The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-12-21
LAST TRIBUTE
PAID BY CITY
TO 5. R. HOLT
Hundreds Pass Bier of Man
Who Gave Generously to
Those in Need.
HERE AS BAREFOOT BOY
Worked Way to Prominence
in Business and Politics
From Humble Start.

/ VII AlOfttAt& 0ANAt ~
Hundreds of friends, high and
low, today passed the bier of Ster-
/ ling r. Holt at Flanner 81 Buchanan
mortuary to pay their last respects
to the Democratic leader and phi
lanthropist, who died Saturday
night.
Funeral services for Mr.. Holt, who
was 81 years old. will be held at
1920 Tuesday at the Scottish Rite
cathedral. The body will lie in
state between 9 and 10 Tuesday at
the cathedral.
The Scottish Rite funeral ritual
will be presented and Dr. Abram s.
Woodland, Meridian Street M E.
church pastor, will preach the SER
mon.
Burial will be in Danville, with
the Ancient Landmarks lodge. F.
IL A. M, officiating.
Health Had Been Poor
Death of Mr.. Holt at his home,
1926 North Pennsylvania street, was
attributed to bronchial pneumonia.
He had been falling in health fer
several years, but his condition was
not regarded as critical until few
days ago.
Mr.. Holt was one Of the city's
most generous philanthropists, aid
ing may needy families, out always
stunning publicity.
Mr.. Holt contributed baskets of
groceries and other necessities each
week to many families" said Cap
tain Otto Ray, one of Mr.. Hollis
many friends.
He always was very quiet about
charity work, only those closely con-
nected with him knew of his phil
anthropy."
One of Mr.. Hollis admirers today
recalled an incident in which Mr..
Holt was named member of an
election recount commission.
When Mr.. Holt arrived at the
place where the recount was to be
held he found the other member of
the commission had disappeared
with the keys to the ballot boxes, :"
he said.
Smashed Ballot Box
Fearing chicanery, Mr.. Holt first
called in a number of witnesses.
Then he obtained an ak, smashed
the ballot boxes and conducted the
recount himself"
In addition to his private charity
activities, Mr.. Holt donated the echo
crgan to the Scottish Rite cathedral,
gave $4,000 to the North M. E.
church for purchase of an organ,
$4,000 to Butler university and
$4,000 to Wabash college.
Born in Graham, N. c., Mr.. Holt
received a meager education, then
worked on farm until he came to
Indianapolis when he was 10.
Ha walked part of the way. In
4 his bare feet, arriving with SIS and
a letter of recommendation signed
by Thomas Stafford, a merchant,
which Mr.. Holt preserved and had
framed. 1t read
This is to certify that Sterling
r. Holt is an honest, industrious,
steady boy of strictly moral and
temperate habits. Can do anything
he may say he can do, and perfectly
reliable in every respect, having
been acquainted with him for sew
eral years
Received $12 Month
While working at his first Job
here, for which he received S12 a
month, Mr.. Holt attended business
college. In 1872, he obtained a
clerical position with Muir & Foley,
dry goods merchants. Three years
later he acquired enough money
to establish drug store at 1854
West Washington street.
In 1880. he and a group of as
sociates formed the indianapolis
Ice Company, later organizing the
Holt Ice and Cold Storage Com
pany, retiring from this business in
1928.
Mr.. Holt during his life took an
active part in Democratic politics
He became Democratic state
chairman in 1895, resigning a few
months later because he was I'M
willing to support the candidacy
of William Jennings Bryan on the
free silver" platform.
From 1889 to 1893 he served as
safety board president, in the adj
ninistra ton of Thomas L. Sullivan
father of the present mayor. He
was Marion county treasurer in 1898
and 1894. declining denomination.
Served Under Slack
He served as city controller in the
administration of former Mayor L
Ert Slack, continuing to hold the
post until several months aftel
Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan tool
office, when i'll health forced hi
resignation.
During the last few years he haC
devoted most of his time to mr.
/ agement of his estate, to opera
of his farm on the Rockville Il
and to his charitable activities.