Résumé

In 1873, John H. Holman operated a drayage firm in Portland, OR, with his brother Edward. Holman's name has been written as a construction supervisor for the Pioneer Courthouse between 1869 and 1875 in Portland. It is possible that he was involved with carting stone blocks used in the building's massive walls, and possibly had experience in construction before this. The Holman Brothers maintained their City Dray Company on the southeast corner of 7th Avenue and Stark Street in 1873. (See Samuel´s Directory of Portland and East Portland, 1873, p. 191.)

Holman continued to live in Portland in 1880, and remained working as a drayman. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Portland, Multnomah, Oregon; Roll: 1083; Page: 435D; Enumeration District: 139, accessed 06/04/2018.)

Relocation

Born c. 1850 in NY, Holman lived in Portland, OR, from at least 1873-1880. John H. Holman lived on Stark Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues. (See Samuel´s Directory of Portland and East Portland, 1873, p. 191.)

To confuse matters, there were two "John Holmans" listed in the Portland, Oregon, City Directory, 1874, (p. 125). One, John Holman, who worked for Holman Brothers Drayage, lived on the south side of Stark Street between 6th and 7th Avenues. J.W. Holman, also a drayman, wholived on the south side of C Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues. Other sources indicated his name to have been John Walter Holman.