Randolph Holding was founder of the township of Holding organized  in 1870 and the village of Holdings' ford or  He was the first permanent white settler of the township that bears his name.
  Mr. Holding was born in McHenry County, Illinois on July 27, 1844, came to Minnesota in 1861, settling in Clearwater, he served in the Eighth Minnesota Regiment, 1862-65, he engaged in the freighting from St. Cloud to the Red River 1866-68 Having taken claim on the site of the present village in May 1868.  He was elected the first Town clerk, had a general store, The Holdings Ford post office was established September 16, 1872  with Holding  first post master, he also represented Holding township for two terms in the State legislature.   About 1895 Mr. Holding and his family moved to Ransom , North Dakota where he operated a large farm, a general store and was postmaster.  He died at his home in Ransom, N. D. He was 71 years old and was survived b y his wife and three sons.  
  In 1894 the name of the Post Office was changed to Holdingford Feburary 18,1894 with Valentine Batz as postmaster.