Eli Holeman and Nancy Agnes McGrady

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Husband Eli Holeman ¹

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           Born: Abt 1755 - Chester Co, PA
     Christened: 
           Died: 1825 - ? Forest Co, PA 2
         Buried: 

       Marriage: 

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Wife Nancy Agnes McGrady ²

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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         Father: Alexander McGrady (      -      ) 3
         Mother: 

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Children

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1 F Margaret H. Holeman ^{2 4}

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           Born: Abt 1784
     Christened: 
           Died: 16 Apr 1818
         Buried:  - Old Pioneer Cemetery, Franklin, Venango Co, PA 5

         Spouse: Samuel Rhoades (Abt 1777-1841) 4

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2 M Charles H. Holeman ^{2 6}

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Betsey Dustin (      -      ) 2

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3 F Kate Holeman ⁶

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Jerry Dunn (      -      ) 6

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4 F Jane Holeman ^{2 6}

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Moses Pierson (      -      ) 2

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5 M Alexander Holeman ^{2 6 7}

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           Born: 17 Dec 1790 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 26 Feb 1874 - Tionesta, Forest Co, PA 2
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Clarissa Sexton (1800-1860/1868) 2 7

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General Notes: Husband - Eli Holeman

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He came to what is now Forest County, Pennsylvania, about the year 1800, the first bona fide white settler in the county. He settled at what was thereafter known as Holeman's Flat, on the Allegheny river, in the spring of 1800, and continued to reside there until his death. During the Revolutionary War he served with the Pennsylvania militia at the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, and in other battles of the war for independence. His father was also a soldier of the revolution, both receiving as pay the worthless Continental money of that day. After the war he spent five years in Northumberland, which was then on the frontier, and there he was again forced to fight on many occasions the fierce Indians of that section. His father was taken prisoner by the natives, and on one occasion he had barely time to secrete his family and himself in the dense woods surrounding his cabin, before a whooping murderous band of Indians attacked and robbed it, but mercifully spared its destruction. After the county had become a trifle less dangerous he moved further west to Lycoming, and in 1800 to Holeman's Flats. There he took up land and established a ferry across the Allegheny, which was the only ferry north of Kittanning. After the state road was established from Milesburg to Waterford, Holeman's Ferry became quite an important point, as many of the pioneers of western Pennsylvania crossed at that point. His nearest early neighbors were Moses Hicks and Patrick McCrea, who settled at what is now known as Eagle Rock. There were, however, a number of "squatters" within a radius of a few miles. There the old pioneer hero lived and prospered until his death, founding a family prominent in later day county affairs.

1 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 367.

2 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 368.

3 Cassandra S. W. Beckman, The Descendants of Thomas Washington and Henrietta (Myers) Mays in America 1786 - 1991 (Blue Mounds, WI: Self-published, 1991), Pg 97.

4 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 829.

5 Venango County Historical Society, Venango County Pennsylvania Cemetery Records and Early Church Histories, Vol. 8, Sandycreek Township (Franklin, PA: Venango County Historical Society, 1999), Pg 122.

6 —, History of the Counties of McKean, Elk, and Forest, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., Publishers, 1890), Pg 932.

7 —, Book of Biographies, 37th Judicial District, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899), Pg 252.