John W. Holding, Sr. was born in Virginia about 1815 and died 28 February 1873 in O’Fallon House, St. Louis, Missouri, according to his death certificate.  He was buried in Quarantine Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri.

According to a deed dated 2 November 1844, John was living in Lamar County, Republic of Texas with his wife, Susan, and their family at that time.  A son, John W. Holding, was born 10 August 1845 in Lamar County and died 9 January 1911 in Lamar County, Texas.

In 1846, John was a Private in the Third Regiment Texas Mounted Volunteers, Company B, composed of personnel recruited primarily from Lamar County.  He was mustered into federal service on July 2, 1846 and mustered out on September 5, 1846.

John married his second wife, Martha Williamson Bruce, on September 21, 1867 in Lamar County, Texas.  They both had children from previous marriages; however, their only child together, Rozetta Ann Holding, born 6 May 1869, is my great grandmother.

According to family legend, Captain John Holding (Jonathan William Marion Holding) was in the Union Army.  At the request of President Lincoln, he went to Laredo, Texas, where there is till a monument to him.  (So far, I have not found any documentation that confirms this information.)

Glenda Hagler Wood, GG Granddaughter of John W. Holding