Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 4.djvu/588

of the mills on the Haw has never ceased, no strike or lockout has ever disturbed the friendly and loving relations of employer and workman, and after a peaceful warfare of thirty years, this commander of industry had the satisfaction before his death of seeing, near at hand, the defeat of New England by the South, without blood shed or hatred, under the laws of the nation, and for the good of the whole people. The plants at Haw River are owned almost exclusively by Governor Holt’s sons and sons-in-law. Near the town which he built, adjoining the mills, he had a handsome residence, but his favorite place was Linwood, the famous plantation where he raised fine stock and the wheat which won the medal at the Columbian exposition. His devotion to agriculture was also attested by many years service as president of the State agricultural society and his prominence in the establishment of the agricultural department of the State government. In railroad development also he had been conspicuous, as a director of the North Carolina railroad from 1869 and president from 1875 until 1891. In official life he also attained the highest honors. When only twenty-one years of age he became a magistrate, at that time an office of much honor, and was chairman of the board of finance of his county. From 1872 to 1876 he was chairman of the board of county commissioners, being elected without regard to party lines, and he then became State senator. In 1883, 1885 and 1887 he was a member of the house of representatives, was speaker of the house in 1885, and in 1888 was elected lieutenant-governor. Upon the death of Governor Fowle, in April, 1891, he became governor of the State, an office in which he manifested great ability and the highest patriotism. He was also a leader in the promotion of education, greatly aided the State university and Davidson college, and in 1895 received from the university the degree of LL. D. Governor Holt was married in October, 1855, to Louisa M., daughter of Samuel and Mary A. (Bethel) Moore, and became the father of five children: Charles T., Cora M., Louise M., Ella M., wife of Charles B. Wright, of Wilmington, and Thomas M., Jr., deceased. Charles T. Holt, eldest son of the foregoing, was born in Rockingham county, N. C., in 1858, and was educated at Davidson college. Going to Massachusetts, he served an apprenticeship as a machinist, and