JACOB G. HOLDERMAN is the junior member of the firm of Scott & Holderman, proprietors of the Bethany Roller Mills, which are noted throughout the State for both quantity and quality of the farinaceous product which they prepare for use. Our subject was located at Bethany where he engaged in business in September, 1887, and has since been a member of the above mentioned firm, which is broadly known as one upon whose word and judgment the greatest reliance may be reposed. Their dealings have always been conducted on such a basis as to win the confidence of all with whom they are connected.

He of whom we write was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, January 6, 1850, and is a son of Joseph and Amanda (Wampler) Holderman, natives of Ohio and Maryland, respectively. He is the third in order of birth in a family of four children. His early life was passed on a farm in his native county. It was not his privilege to enjoy and extended education, though he was fond of books and made excellent use of his time at school. At the age of twenty years he went to the city of Indianapolis where he learned the milling business with the Gibson Milling Company. He remained in the employ of this company for four years, after which he went to Cincinnati and was in the employ of Root & Co. for one year.

Thus fully drilled and equipped with a knowledge of the business which he had chosen as that to which he should devote himself, our subject came to Decatur, Ill., where he was in the employ of D.S. Shellebarger & Co. millers. After that he came to Bethany. Moultrie County, and became associated with A.B. Scott as partner in a milling business of their own. His career was begun by a thorough and complete overhauling of the entire mill, and in this work Mr. Holderman showed himself to be master of the mechanical workings of the business. When his work was finished the place was in first- class shape and besides being engaged as manufacturers they carry on a merchant and exchange business. The firm also deals largely in grain.

Our subject was married in 1879 to Miss Maggie Campbell, at the time of their marriage a resident of Indianapolis but a native of Scotland, and a daughter of Andrew Campbell. With her Mr. Holderman enjoyed but four years of marital felicity, her decease taking place in 1883. She left one little daughter whose name is Marjery. Five years later Mr. Holderman was again married, taking as his companion a sister of his first wife, whose given name is Mai. Their marriage was celebrated November 14, 1888. Mrs. Holderman is an intelligent and bright woman whose wholesome presence animates and invigorates those who are brought into communication with her.

In his political life he of whom we write is a Democrat. Socially, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Holderman is liberal in his religious belief; his wife, however, is a member of the Presbyterian Church, in which she is an energetic and ardent worker, both for the support of the local organization and spreading of the Gospel teachings.

The father of our subject, Joseph Holderman, pursued farming as a business until the breaking out of the Civil War, when he entered the service with a regiment from Indianapolis and served four years as trainmaster. After the war he was engaged as a contractor and builder at Indianapolis, during which he led a busy life. He is spending his declining years at Troy, Ohio. Our subject's mother died at Bunker Hill, Ind., in 1857. Of the parental family John M. was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War, and was thus engaged for three years, in which time he did honorable and effective service. After leaving the army he became a railroad man, being yardmaster at Lorain, Ohio, where he died when about forty years of age; George H. is Superintendent of the fire alarm and telegraph at Indianapolis, Ind., and Orlando is a farmer at Bunker Hill, Ind.

The parental grandparents of our subject came from Pennsylvania at an early day and settled on the site now occupied by the National Soldiers; Home at Dayton, Ohio, the grandfather pursued the calling of farming and was also a butcher and cattle dealer. Jacob G. Holderman, our subject, has been very successful thus far in his career and, being a comparatively young man, he has a right to expect a greater degree of success to crown his plans and efforts for the future.

Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, 1891 - p. 304/307

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