ABEL J. HOLTAM was born in Gloucestershire, England, June 6, 1826, and is the eldest of the four children born to Joseph and Sarah (Harris) Holtam. Joseph Holtam, a baker and grocer, came with his family to America in 1844, and settled in Albany, N. Y., where he carried on a grocery three or four years and then came to Reynolds, this township, where he opened a grocery and bakery in connection with a saloon, which he conducted until his death in May, 1880. He was a member of the church of England, and had prospered well in life, owning, at the time of his death, a good farm and valuable town property. Abel J. Holtam was taught the baker's trade, which he followed for several years in England and in America. In 1848, he located in La Porte, Ind., and followed the grocery and baking business until 1856, when he came to Reynolds and engaged in the same business. In 1859, he abandoned baking and added a saloon to his grocery, which he ran until May, 1882, when he withdrew into retirement. Mr. Holtam was first married to Sarah Gerver, a native of the North of Ireland, who died February 20, 1870. April 17, 1870, be married, Pauline Schwantes, a native of Prussia, who has borne him one son- Joseph William. In politics, Mr. Holtam is a Democrat; be is a member of the Church of England, and his wife of the Lutheran Church.

Back to the White County Biographies Main Page