San Diego County Biographies
 
WILLIAM H. HOLCOMB

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


Deputy-Sheriff and member of the Board of Education, was born in Washington 
County, Iowa, November 19, 1886, being the youngest of five children, all of 
whom are living. In 1874 he was sent by his parents to Colorado to make his 
residence among relatives, and there received his education, and for that 
purpose attended the State School of Mines in Colorado, the State Agricultural 
College, and the University of Denver. In the year 1880 he returned to Iowa, 
took a course at the Short-hand Institute in connection with the State 
University at Iowa City, and became a master of that art, and on again turning 
his face to the west he arrived at Denver and began the study of law in 
connection with his duties as short-hand reporter, but later moved to 
California, arriving at San Francisco in 1885, and was there employed as a 
short-hand writer in a responsible position. He came south in 1886, under the 
excitement of the land boom in San Diego, and being cautious in his speculations 
he made for himself a pleasant home at Coronado. On his arrival at San Diego he 
immediately entered the office of Judge Luce in the capacity of clerk, but the 
same year was appointed clerk of the Superior Court, which position he held for 
two and one-half years. January 1, 1889, he received the appointment of deputy 
sheriff, and at the time of the city election for officers under the new city 
charter. In May, 1889, he was elected a member of the board of education from 
the third ward. 
Mr. Holcomb inherits the literary traits of his father, O.M. Holcomb, of Ohio, 
who has given a life-time to editorial work, and the subject of our present 
sketch devoted much of his leisure time to literary work.
Mr. Holcomb was married at San Francisco, March, 1885, to Mrs. Mary Jane 
Buchanan, a native of Wisconsin and a lineal descendent of William Roberts, a 
celebrated Welsh musician. They have one daughter.
Mr. Holcomb is a member of the Knights of Pythias and is a charter member of the 
tribe of Improved Order of Red Men at San Diego.
 
An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San 
Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower 
California, from the Earliest Period of Occupancy to the Present Time.... - 
Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. pp 112  Transcribed by Sue Silver
 



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