John Holdrum and his wife resided in New Amsterdam for five years after their marriage, during which time three children were born to them. In 1713 John and his family removed to Tappan, N. Y., where they seem to have resided, neighbors to the Coopers, Eckersons, Harings, and Straatmakers, some of whom were living within the limits of Bergen County. Of what part of Holland John Holdrunr was a native does not definitely appear. It is known that lie styled himself "yeoman," which signified he was a man possessed of some property, and that he sailed from Amsterdam. He was an agriculturist, and must have been a man of respectability to obtain an introduction into such an aristo-cratic family as the Van Tienhovens. His children of the second generation were William, Elizabeth, and Lucas, born in New York City, and Elsie, Sarah, John, and Cornelius, born at Tappan, N. Y., the last of whom married Antje Meyer, and had five children.

William Holdrum, of the second generation, born in New' York about 17111, married, in 1734, Margrietie Peters, daughter of Claes Peters, of Rockland County, N. Y. William purchased lands in Harrington Township, Bergen County, just south of the State line, about 1745, but what area does not appear, the deed never having been recorded. On December 18, 1760, he purchased from Dominie Benjamin Vandelinda a tract of 258 acres west of the Hackensack River, adjoining the State line. On this William resided all his lifetime, following the occupation of a farmer. His children of the third generation were: John, born in 1735, married Catharine Lepper (and had three children); Cathelyntie, born in 1737; Cornelia, born in 1739; Claes, born in 1740; William, born in 1742; Maria, born in 1745; Abraham, born in 1747; Cornelius, born in 1749; and Catharine, born in 1751. One of these last (Cornelius, third generation) married Elizabeth Haring. He died May 31, 1831. They had a son, James C. Holdrum (4), born December 21, 1785, who married Margaret Demarest. He died October 5, 1877, and she died March 30, 1870. One of their children was Cornelius J. Holdrum (5), who married Elizabeth De Pew, and had children, one of whom was Abram C. Holdruin (6), the subject of this sketch.

Abram C. Holdrum was born at Orangeburgh, Rockland County, N. Y., September 23, 1837. He received his education in the local public schools of his town, and, after finishing the usual course, was duly appointed to a scholarship in the New York Normal School at Albany, where he completed a thorough classical training. Subsequently he was engaged in business in New York City for nearly twenty ears, retiring in 1872 and removing to Bergen County, where he has since resided. From that time to the present he has been honored by almost every local office of trust within the gift of the county and State.

He is and has been for many years a commissioner of deeds and a notary public for New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York. He has served as a member of the Board of School Trustees of Washington Township for more than twenty years, being district clerk most of that period. In 1879 he was elected to the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and was the first Republican representative from the Township of Washington. He was appointed to take the United States census in 18811 and again in 1890, and in the latter year was appointed by the Governor a member of the Bergen County Board of Elections, of which he served as Secretary until his election to the New Jersey Legislature of 1897. In 1895 he was commissioned Postmaster of Westwood, N. J., and held that office four years.

Elected to the Assembly of 1897 by a plurality of 3,633 over Van Emburg, the highest Democratic candidate, Mr. Holdrum served on the Committees on Game and Fisheries and Revision of Laws, and was re-elected for the session of 1898, his majority over Air. Fellows, the Democratic nominee, being 808. His entire legislative career was marked by a careful, com- prehensive, and intelligent attention to the business of the House. and especially to those measures which affected his town or county, and gained for him a high reputation as well as a wide and intimate acquaintance.

Mr. Holdrum has been a leading member of the Republican County Executive Committee of Bergen County for many years, and in 1896 became the committee's Vice-Chairman. He has been President of the Ber- gen County Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company since 1891, has been Vice-President of the Bergen County Board of Agriculture and a delegate to the State board for some time, and is also President of the Progressive Building and Loan Association, of Hillsdale, N. J. In all these capacities he has displayed great business ability, sound judgment, and unerring foresight. united with manly courage, indomitable industry, and honest effort. He has faithfully and honestly discharged the duties of every trust. He is a member and past officer of City Lodge, F. and A. M., of New York City, and a member of Rockland Chapter, R. A. M., of Nyack, N. Y.