The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 617		

ALEXANDER B. HOLDEN.

Many are the valuable citizens whom Scotland has furnished to the United States
and among them is Alexander B. Holden, a native of the land of hills and
heather, who now owns a highly improved ranch near Mabton. Mr. Holden was born
August 10, 1873, of the marriage of David and Margaret (Burrell) Holden, also
natives of Scotland. When but a year old he was brought by his parents to
Illinois, in which state the family settled in 1874, the father there working in
the coal mines. About seven years later, in 1881, removal was made to Leadville,
Colorado, and there the Holden family remained for many years. Carefully saving
his earnings, the father then decided to take up agricultural pursuits in
Nebraska, where he was engaged in farming until 1912, when he came to Yakima
county and here he is still following the same line of work, renting land and
being quite successful in his undertaking. His wife passed away in 1905.

Alexander B. Holden received his education in the state of Colorado, of which he
became a resident when but eight years of age, attending the public schools of
Leadville. After laying aside his textbooks he decided to follow in his father's
footsteps and turned to mining but later changed his occupation, taking up
farming upon his removal to Nebraska. Having heard many favorable reports in
regard to the opportunities maintaining in the northwestern Pacific country, he
decided in 1903 to come to Yakima county, where for the first two years he
worked for wages, thus acquiring the means which enabled him to buy forty acres
of land five and a Half miles northwest of Mabton. This property was formerly
owned by his father-in-law, who bought it as wild land in 1903, Mr. Holden
assisting him in clearing the tract. The place now is a modern twentieth century
ranch and every up-to-date facility and equipment can be found thereon. Mr.
Holden has ever been progressive in his methods and as the years have passed the
farm has increased in value. In 1916 he erected a new home, a model of its kind,
and he also has substantial out buildings and barns. He largely gives his
attention to general farming, raising alfalfa, corn and potatoes.

On the 12th of December, 1895, Mr. Holden was married to Bertha McKnight, a
daughter of George and Mary McKnight, who in 1903 came to the Yakima valley from
Nebraska. Both have now passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Holden were born two
children, Mildred Mae and Clifford Alexander, but the latter died at the age of
about two years.

The parents are members of the Presbyterian church, in the work of which they
take an active and helpful part. In politics Mr. Holden is a democrat but has
never aspired to public office although he is thoroughly informed in regard to
the questions and issues of the day and is ever ready to give his support to
valuable measures undertaken on behalf of the progress and upbuilding of his
community and district. Fraternally he is a member of the Royal Highlanders,
thus maintaining connection with other men of Scotch birth and extraction. He
has many friends in Yakima county and all who know him speak of him in the
highest terms of sincere appreciation and esteem.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.