Holbrook: Loren Holbrook and his family

 Loren Holbrook is a hard man to write about.  I never did do a profile sketch of him, probably because he is recent enough in our family history that I know stories about him.  I also know his two daughters had somewhat different opinions of him, and I don't know which are "true".  Probably all the stories are "true" but have to be seen in their context in order to understand them, and the people who could give us that context are gone.  This post will give the facts of his life and mention his children. 

Loren Holbrook was born March 13, 1883 in Chicago Heights, Illinois, the second known son of Fremont and Phoebe (Phebe) Brown Holbrook.  He had an older brother, Ray, and a younger brother, Clark.  We know from the 1940 census that the highest grade of school he completed was the third year, but I don't know whether the school he attended would have been a three year or a four year high school at that time.  At any rate, I've read some of his letters and he wrote well, both expressively and with correct grammar and punctuation.  

By 1908, he was in Washington State, where he purchased land in 1911 that was on the border of Ferry and Stevens counties.  He had gone to Washington intending to invest in mines but I don't think that worked out for him.  In later life he mostly worked in the lumber industry and sawmills, eventually owning his own operation near Kettle Falls.  His estate was large enough that it made the Spokane, Washington newspapers, so he was somewhat successful.  He employed at least some indigenous men, but it's not known how large his operation was.  He had retired by the time of his death.

Etta Stanard arrived in Stevens county in 1913, to join her parents and siblings who were already there.  She taught school, and Loren courted her and won her heart quickly.  They were married August 16, 1914.

The couple had four children together.  Ray was born November 4, 1915.  He entered the Army in 1940, became a member of the First Special Service Force (known as the Black Devils) and was killed at Anzio, Italy on March 30-31 (nighttime operation), 1944.  Ray did not marry or have children.

Their second son was Howard S Holbrook, born April 18, 1918 in Colville, Washington.  He had physical and mental challenges as well as a prison record, and never married.  He died August 27, 1992.

Their first daughter was Lois Phoebe Holbrook, born January 9, 1923.  (There was a gap of five years here and I've often wondered if there was an unsuccessful pregnancy during this time.)  She married Lloyd Melcher, who became a carpenter and contractor, and the couple had four children, two of whom are living.  

The final child was Gladys May Holbrook, born November 17, 1925.  She married Richard Allen, who became a pastor, on June 28, 1947 and the couple had four children, two of whom are living.  

Loren and Etta seem to have had a good marriage for the first few years, but after the birth of Gladys their relationship deteriorated.  One reason may have been Etta's prolonged stay in Spokane, after Gladys was born, but that may also have been because there were already difficulties.  Etta filed for divorce in 1928 but that was apparently withdrawn, because she filed again in 1933.  Etta had mental issues most of her life, possibly beginning with the last pregnancy, and it would have been hard to live with a woman as confused as she sometimes was.

Loren had a housekeeper, Hannah (keeping her last name private because I don't know if her children are living) who was apparently a widow.  She lived in Loren's household for several years and the Holbrook boys knew her children well, as Loren often mentioned them in letters to Ray.  She may or may not have been a common law wife, but in Loren's will, he referred to Etta as his one and only wife.  Hannah's name was listed as wife in Loren's obituary, but she may have been the informant so that is not entirely trustworthy.  I find no record of a marriage.

Loren died October 16 or 17, 1948, on the Deer Park Highway in Spokane County.  He had suffered a heart attack and his car was wrecked, but he may never have known about the wreck.  

 I have written a fairly general, somewhat sanitized post here because living people may not want more details publicized.  However, if you are a descendant of Loren and Etta, and wish more information, please contact me and I'll be happy to help as much as I can.

This is the end of our particular line of Holbrooks, from Thomas to Thomas to Peter to Joseph to Jesse to Amariah to Nahum to Joseph to Fremont to Loren.  We are now "daughtered out", and I will start a new family next week.