Contra Costa County Biography

FREDERICK MELBOURNE HOLWAY

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, December, 2006.

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

 
Frederick Melbourne Holway is recognized as one of the staunch and enterprising 
pioneers of Contra Costa County. He was born in Somersetshire, England, May 12, 
1856, the son of John and Anna Holway. He received a limited education in the 
old country and came to America in 1872, locating in Chicago. He acquired his 
start in life in the hotel business in Chicago, and while a resident there 
determined to have a better education and attended the public schools for a 
time. In 1874 Mr. Holway determined to cast his lot with the West and started 
for Colorado, where he remained about one year. In July, 1875, he landed in San 
Francisco, where he learned the barber trade, and in connection followed the 
restaurant and hotel business. In 1878 he came to Contra Costa County, locating 
at Point of Timber for a time, removing to Byron in the spring of 1878. In 1878 
Mr. Holway established  the Hotel Byron, the leading hotel in that section until 
it was burned in 1884. The same year he erected the present hotel, disposing of 
it in 1891. In 1883 he established his present business, which he has since 
continued. On May 12, 1883, he was married to Emma Luhrsen, a native of San 
Francisco, of German parentage. To this union were born ten children - Eva (wife 
of Lee Acrey of Byron), Percy M. (of Oakland), Raymond F. (of Oakland), Herman 
(of Byron), Viola, Irene, Geraldine, Martha, and Alvira. Aurora died at the age 
of eighteen months. Mr. Holway is a Republican, and has always taken a keen 
interest in his party. He is now serving on the Byron school board as trustee. 
Fraternally, he is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge of Byron, and has the 
distinction of filling all the chairs in his order. He has served as a delegate 
to the grand lodge that convened at San Diego in May, 1916. Mr. Holway's loving 
wife passed away on April 3, 1912. She was of a kind and genial nature and had 
hosts of staunch friends, and her death was mourned sincerely. Mr. Holway came 
to this section previous to the starting of the town, and tells of shooting 
geese where Byron is now located. He therefore is the oldest living male 
resident of Byron. He has at all times shown a spirit of progressiveness, and 
has aided in every way and done his share in the upbuilding of this section.
 
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California", Elms Publ. Co., 1917, 
pp. 533-534.