From the Bennington Banner, March 23, 1907

John S. Holden died at 5 o'clock Friday afternoon at Pasadena, Calif. The news reached here this morning and Bennington staggers under the blow. Of all the strong men of Bennington, not one save Charles Cooper, has been so prominently identified with the growth and welfare of the town as Mr. Holden.

Not a native of Bennington, or even of Vermont, he came here at the psychological moment of his life, when the strength of his manhood and ability as a business man were ready for the development of a career, remarkable in its fruition. Shocked as we all are his are his end seems typical of the man. Dying suddenly in middle age when he apparently had many years of active business life ahead, his passing is like the fall of the mighty oak of the forest unwarned, unchallenged and with few signs of decay to presage the end.

We speak of a man's dying at the height of his career and in one sense this applies to Mr. Holden, but not in the greater and stronger meaning. He was one of the strong, aggressive, self reliant men, who, when he once laid hands on a matter of business, of sentiment, or public spirit, carried it steadily forward to the result which he himself demanded. Then and not till then did he lay it aside or yield it into other hands. With this characteristic his life has been one of well defined, advancing, upward steps, each one complete and almost independent of the others though grounded in the same foundation.

Like all successful men in business life he was possessed of an indomitable courage, unswerving perseverance, quick insight and broad grasp. But he was more than that, Bennington had no more loyal citizen than he; the church of which he was a member had no more earnest communicant and the many for whom he cared had no more loyal friend than he. It is impossible to do him justice within the narrow confines of a brief newspaper sketch. The life he lived and the business in which he was engaged connect him so closely with his neighbors and fellow citizens that there is perhaps not a home in Bennington which does not today feel as though it had met with a direct and tangible loss.

During the past twenty years it is hardly possible to name a public object in this town to which Mr. Holden has not been a willing and generous contributor. His purse has always been open and the demands on it have been every growing and increasing. In spite of the multiplicity of his business interests he has always found time to be a man, a citizen and a Christian than which no higher praise can be given.

John Stedman Holden was born in Charlton, Mass., May 9, 1845, and therefore lacked little more than being 62 years old at the time of his death. He was the son of Lewis and Eliza (Howlet) Holden. As a lad he attended the district schools of Charlton and later went to Nichols Academy at Dudley, Mass. Afterward his parents sent him to Wilbraham Academy and to the Eastman business college at Poughkeepsie from which he was graduated.

At the age of 19 he entered upon his widely varied business career by securing a position as clerk at a store at Hartford, Conn. When 21 he became a member of the Hartford police force, being the youngest and one of the most efficient policemen in the city.

His next step was to form a partnership with his brother, H.P. Holden in mercantile business in Palmer, Mass. They established two branch stores and made a distinct success. In 1879, Mr. Holden sold out his interest in Palmer and went to Titusville, Penn., where he engaged in the oil business. Returning to Palmer a few years later he began the manufacture of woolen goods which has since been his largest business interest. In 1889 he came to Bennington where in the company of Charles W. and George F. Leonard, under the firm name of Holden, Leonard and Co., he entered into his business career here. From the start the business has been a success, furnishing employment to some 300 people and so much a feature of Bennington life and progress that lengthened description of the enterprise is wholly unnecessary.

After establishing his manufacturing business on a firm and prosperous foundation, he turned his energies to other channels, becoming the principal owner of the Woodbury Granite company with extensive quarries at Woodbury and Bethel and one of the largest granite manufacturing plants in the state at Hardwick.

Mr. Holden was president and one of the largest stockholders of the Bennington County National Bank. He was the financial banker of the successful Bottum & Torrance company and one of the largest real estate owners in Bennington, among his holdings being the John Wool Griswold farm. He had extensive manufacturing interests in New Bedford, Mass., and owned a summer home and other property at Cottage City.

He was one of the leading members and a deacon of the Second Congregational Church, a member of the Mt. Anthony lodge F. and A.M., of the Bennington Battle Monument and Historical Association, of the Bennington Club, The Mt. Anthony Country Club and of the YMCA, to which he was one of the largest contributors.

While not caring much for politics Mr. Holden never shirked his duties as a citizen. He was trustee for his ward for four years, served the village as president for one term and was one of the present senators from this county. At the recent session of the legislation, he was chairman of the senate committee on finance and a member of the committees on rails and street railways. He was one of the leaders of the senate where he made an exceptional record.

He married Oct. 21, 1868, Miss Jennie G. Goodell of Hartford, Conn. Five children were born to them. They are Mrs. George H. Bickford of Hardwick, Mrs. Norman L. Bassett of Augusta, Me., Mrs. Theo. L. Thomas of Brooklyn, Arthur J. and Clarence of this village. Besides the widow and five children he is survived by an aged mother and two sisters residing here, Mrs. F. B. Pope and Mrs. E. E. Hart.

The front of the Savings Bank building has been draped in mourning today in honor of the late president, John S. Holden, of the Bennington County National bank. From all that has been heard by members of the family it is supposed that the body, accompanied by Mrs. Holden and son, left Pasadena Friday morning and in that case should reach here Thursday.

It is not certain yet that the burial will be here or in Massachusetts. After the body reaches Chicago, it is expected that definite arrangements will be made.