, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • Some claim John"Smally" Holdren was born October 15, 1777 in Bucks County, PA. However in the 1850 and 1860 census he claims his birth state is New Jersey. At this time , though much research has been done on this family, his parents are unknown. One theory makes him the son of Joseph Holdren and Grace Coleman who settled in Washington County, Ohio. However, several early histories printed about Joseph's family make no mention of a son, John. Tax lists of Bucks County, Pennsylvania in 1778, show a Benjamin Holdren in Nockamixon Township. This is probably the Benjamin "Holden" listed as the husband of Elizabeth "Betsy" Pursell in the "History of Bucks County, PA." Benjamin left a will in 1842, naming only son, Benjamin, but by that time other deduced children had moved to Ohio.
      According to "The History of Athens County", he first arrived in 1798, however he did not settle at that time in Lee Township but in southern Alexander Township. He first worked at the Scioto Salt Licks in Jackson County, going there the second year it was open He was famous as a wood cutter - he could rack up to six cords of wood in one day.
      A marriage record in Washington County, Ohio was recorded in 1805 and has been transcribed as John Holdren and Roseanna "Rinney". Fortunately, his pension papers from the War of 1812 show her name as Canny.
      In 1820 the Holdrens located permanently in Lee Township and John Holdren became a hunter of wide renown. It was reported that a violin which he took with him during the war and which had been in the Holdren family for 150 years was given to W. H. Holdren of Lyons, Rice, Kansas. W. H. was the son of William Holdren of Monroe County, Ohio (and, I believe the nephew of John Holdren.) I was lucky enough to speak with W. H.'s neice some years ago, and while she was not familiar with the story of this particular violin, she confirmed that "Uncle Billy" was known for playing the fiddle.
      At the age of 91, it is reported that John was still walking two miles from his home to Albany, with the aid of two long walking sticks. He died on March 2, 1873 and is buried with his wife at Townhouse Cemetery in Athens County, Ohio.
    Person ID I8566  Family
    Last Modified 5 Feb 2026 

    Father Joseph Holdren,   b. 12 May 1757, New Jersey Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 18 Jan 1807, Newport Township, Washington County, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 49 years) 
    Mother Grace Coleman,   b. 1749, New Jersey Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 5 Jul 1842, Washington County, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 93 years) 
    Marriage Abt 1775 
    Family ID F10957  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Rosanna Canny,   b. 4 Nov 1786, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 2 Sep 1873, Athens County, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 86 years) 
    Marriage 1805  Washington County, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Age at Marriage He was ~ 27 years old - She was ~ 18 years old. 
    Children 
    +1. Grace Holdren,   b. 1806, Washington County, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Athens County, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location
    +2. George Holdren,   b. 1808, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown
    +3. Mary Holdren,   b. 1816, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1843, Athens County, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 27 years)
    +4. Hamilton Holdren,   b. 3 May 1822, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 26 Sep 1892, Madison Township, Vinton County, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 70 years)
    +5. Zeremiah Holdren,   b. 1827, Athens County, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Aug 1880, Ross County, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 53 years)
    Family ID F3049  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Sources 
    1. [S130] Census - 1850 Athens County Ohio, Page 175A (353), family 86, age 72.

    2. [S131] Census - 1860 Athens County Ohio, Page 228A (125), family 946, age 82.

    3. [S132] Census - 1870 Athens County Ohio, Page 158A (21), family 174, age 92.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 15 Oct 1777 - New Jersey
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 1805 - Washington County, Ohio
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1850 - Lee Township, Athens County, Ohio
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - shoe maker - 1850 - Athens County, Ohio
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1860 - Lee Township, Athens County, Ohio
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1870 - Lee Township, Athens County, Ohio
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 2 Mar 1873 - Lee Township, Athens County, Ohio
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Town House Cemetery, Athens County, Ohio
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : District/Township       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set