The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-05-07
SOCRATES OF FORT GIBSON RICH.
EST MAN IN OKLAHOMA
Bert Love n Ardmore (Okla.) Ard
moreite

m0relte
]. s. Holden died Monday morning.
He was known as the Socrates of
Fort Gibson" He had lived in this
world eighty years. They were eighty
years of usefulness to mankind. Mr..
Holden was very rich man. He was
a philanthropist, giving freely of his
riches to any such as would accept.
Many persons, some rich, some poor
IN worldly goods, have been made bet
ter and happier because of the things
Mr.. Holden gave them out of his album
dant wealth.
j. ). Holden was a country editor.
What-and very rich man? Yes, one
or the very richest men this writer has
known In measurably wide acquaint-
ance with all sorts and conditions of
men. He ran little country weekly,
the Fort Gibson New Era. He was
editor and publisher reporter, type
setter, pressman and ALL In all prob
ability he made only bare living out
times when the working stan himself
and hik good wife-drew little or no
bay fo1 the weeks toll Nevertheless
J. s. Holden was very rich man.
Mr. Holden was rich in simple hui
man kindness. He had accumulated,
along the eighty-year path, mighty
mass of human good will. His wealth
thereof was heaped high, and he gave
of it to those with whom he came in
contact. When he died the other day
there was enough of his accumulation
left to make most respectable show
ing as an estate in the probate court
of Almighty God.
The brotherhood of man and the ia
therhood of God was the creed of "the
S crates of Fort Gibson" He taught
his creed and he lived his creed. He
nHyer was anything of Joiner" He
Joined, when he was born, the human
race, and for him that was sufficient
membership. His life-devotion was to
the human race in toto. Therefore he
could not become, conscientiously, a
member of any secret or society which
limited his larger membership and af-
fiIiation.
]. S. Holden used no alcohol or
narcotic stimulants. He is said never
&c have uttered a profane word. He
was not, however, a "reformer' in any
sense. Nevertheless, through his eX-
ample of plain and simple living and
of constant practice of the actual
teachings of the Nazarine. he eXerted
upon all those with whom he came in
contact an influence for human better
mcnt.
This Fort Gibson Socrates never
evolved any new system of philosophy,
never produced any great literature;
but he knew systems of philosophy
and he knew great literature. His
home adjoining his little old-time
printshop was a storehouse the best
books of all time. While setting type
for his weekly edition, this octogenari-
an could talk with you about Socrates
and Plato and Marcus Aurelius and
knew their works; he could discuss
the history of ancient Rome and
Greece, having read the history books
of the masters.
This man. who voted for Abraham
Lincoln for the presidency, knew and
admired Robert E. Lee and Jefferson
Davis. He was a personal friend of
Robert G. Ingersoll and of Gilbert Hub
bard. Such men as these were aware
of his worth-of his wealth; and
som OF them admitted that they had
the unofficial custodian of Indian Ter
ritory relics and historic here. He
loved to talk about the distinguished
men who in past years had visited or
sojourned at Fort Gibson, and he had
upon his list of friends present-day oil
millionaires who appreciated and ad-
mired him for his sterling honesty and
good citizenship.
One Of the humblest representatives
Of America iounaiisrp. J. s. Holden