West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-03-30
Judge Holt Dead

ehC"A az NhG ROAAANal anu ltkdl GlI~
cles OF West Virginia. and for many
years Judge in the Circuit court here.
passed peacefully away Saturday night
at his home in Elkins after a linger-
ing illness.
Judge Holt was first stricken with
paralysis in December, 1912, and from
that time had been an invalid. He re-
covered somewhat after his first stroke
but some months later received a sec
ond stroke and has since been grad
ually declining in health. Some two
years ago his wife purchased property
in Elkins and removed there, where
he died.
The remains were taken to Grafton
for interment in Bluemont cemetery
Monday afternoon a brief funeral
ceremony was held at the Grafton St
Paul's NJ. +. church on the West Side.
the church with which Judge Holt was
long identified and with which he was
prominently connected in it's founding
| The remains will be held at the under
| taking parlors of Perine, Bartlett &
Company until the arrival of his son,
Lieut.. John Homer Holt, Jr., who was
with his naval ship at sea when he re-
ceived the news of his fathers death
He was born i'm Glenville, Gilmer
| county. on June 9. 1856, and was the
| son of Alfred T. Holt. After obtaining
an academic training in the old Pres
ton academy at Kingwood, he taught
| school for several terms. The law,
however, had fascination for him and
he entered upon its study in the office
| of Hon. William G.. Brown and George
II. McGrew. He completed his studies
and was admitted TO the Preston coun-
/ ty bar I'm 1873 He practiced law at
the county seat until 1880. and on Feb
ruary 10, 1881. located in Grafton,
where with the exception of two years,
during which he practiced in Wash
ington, d. c.. he remained until 1912
He was a Republican i'm political
faith and practice. He was active in
the party and I'm 1878 was elected a
member of the legislature OF West
Virginia from Preston county. He was
| chairman of the state convention that
met in Huntington in 1892 and nomi-
mated the Hon. Thomas f. Davis for
| governor. He was prominently be-
fore the convention at Elkins that
nominated Aston G.. Dayton for Con-
| gress in 1894, and received the solid
support of his county in that contest,
but, after the nomination had been
made, acquiesced i'm the action OF the
convention and was one of Dayton's
strongest supporters in the campaign
which followed.
In 1896 he was nominated by the Re
publicans for their candidate for pros
ecuting attorney for Taylor county af-
ter a spirited contest and was MAX
ing strong campaign for his election
and the success of his party when he
was called upon some few weeks be-
fore the election in November in that
year by the State and Judicial execu-
tive committees OF the Republican par
ty to become the party candidate for
Judge of the Circuit court in order to
heal up the breach made by the con-
tending forces under two leaders, both
OF whom claimed the nomination
This division was settled by the selec-
ton lawyer, accepting the nomination
extended him by the committees and
he became the compromise candidate
for Judge of the Circuit court of the
old Third district, the largest judicial
circuit in the state, comprising the
counties Of Preston, Taylor, Barbour
Randolph and TuckeT. He was easily
elected and served the full term of
eight years as judge of this circuit in
brilliant manner, winning for himself
recognition as a forceful, conscien-
tious and able administrator of the
law. He was renOminated in 1904 and
reelected and in 1912 retired from of
flee after serving 16 years as Circuit
court Judge of this state.
Judge Holt was one of the strongest
campaigners and political orators of
his party in West Virginia He was
prominently urged by his friends at
various times as a splendid candidate
for Congress and in one convention Of
the party he came within a fraction of
one vote of securing the nomination
for that office. He was prominent in
the councils of the Methodist Episco-
pal church and served at different
times as a lay delegate to many state
and national conferences of this
church. He was among the promi-
nent members of the St Paul's church
and was one OF those who were large
ly instrumental I'm constructing this
fine edifce.
On February %, 1886, he was mar
ried to Marie Isabella CLANCY, daugh-
ter Of Andrew w. Clancy, OF Anna
polls Md. To their union was born
eight children. four Of whom survive
and are now grown to maturity in the
persons Of Lieut.. John Homer Holt.
Jr.. Y. s. ~, Mrs Charles Davis, Mrs
Rex Nuzum and James Cornelius Holt.
the three latter residing I'm Grafton
In May. 1910. his first wife died in
hospital al Baltimore after a long and
lingering illness
On November 4 1911. Judge Holt
was married to Miss Mamie Brown Of
| Beverley. Randolph county, and his
widow survives him after having ten
DERBY cared for him through the long
course Of his last illness, extending
over a period Of two and a half years
Re Is also survived by one brother.