The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-08-18
NOLAN At HOME.
The MAJ Who Won the Title Of tho
Great Obtector Among His Seighbors.

little business town OF Dearborn county, In
southeastern Indiana Its residents call 1t q
city, and it has mayor and all the requisite
adjuncts Il municipal government Over
looking this little city from the w,St rises
hill which long ago was given the name
"Vae Restans-"the home If man On its
summit is ths home Of Hon William s. Hol-
man, Of whom the country has heard but lit
tie Of INTO. MIR. Holman has lived there all
his life, having been born q short
quarter Of mile from the site Of his
present residence, which Is an old fash
ionsd, comfortable and home like place,
two stories high, with verandas in front,
giving wLi sweeping panorama Of the
Ohio valley. The view looking up the
river can see the Great Miami, across the
river his eyes look over the beautiful hills Of
Kentucky, and northward and westward in
Indiana he sees the most charming prospect
in hills and valleys with interlacing little
water courses like threads Of silver weaving
in the green Of wood and field. This old
fashioned residence is about coo feet above
the Ohio but is not always observable from
Aurora on account of the trees
Judge Holman lives plainly but with open
handed hospitality. He is thoroughly demo-
cratic in his manners and knowssmore men
in his congressional district than any man
who has ever lived in it. He is agreeably
chatty and pleasantly informal with every
one and has an especially strong grip on the
young men. He has charming way Of slip
ing his hand under ones arm while walking
and in conversation, and does it so eesily
that even to the new acquaintance it seems
the most natural thing in the world for the
great objector to do. In his social relations
he makes no distinction between men of re-
spectability, whether they be rich or poor.
When he gets back to Aurora after an alb
sence in Washington and steps upon the
street all men, women and children are
ready TO shake hands with him. He knows
everybody and seems to have a personal in
terest in everybody's family affairs, asking
after every one down to the smallest chill
dren. A large part of the young male popu-
lation of the district have been named after
him by admiring fathers. In Aurora Judge
Holman drops in anywhere, the saddler
shop, drug store, bakery or grocery where
the gossips most frequent and there listens
with the keenest zest to the annals Of the
By this means he is thor
oughly conversant with what is going on for
miles around, and he has time and again sur
prised his friends as well as his political ad-
versaries by his intimate knowledge Of local
incidents
He is a man Of wonderful individual eff
fort in his political movements, relying
largely upon his knowledge of men and his
ability to gain their favor Never on any
occasion has he been known to fail to recog-
nize q man whom he has seen before, or to be
able to call up in conversation with him
some incident or circumstance attending
their former meeting. His memory of names
and faces is a continual surprise even to
those most intimate with him. He never
sights the Republicans Of his district, and
during his numerous canvasses has managed
to eat meal or stay all night with every one
Of them. In the town Of Aurora, through
all his career, he has been able to retain un-
the support Of from 100 to $50
positive Republicans, who vote for him un
der any and all circumstances.
He is exceedingly generous to the poor and
needy, giving sometimes to those who, from
old acquaintanceship, he thinks have closer
hold upon him much beyond what he should,
as his means are limited. He has really lost
money by being in public office, as he would
have made money in his profession as a
lawyer AS an attorney at law, he is con-
sidered the best trial lawyer in southeastern
Indiana, and really without a superior in the
state In religion he is a Baptist his father
before him, Jesse l.. Holman, having been a
Baptist preacher and a man of great force of
character. While a Baptist preacher he was
made judge of the supreme court Of Indi-
ana; later he was appointed President
Jackson judge of the United States district
court for Indiana, and died while holding
that office. -
When at home on his little hill farm Of
forty acres Judge Holman devotes most of
MS time to horticulture in which he is
great enthusiast, priding himself upon his
grapes and fruits, and no praise can reach
him quite as effectively as to extol the quail
ty Of these products. 1t is little farm, but
by its owner it is looked upon as slice right
out of the center of Eden, and no amount of
money could buy III.
Judge Holman's career affords great fund
Of anecdotes for his political associates. but
none are ever told that do not carry with
them feeling Of good fellowship. During
canvass some years ago the judge was riding
by the premises Of poor tenant farmer on
his way to a schoolhouse where he was to
speak. The farmer was in the yard, doctor
ing sick COW. The judge offered his assist
ance, and between the two the cow died.
At the meeting he related the incident
and pleaded for a subscription for the
benefit of the COW owner. He headed
It with s. and succeeded in getting $50
more. That election district and township
went for the judge although it had been be-
fore strongly Republican. By a neat appeal
TO the Judge he once secured an extra days
pay for jury that had defeated him at
trial Some years ago he and Tom Browne
were having joint discussions in a congress
,ional race Browne always Travelled in the
ladies' car, but Holman preferred the smoker,
IS it brought him near the stations at every
stop. He would jump on to the platform
and greet as many passengers as possible,
leaving Browne to the enjoyment of his lux
nries. 1t was in 1876 that the people Of his
district were in doubt as to whom Holman
or Cooper. He could never
b led into an avowal That year he and
Browne were again on tour Of Joint discus
has frN tba