The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-24
\ Remarkable Old uan Dead.
Sir Isaac Holden II dead at the az

Of 50.
Sir Isaac Holden at the time Of his
retirement from political life two years
ago was the Oldest and probably the
richest member OF the house OF cons-
mons, and he was certainly one OF the
most remarkable men In the United
Kingdom He was born at Paisley, In
Scotland. In 1907. His origin was very
humble. his father being a working
miner. too poor to keep him at school.
So he was put at work to earn his own
living at the early age of 10, when he
was made an apprentice to a shawl
weaver. But removal from school only
stimulated his ardor for knowledge,
and he managed to attend evening
classes when working as an operative
in q cotton mill some fourteen hours
a day. His studies enabled hin to
accept a position as teacher. and it
was while serving in that capacity
that he bestowed upon the world a
great benefit, which was. however.
slight benefit to him. This was the
invention Of the lucifer match which
he came upon Unexpectedly while
making some chemical experiments
for the instruction Of his pupils. Other
men took up the discovery, IN he
made nothing put of it.
In time he gave up the ferrule and
became a bookkeeper with a York
shire manufacturing firm. This was
the turning point Of his life, for while.
working at his ledgers and journals
his mind went back to his shawl weav-
ing apprenticeship, and he became in
terested in the manufacture Of woollen
cloth, and sought to construct a ma
chine for carding the wool. For years
he studied the problem, making many
apparently fruitless experiments. All
his savings from his salary We're given
to the enterprise. The friends to whom
he confided his scheme looked with
little favor upon it. But his perse-
varance-ard genius finally triumph
ed, and he completed and perfected a
carding machine which has revnlu-
ionize1 the wool industry Of the world.
Happily, he secured letters patent upon
ne irNention, and as q result hand
some profits soon came to him He
established mills in Yorkshire, literally
erecting large centres Of industry.
He also built several mills in France.
For many years his income from them
was enormous, averaging probably
s. 10000 a year. His French mills
We're founded in partnership with Dir.
c. Lister, the famous silk king" of
and were situated a. ST. ]
Denis. Rheims, and Croix. He dis
ed the partnership with Mr.. his |
ter in 1855, after it had lasted nearly |,
years, and then TIE present |
ed.
Mr.. Holden entered political life in |
1865, when he was elected for Knares-
borough, which he represented until
1868. In that year and again in 1872
and 1874 he was defeated. He re-en-
parliament in 1882, when he was
at a bye-election in the
northern division Of the west riding
Of Yorkshire, after the assassination
held the seat. On the redistribution
# seats he became the member for the
Keighley division of the west riding, |
held that seal until the general
of 1895, when he withdrew
rom public life. He was always a de-
7oted liberal in politics, being describ-
ID as "a monomaniacal Gladstonian."
He was IN advanced reformer,
specially upon land questions. He ad-
the breaking down of all bar
'iers, both of taxation and intercom-
nunication, between nations, n was
an ardent supporter Of the
scheme for constructing a
under the straits Of Dover.
the queens birthday, in 1898, he
vas created a baronet.
Sir Isaac was an ardent Methodist.
He became a local preacher among
he Westleyans, but, though promi-
lent, was never popular, being strong
Y %puritanic, often bitter, and always
stern" Like many m~illionaires his
habits We're as simple as those Of the
paid clek in his employ.
Throughout his whole life he had
never missed a days exercise, unless
indeed, he was confined to bed. Eight
niles a day was his constitutional"
walk, rain or shine, hot or cold. No
how busy he may have been
,r how many hours he had to work,
le always too time for such a walk,
continued to do so ever after he
had reached the g Of 85.-Philadel-
)hia Evening Telegraph.