Lockley, Fred. "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the Sea." Vol. 2. S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928. p. 17. CHARLES HOLMAN Charles Holman, deceased, is numbered among those who aided in laying broad and deep the foundation upon which has been built the present progress and prosperity of Portland. He became a resident of Oregon in 1852 and of its metropolis in 1863. For a period he was away from the city but returned and again became actively interested in its business affairs, leading to substantial development here. A native of London, England, he was born July 22, 1833, and in 1836 was brought by his parents to America, but in the following year the family returned to their native land. There Charles Holman remained until 1849, when with his father he came again to the United States, settling in Indiana, where the father remained for two years and then joined his wife in New York. Charles Holman, however, continued his residence in Indiana until 1852, when attracted by the opportunities of a district then in the making, he came to Oregon with Isaac Moores, being at that time a youth of nineteen years. He began providing for his own support here as a salesman in the employ of James Loomis but soon opened a store of his own in Monticello, Washington, carrying a general line of goods. A little later, however, he turned his attention to the commission business, buying and selling produce, with California as his market. When he attained his majority he formed a partnership with Asa Hawker in a business that prospered, and in 1863 he came to Portland, where he soon won recognition as one of the leading merchants of the city. He studied closely the needs and wishes of his patrons, kept in touch with the markets and by judicious buying was able to make profitable sales. After three years he sold his interest in the business to his partner and took up his abode on a farm in Cowlitz county, Washington, making this change on account of his health, which was much improved in the out-of-door life. When he had again reached a normal physical condition he built his first river steamboat, which he called the John H. Couch and of which he was part owner. He also built the steamers Bells and Cowlitz and thus became associated with the early navigation interests of the northwest. Subsequently he sold out and returned on a visit to his old home in London, greatly enjoying his brief sojourn among relatives and friends there. When he again came to the new world he made Portland his destination and here purchased an interest in the Burton book store, then owned by his former partner, Mr. Harris. Six or eight years later he made another trip to London and during his absence his partner sold the business, so that upon his return to Portland he gave his attention to other activities, making large investments in steamship lines and subsequently establishing the Holman transfer business, which continues as one of the strong commercial enterprises of the city and in fact is the largest of the kind in Portland. On the 3d of July, 1886, death called Mr. Holman and on the following day the Oregonian said : "Since early in the ' 50s Captain Charles Holman has been a resident of this state and was prominently identified with early navigation enterprises on the Willamette and Columbia rivers. Of late years he gave his attention to the transfer and forwarding business. He held several offices of trust and was in every relation of life a most estimable and exemplary man, commanding the fullest confidence of his fellow citizens." He was indeed a public-spirited resident of the state, with faith in its future and with a recognition of its possibilities and opportunities, so that he wisely used his chances for the promotion of his own fortunes and at the same time contributed in large measure to the upbuilding and progress of city and commonwealth. He had many sterling traits of character, was thoroughly reliable as well as enterprising and enjoyed in notable measure the confidence and esteem of his fellowmen. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in February 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.