Thomas Michael HOLT, Governor of N.C.1891-1893 Thomas Michael HOLT, born 15 July 1831, in Orange County, N.C. the second son born to Edwin Michael and Emily FARRISH HOLT. The house that he was born in is now the home of the Alamance County Historical Museum on highway #62 South of the Community of "Alamance". Thomas married Louisa MOORE In 1858 Thomas and his father Edwin HOLT bought the Trollinger Mills in Haw River. In 1861 Thomas HOLT bought out his father's interest in Granite Mill and moved to Haw River from the Community of Alamance. Thomas HOLT served as president of the North Carolina Railroad. Elected as county commissioner in 1876. Served in the N.C. State Senate from 1876 to 1877, and was elected to the N.C. House three consecutive times, in 1883, 1885, and 1887. While Speaker of the House in the session of 1885, he tried to get a bill passed to reduce working hours without reduction in pay. The bill failed, Thomas HOLT and his brother Lawrence HOLT reduced the working hours in their mills from 72 to 66 hours per week. In 1888 he was selected as a candidate for Lieutenant Governor to run with Daniel G. FOWLE. When FOWLE died in the second year of his term, Thomas HOLT succeeded to the governorship and served from 1891 to 1893. At the end of this term, HOLT'S health was failing so he did not run for re-election, returning back to Haw River where he died on 11 April 1896. In the last years of his life he was referred to in Alamance County as "The Governor" Thomas HOLT with his wife Louisa Moore HOLT, and her brother, Adolphus MOORE, donated land and built a one room building to be used for a church, later called Holt's Chapel. Today this church is Haw River Methodist. When Thomas HOLT'S corpse was being taken from his home "The Governors Mansion" on present day Holt Street in Haw River, to Linwood Cemetery in Graham, N.C. for burial. The mill bells are said to have tolled for one hour continuously to show respect for their "Governor HOLT". Sources: Alamance County Historical Society