Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 05.djvu/348

 HOLT

HOLTON

health. He made extended tours in Europe and the east, 1848-49 and 1830-51. He supported the candidacy of Franklin Pierce in ISoS, of James Buchanan in IS.lfi. and of Stephen A. Douglas in 1860. He removed to Washington, D.C., in 1857; was commissioner of ^^"^^y'^^,^ patents, 1857-59; post-

master-general, as successor to Aaron V. Brown, deceased, 185^-00; and secre- tary of war, as suc- cessor to John B. Floyd, resigned. 1860- 61. He provided against hostile de- monstrations during the inauguration of President Lincoln, and ably supported the government in providing for the de- fence of the national capitol, and in putting down insurrection in every instance. He denied the right of secession and published extensively a letter written to Joshua F. Speed, of Louisville, Ky., logically proving his position by the utter- ances of southern statesmen and journalists. On Sept. 3, 1862. President Lincoln appointed him judge advocate of the army, and, in 1864, judge- advocate-general of the newly created bureau of military justice with the rank of brigadier- general. He approved of the emancipation proc- lamation of Jan. 1, 1863, and of the acceptance of former slaves as volunteers in the Federal army. He declined the cabinet position of at- torney-general, made vacant by the resignation of Edward Bates in November, 1864. He also de- clined the cabinet position of secretary of war, tendered liim hy President Grant. He conducted the trials of Gen. Fitz-John Porter, charged with disobedience of orders, and of tiie assassins of President Lincoln. He was brevetted major- general in the U.S. army, March 13, 1865, "for faithful, meritorious and distinguished services in the bureau of military justice during the war" and was placed on the retired list at his own re- quest, Dec. 1, 1875, being over sixty-two years old. He di.'d in Wasliington. D.C., Aug. 1, 1894. HOLT, Thomas Michael, governor of North Carolina, was lx)rn in Alamance county, N.C., July 15, 1831; son of Edwin M. (1807-84). and Emily (Farish) Holt, and grandson of Michael Holt and of Thomas and Fannie (Banks) Farish. He was prepared for college at Caldwell institute, Hillsboro, N.C., and entered the sophomore class of the University of North Carolina in June, 1849, but was not graduated. As he had decided to devote his life to mercantile and manufacturing

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pursuits, he was sent to Pliiladelphia to learn mercantile business, and afterward became as- sociated with his father in cotton manufacturing, wliich grew to be one of the most important en- terprises of the state. He was married ju 1855, to Louise, daughter of Samuel and Marj- A. B. Moore. He was elected a county com- missioner in 1872 and 1874: a state senator in 1876: and a mem- ber of the state house of representatives in 1882, 1884 and 1886, being speaker in 1884. He became a director in the North Carolina railroad company in 1869, and was presi- dent of the company, 1876-96. In 1888 lie was elected lieutenant governor of North Caro- lina, presiding over the state senate in the ses- sions of 1889-91, and on the death of Gover- nor Fowle, Ajnil 8, 1891, he became acting governor, serving until 1893, when he was suc- ceeded by Elias Carr. He was a trustee of Davidson college and of the University of North Carolina, 1883-96, and president and chief finan- cial supporter of the State Agricultural so- ciety, 1872-96. He received the degree of LL.D. from the University of North Carolina in 1895. He died at Haw River, N.C., April 11, 1896.

HOLTON, Samuel, representative, was born in Salem Village (Dan vers), Mass., June 9, 1738; .son of Samuel and Hannah (Gardner) Holton; grandson of Henry Holton, and great-grand- son of Joseph Houlton, of Salem Village, who was born about 1621, and died May CO, 1705. He became a physician , and prac- tised in his native place. He was a rep- resentative in the general court of Massachu- setts, 1768-76; a delegate to the Essex County convention of J 774; a member of the Provin- cial congresses of 1774 and 1775; a member of the committee of safety in 1776, and of the superior executive council. He was a dele- gate to the convention to frame the Confed- eration of 1777; a delegate to the Continental

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t 785-1788.