Holyoke Family Genealogy - Person Sheet
Holyoke Family Genealogy - Person Sheet
NameJoseph Murphy HOLYOKE 
, M
, MBirth29 Nov 1819, Marrietta, Washington, OH
Death3 Apr 1896, Denver, Denver, CO
BurialWataga Cemetery; Sparta, Knox, IL
FatherWilliam Edward HOLYOKE Sr. , M (1787-1851)
MotherLucy GREENLEAF , F (1793-1870)
Spouses
1Ruth Minerva DILLY , F
, FBirth27 Nov 1816, New York, New York, NY
Death7 Feb 1874, Sparta, Knox, IL79
BurialWataga Cemetery; Sparta, Knox, IL
FatherDaniel DILLY , M (1778-~1829)
MotherPenelope or Lydia ??? , F
Marriage27 Aug 1844, , Knox, IL80
2Sara L. PEARSE , F
, FBirthabt 1838, , , MA
Marriage10 Jul 1884, , Arapahoe, CO
Divorce14 Oct 1892, Denver, Denver, CO
Notes for Joseph Murphy HOLYOKE
• J. M. HOLYOKE arrived in Knox County, IL about 1837 from Cincinnati, , OH.
• He lived in the township of Sparta and his occupation was listed as a farmer.
•In 1856 he was elected chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Sparta for nine years, after 2 years he served another four years and after an interval of four years was again elected Supervisor in 1875, an office he occupied for another three years.
• Wataga (town??) was laid out in the spring of 1854 by Silas, J.M. HOLYOKE and Clark M. Carr.
• Member of the Knox County Board of Supervisors
• Ran for Constitutional Convention Representative (Republican ticket) of Knox, IL
• Ran for Representative (Republican ticket) of Knox, IL … represented Knox County three terms in the Illinois Legislature … 1862 - 1868
• In 1874 Wataga was re-incorporated as a village territory. J. M. Holyoke was the first resident and postmaster. His occupation was listed as Real Estate
• J. M. Holyoke and A. P. Cassel built the first store in Wataga, Sparta, Knox, IL, for the firm of Willard & Babcock
• When his wife died he moved to Denver Colorado … was in the 1885 Colorado Census.
• He married his second wife, Sara Pearse in 1884 in Denver.
• Served in 1885 Secretary of the Colorado Senate … clerk in the Colorado Senate,
• Had a business of Black Hills Transportation Co…. this was before the railroads. He once again laid out city plots and expanded Denver into residential areas just before his death.
• He died in Denver, CO and his body was returned to Ill. and buried beside his wife and daughter's.
[S:168], [S:171], [S:250]81
• He lived in the township of Sparta and his occupation was listed as a farmer.
•In 1856 he was elected chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Sparta for nine years, after 2 years he served another four years and after an interval of four years was again elected Supervisor in 1875, an office he occupied for another three years.
• Wataga (town??) was laid out in the spring of 1854 by Silas, J.M. HOLYOKE and Clark M. Carr.
• Member of the Knox County Board of Supervisors
• Ran for Constitutional Convention Representative (Republican ticket) of Knox, IL
• Ran for Representative (Republican ticket) of Knox, IL … represented Knox County three terms in the Illinois Legislature … 1862 - 1868
• In 1874 Wataga was re-incorporated as a village territory. J. M. Holyoke was the first resident and postmaster. His occupation was listed as Real Estate
• J. M. Holyoke and A. P. Cassel built the first store in Wataga, Sparta, Knox, IL, for the firm of Willard & Babcock
• When his wife died he moved to Denver Colorado … was in the 1885 Colorado Census.
• He married his second wife, Sara Pearse in 1884 in Denver.
• Served in 1885 Secretary of the Colorado Senate … clerk in the Colorado Senate,
• Had a business of Black Hills Transportation Co…. this was before the railroads. He once again laid out city plots and expanded Denver into residential areas just before his death.
• He died in Denver, CO and his body was returned to Ill. and buried beside his wife and daughter's.
[S:168], [S:171], [S:250]81
Notes for Ruth Minerva (Spouse 1)
• The First Congregational Church was organized June 10, 1855, and the church society October 27, 1856. Minerva was one of its original members.