Allen W. Holeman  

Albert W. Holeman -

Another frsth among our cottage residents occerred yesterday morning at 11:15 in the passing awau of A. W. Holeman of Rochester

Mr. Holeman built a cottage on Long Point three years ago and has spent his summers here and his winters in Claifornia.

His illness has been serious for some time.

He had many friends in Culver and among he summer colony who were attracted to him by his genial disposition, intelligent minf and gentle nature.

The body wint to Rochester on the evening train - Citizen 21 Aug 1911

Friday, September 1, 1911 The Rochester Sentinel

Allen W. HOLEMAN died at 11 o'clock Wednesday at his summer home at Lake Maxinkuckee. Death was due to brights [bright's] disease, from which he suffered intensely for the past few months. Dr. BABCOCK of this city, visited the sufferer almost daily and eminent specialists were called into consultation, but no relief was found.

Allen W. Holeman, only son of Isaac W. and Louisa HOLEMAN, was born in this city in 1854, and resided here continuously until a few years ago, when he retired from active business and with his family, took up his winter residence at Los Angeles, California, and spent his summers at Lake Maxinkuckee, visiting Rochester between trips to keep in touch with his extensive financial interests in this city and county.

Mr. Holeman received a common school education in this city, and at the age of 16, upon the death of his father, took up his business career, conducting a mercantile business until 1885, when he embarked in the grain business. In 1888 he established the Fulton county bank, which he conducted with signal success for several years. Mr. Holeman was united in marriage with Miss Minta CARTER and to this union two children were born. Shortly after his marriage Mr. Holeman retired from active business and devoted his entire time to the management of his investments, and to the enjoyment of his substantial income.

Mr. Holeman was a pleasant and agreeable gentleman and had a host of friends, who will share with his family a keen regret in his death. He was a member of the Red Men, Knights of Pythias, Maccabees, Ben Hur and Knights of Honor orders
---- The funeral of Allen W. HOLEMAN, who died at his summer home at Lake Maxinkuckee Wednesday morning, will be held in the Presbyterian church in this city Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Rev. WORK, formerly of Rochester, assisted by Rev. CHANDLER of the Baptist church, will officiate. The Knights of Pythias will have charge of the services. Burial will be made in I.O.O.F. cemetery. (Thursday)

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Thursday, February 22, 1912 The Rochester Sentinel
That the estate of the late Allen W. HOLEMAN, banker and capitalist and Fulton county's richest man, will be made the subject of considerable litigation in the courts, is apparent from developments made today when Andrew Tully BITTERS of this city, was appointed special administrator of the estate and given his papers by County Clerk A. E. BABCOCK. It is understood that Mr. Bitters' appointment is made upon application of contingent heirs at LaPorte and other points. The appointment will have to be confirmed by the court, and this action will be vigorously opposed by Mrs. HOLEMAN, through her attorney, Arthur METZLER.

According to reliable information, Mrs. Holeman, formerly Miss Minta CARTER, entered into a pre-nuptial contract which definitely fixed her financial future before her marriage. This was done at the request of Mr. Holeman's mother, who, while she had no particular objection to the marriage, desired to safeguard her son's ample fortune. After the death of the elder Mrs. Holeman, Mr. Holeman repudiated the contract by word and deed, and expressed his ntention of making more ample provision for his wife. The marriage of Mr. Holeman and Miss Carter was ideal in every way and conducive of great happiness to both. Two children, Nina [HOLEMAN] and Earle [HOLEMAN], were born to the union, and Mr. Holeman retired from active business and provided in every way for the comfort and pleasure of his family. They spent their winters in Los Angeles, California, the summer months at their cottage at Lake Maxinkuckee, and led a congenial and happy life as befitted people of their wealth. At no time did Mr. Holeman intimate by any word or action that he did not desire to leave his family amply provided for in case of his death. Mr. Holeman died at the summer home at Maxinkuckee last summer, and following his death a search was made for a will, which resulted in the discovery, in the old shack in the rear of the FAIR store amid rubbish and papers of no value, of the only will which has come to light so far.

This document was drawn in 1900, when the daughter, Nina, was a babe in arms and several years before the birth of the son, Earle, was dated four days after the death of Mrs. Louisa HOLEMAN, and presumably made at her suggestion. It provides that Mrs. Holeman is to have the use and benefit of certain revenues from the estate during her lifetime, and so long as she remain a widow. The children were to have the income of the estate during their lives, and if they die without issue, the estate, in fee simple, goes to certain remote relatives of Mr. Holeman, most of whom reside at LaPorte, Indiana, and Kansas City, Missouri. In the will a Mr. PORTER of LaPorte, is named as executor. Mrs. Holeman is in possession of this document. It has not been filed for probate and probably never will be, as the belief exists that Mr. Holeman left a later will, doing full justice to his immediate family, and the same has not been brought to light. This belief is strengthened by the finding of certain memorandum in a safety deposit vault setting forth his intentions to provide for the future and specifying a just and equitable division of his property. That a will was drawn upon this basis and will yet be found, is the belief of those who were in closest touch with the man, as it was wholly unlike a business man of his ability to face death during a lingering illness without making these provisions had they not already been made. The fact that the will which now threatens to cause trouble was found in a storage place for rubbish when Mr. Holeman had safety deposit vaults in two Chicago banks, in Los Angeles, California, Perry, Oklahoma, and in the First National bank of this city, further strengthens the idea that he meant to discard this kdocument [document] and substitute a fairer document in its place.

Under the terms of the will now in the hands of Mrs. Holeman there is only a remote possibility of the heirs named in it benefiting under the document, as should the Holeman children marry and raise families, the fortune would go to their heirs. Only in event of the death of Nina and Earle Holeman, before marriage, would the remote heirs come in for a share of the estate, in which case Mrs. Holeman would be left with little or nothing.

The existing will is manifestly unfair to the widow and children and contrary to Mr. Holeman's oft expressed intentions, and an effort has been made to adjust matters with the contingent heirs. All of the remote heirs have admitted the injustice of the document and several of them have expressed themselves as willing to adjust the matter in a fair and equitable manner. Negotiations of that character were pending, but from the action taken today it appears that a big legal battle will be necessary before the matter is finally settled. Mr. Metzler states that he will resist every effort to deprive Mrs. Holeman and her children of their rights, and considering the vast amount of property involved an exciting legal battle is predicted, unless the missing will turns up.