The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1899-08-24
4 PIONEER GONE.
Death of CAPTAIN Holton-A Sudden Taking
Off Of a Prominent Citizen.

Charles NJ. Iolton died on Monday
night at 10 o'clock at his home on Mob
Hill, of angina pectoris, or heart disease.
He was in town on Friday and Saturday
and his family physician, DR.. Fletcher
warned him that his condition required
to send for his wife who was visiting her
daughter, Mrs. Merry, at Rosslsnd, b.
G. She was telegrsphed for and arrived
at his bedside before the dread summons
came. Captain Holton was an inveterate
smoker and DR.. Fletcher believes he
weakened his heart action by constant
smoking. The funeral occurred at the
family residence on Mob Hill yesterday
evening. Rev. j. II. Condit oificated
in the absence of Rev Dent. The re-
mains were expressed last night TO Bat
tlecreek, Michigan, care of Captain Hol-
toms brother, on the arrival OF his
only surviving child, Mrs. Merry, from
Rossland, to which place she was tele
graphed on Tuesday.
Captain Holton was born in New York
state in 1888 and WAS therefore 81 years
of age. He was appointed by President
Garfield o ne OF commission of three to
open the Indian reservation at The
Dalles, Oregon, in 1879. He subse-
quently served as a clerk in the land
office at Walla Walla and Yakima City.
1t was at the latter place he purchased
the Record, then owned by "Chad," as
he was Familiarity known. The captain
named the plant The Republican and it
bore that title until about 1889, when it
was changed to its present name of Re-
public, and passed eventually from under
his control.
On October c5, 1880. Captain Holton
homesteaded a tract of land in sec. 24-15-
IS, adjoining on the west the present
townsite of North Yakima. This tract
he subsequently sold for $33. 600 to the
Ontario Land company, reservlng ten
acres and house for his homestead. He
invested largely of his means in Fair
haven and Tacoma and the taxes there
kept him comparatively poor financially.
He lost his only boy, Jay, in 1889, who
was buried in the family vault at Battle
Creek, Michigan. In early days the cap
tain served as department commander OF
w sshington and Alaska q. A. X. and he
was also member OF the Loyal Legion.
He served in the civil war as lieutenant
OF Michigan cavalry and after the battle
OF Gettysburg was promoted to cap
taincy. He was married to his present
widow, formerly Mary +. Thistler, in
Michigan IN the year 1864, and after his
marriage engaged in the practice OF law
in Iowa City.
| In 1892 he was appointed by President
Harrison as commercial agent at Swan
sea, Wales, where he served four years
Arthur Sperry, of Washington City, a
cousin of our present postmaster, being
his private secretary. During this time
his daughter formed a life attachment
| tor her present husband, II. +. b. Merry,
who came to Yakima to marry her after
the expiration of Captain Holton's term
of office. Mr.. Merry is now engaged as
mining expert in the famous LIE Roi mine
at Rosslands.
Captain Holton was a man of pro-
nounced political convictions, being
staunch republican. A faithful member
of the Congregational church, his de-
pertinent was severe in its uprightness.
His friendships we're steadfast and he
was noted for sterling honesty Of char
acter.
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