Holt Obits

Ann Graham Gaasmann wrote saying that she had recently purchased
an old Graham book on e-bay and there were clippings inside about the
Holt family, she very generously sent them to me to post on my site and
to you. There are no dates on the paper and the name of the paper is not
available...

Prominent Man Dead
Mr. W. I. Holt Passed Away In Burlington Yesterday.

Friends here will deeply sympathize with Mr. E. C. Holt, president
of the Delgado Cotton Mills, in the death of his brother, Mr. William I.

Holt, secretary and treasurer of the Lake Side Cotton Mills, Burlington,
NC. which occurred yesterday afternoon about 5 o'clock at his home in
Burlington after several months of failing health. Mr. E.C. Holt left
this morning to attend the funeral.
Mr. William Holt, who was about 45 years of age, was one of
Burlington's leading citizens. He was the son of the late Col. James
Holt, of Burlington, and grandson of the late Edwin C. Holt, who was one
of the pioneer cotton mill men in North Carolina.
Surviving Mr. Holt, besides his brother here, are Messrs. Robert and
James Holt, of Burlington; Ernest and Sam Holt, of Waco, Texas, and Mrs.

W. G. Green, of Charleston, SC. There are also several distant
relatives in Wilmington, all of whom have the tender sympathy of their
friends.

Prominent Man Dead
Mr. W. I. Holt Passed Away In Burlington Yesterday.

Friends here will deeply sympathize with Mr. E. C. Holt, president
of the Delgado Cotton Mills, in the death of his brother, Mr. William I.
Holt, secretary and treasurer of the Lake Side Cotton Mills, Burlington,
NC. which occurred yesterday afternoon about 5 o'clock at his home in
Burlington after several months of failing health. Mr. E.C. Holt left
this morning to attend the funeral.
Mr. William Holt, who was about 45 years of age, was one of
Burlington's leading citizens. He was the son of the late Col. James
Holt, of Burlington, and grandson of the late Edwin C. Holt, who was one
of the pioneer cotton mill men in North Carolina.
Surviving Mr. Holt, besides his brother here, are Messrs. Robert and
James Holt, of Burlington; Ernest and Sam Holt, of Waco, Texas, and Mrs.
W. G. Green, of Charleston, SC. There are also several distant
relatives in Wilmington, all of whom have the tender sympathy of their
friends.

 

LAST TRIBUTE PAID BY CITY TO S.R. HOLT
Hundreds Pass Bier of Man Who Gave Generously to Those in Need.
_________________________
HERE AS A BAREFOOT BOY

Worked Way to Prominence in Business and Politics From Humble Start.

Hundreds of friends, high and low, today passed the bier of Sterling
R. Holt at Flanner & Buchanan mortuary to pay their last respects to the
Democratic leader and philanthropist, who died Saturday night.
Funeral services for Mr. Holt, who was 81 years old, will be held at
10:30 Tuesday at the Scottish Rite cathedral. The body will lie in state
between 9 and 10 Tuesday at the cathedral.
The Scottish Rite funeral ritual will be presented and Dr. Abram S.
Woodard, Meridian Street M.E. church pastor, will preach the sermon.
Burial will be in Danville, with the Ancient Landmarks lodge, F. & A.
M. officiating.
___________________
Health Had Been Poor     

Death of Mr. Holt at his home, 3525 North Pennsylvania street, was
attributed to bronchial pneumonia. He had been failing in health for
several years, but his condition was not regarded as critical until a
few days ago.
Mr. Holt was one of the city's most generous philanthropists, aiding
many needy families, but always shunning publicity.
"Mr. Holt contributed baskets of groceries and other necessities
each week to many families," said Captain Otto Ray, one of Mr. Holt's
many friends.
"He always was very quiet about charity work, only those closely
connected with him knew of his philanthropy."
One of Mr. Holt's admirers today recalled an incident in which Mr.
Holt was named a member of an election recount commission.
"When Mr. Holt arrived at the place where the recount was to be held
he found the other member of the commission had disappeared with the
keys to the ballot boxes," he said.
___________________
Smashed Ballot Box        
 
"Fearing chicanery, Mr. Holt first called in a number of witnesses.
Then he obtained an ax, smashed the ballot boxes and conducted the
recount himself."
In addition to his private charity activities, Mr. Holt donated the
echo organ to the Scottish Rite cathedral, gave $15,000 to the North
M.E. church for purchase of an organ, $40,000 to Butler university and
$10,000 to Wabash college.
Born in Graham, N.C. Mr. Holt received a meager education, then
worked on a farm until he came to Indianapolis when he was 19.
He walked part of the way, in his bare feet, arriving with $16 and a
letter of recommendation signed by Thomas Stafford, a merchant, which
Mr. Holt preserved and had framed. It read: "This is to certify
that Sterling R. Holt is an honest, industrious,
steady boy of strictly moral and temperate habits. Can do anything he
may say he can do, and perfectly reliable in every respect, having been
acquainted with him for several years."
____________________
Received $12 a Month      
 
While working at his first job here, for which he received $12 a
month, Mr. Holt attended business college. In 1872, he obtained a
clerical position with Muir & Foley, dry goods merchants. Three years
later, he acquired enough money to establish a drug store at 164 West
Washington street.
In 1880, he and a group of associates formed the Indianapolis Ice
Company, later organizing the Holt Ice and Cold Storage Company,
retiring from this business in 1928.
Mr. Holt during his life took an active part in Democratic politics.
He became Democratic state chairman in 1895, resigning a few months
later because he was unwilling to support the candidacy of William
Jennings Bryan on the "free silver" platform.
From 1889 to 1893 he served as safety board president, in the
administration of Thomas L. Sullivan, father of the present mayor. He
was Marion county treasurer in 1893 and 1894, declining renomination.
__________________
Served Under Slack      
 
He served as city controller in the administration of former Mayor
L. Ert Slack, continuing to hold the post until several months after
Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan took office, when ill health forced his
resignation.
During the last few years he had devoted most of his time to
management of his estate, to operation of his farm on the Rockville road
and to his charitable activities.
He was married to Miss Mary Gregg, Danville, Nov. 18, 1874. She
died in 1920. Surviving him are a brother, Isaac Holt, Graham, N.C.,
and two half brothers, Charles Holt, Graham, and Joseph E. Holt,
Indianapolis.
_______________________
Belonged to Many Groups       

Mr. Holt Was a member of the Meridian Street M.E. church,
Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, Board of Trade, Indianapolis Athletic
Club, Art Association, Ancient Landmarks lodge, Keystone chapter of
Royal Arch Masons, Raper Commandery of Knights Templar, Indiana
Consistory of Scottish Rite, Murat Temple of Mystic Shrine, Knights of
Pythias No. 56 and B.P.O.E. No. 13.
Active pallbearers will be John T. Saulter, Vincent V. Smith, Ralph
K. Smith, Arthur R. Baxter, Edward B. Raub, Edward J. Scoonover, William
H. Morrison Jr. and Marshall T. Levey.

Second Newspaper Obit for Sterling R. Holt.

CAPITALIST

Sterling R. Holt, present City Controller of Indianapolis,
capitalist, and former treasurer of the Holt Ice and Cold Storage
Company, was born at Graham, Alamance County, North Carolina, on March
26, 1850. He is the son of Seymour P. and Nancy A. Holt. Like other
southern families, they suffered the ravages of the Civil war, and as
Mr. Holt was at that time of school age, he was deprived of many of the
advantages which he would otherwise have enjoyed.
He managed, however, to secure a limited education in the county of
his birth, later working on a farm near home until he came to
Indianapolis in 1869 at the age of nineteen. His early years are models
of industry and frugality. By 1875 he had saved enough capital to
establish a drug story at 164 West Washington street. After a period of
seven prosperous years he sold his interest in this business.
In the meantime, for four years, Mr. Holt had been in the ice
business. In 1880 with other parties, he organized the Indianapolis Ice
Company. Eighth years later a division of the business placed Mr. Holt
in charge of the wholesale department. The business grew; acquired
interests in ice companies in other Indiana towns and cities, and
finally became known as the Holt Ice and Cold Storage Company. He
finally disposed of his interests in the company bearing his name during
the fall of 1928.
He has been active in Democratic politics, having held both elective
and appointive offices. During the years 1893 to (1985 crossed out and
1895 written in) he was County Treasurer.
Mr. Holt has been a member of L. of P. Lodge No. 56 for 52 years;
B.P.O.E. No, 13 for 37 years; Ancient Landmarks No. 319, F. and A.M. for
31 years; Scottish Rite for 31 years; Murat Temple for 20 years and a
life member there since December 18, 1911; Indianapolis Board of Trade
for 39 years, and the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce for 37 years.
He was appointed to the office of City Controller on November 12,
1927.

FILE S.R. HOLT WILL
Estate of $300,000 Left by City Philanthropist.

Estate of $300,000 was left by Sterling R. Holt. Democratic leader
and philanthropist, who died Dec. 19 17 his home, 3525 North
Pennsylvania street, according to a will to be offered for probate today
before Judge Smiley N. Chambers.
The will, to be filed by Michael Foley, attorney, and Walter S.
Ballinger, 5217 North Meridian street, lists the estate at $215,000 in
personal property and $85,000 in real estate.
Two nephews, J.S. Holt, mayor of Graham (N.C.), and F.S. Holt, of the
same city, were to witness the filing.
Holt, who succumbed to a long illness, was city controller under
former Mayor L. Ert Slack and served in the same office during part of
the administration of Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan.
 

    
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Created May 12, 2002