Ann Graham Gaasmann wrote saying that she had recently purchased an old Graham book on e-bay and there were clippings inside about the Holt family, she very generously sent them to me to post on my site and to you. There are no dates on the paper and the name of the paper is not available... This is the first one of five... The other three are about Sterling R. Holt. LAST TRIBUTE PAID BY CITY TO S.R. HOLT Hundreds Pass Bier of Man Who Gave Generously to Those in Need. _________________ HERE AS A BAREFOOT BOY ____________________ Worked Way to Prominence in Business and Politics >From Humble Start. Hundreds of friends, high and low, today passed the bier of Sterling R. Holt at Flanner & Buchanan mortuary to pay their last respects to the Democratic leader and philanthropist, who died Saturday night. Funeral services for Mr. Holt, who was 81 years old, will be held at 10:30 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. Woodard, Meridian Street M.E. church pastor, will preach the sermon. Burial will be in Danville, with the Ancient Landmarks lodge, F. & A. M. officiating. ____________________ Health Had Been Poor ____________________ Death of Mr. Holt at his home, 3525 North Pennsylvania street, was attributed to bronchial pneumonia. He had been failing in health for several years, but his condition was not regarded as critical until a few days ago. Mr. Holt was one of the city's most generous philanthropists, aiding many needy families, but always shunning publicity. "Mr. Holt contributed baskets of groceries and other necessities each week to many families," said Captain Otto Ray, one of Mr. Holt's many friends. "He always was very quiet about charity work, only those closely connected with him knew of his philanthropy." One of Mr. Holt's admirers today recalled an incident in which Mr. Holt was named a 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 ax, smashed the ballot boxes and conducted the recount himself." In addition to his private charity activities, Mr. Holt donated the echo organ to the Scottish Rite cathedral, gave $15,000 to the North M.E. church for purchase of an organ, $40,000 to Butler university and $10,000 to Wabash college. Born in Graham, N.C. Mr. Holt received a meager education, then worked on a farm until he came to Indianapolis when he was 19. He walked part of the way, in his bare feet, arriving with $16 and a letter of recommendation signed by Thomas Stafford, a merchant, which Mr. Holt preserved and had framed. It 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 several years." ____________________ Received $12 a Month ____________________ While working at his first job here, for which he received $12 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 a drug store at 164 West Washington street. In 1880, he and a group of associates formed the Indianapolis Ice Company, later organizing the Holt Ice and Cold Storage Company, 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 unwilling 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 administration of Thomas L. Sullivan, father of the present mayor. He was Marion county treasurer in 1893 and 1894, declining renomination. __________________ 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 after Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan took office, when ill health forced his resignation. During the last few years he had devoted most of his time to management of his estate, to operation of his farm on the Rockville road and to his charitable activities. He was married to Miss Mary Gregg, Danville, Nov. 18, 1874. She died in 1920. Surviving him are a brother, Isaac Holt, Graham, N.C., and two half brothers, Charles Holt, Graham, and Joseph E. Holt, Indianapolis. _______________________ Belonged to Many Groups _______________________ Mr. Holt Was a member of the Meridian Street M.E. church, Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, Board of Trade, Indianapolis Athletic Club, Art Association, Ancient Landmarks lodge, Keystone chapter of Royal Arch Masons, Raper Commandery of Knights Templar, Indiana Consistory of Scottish Rite, Murat Temple of Mystic Shrine, Knights of Pythias No. 56 and B.P.O.E. No. 13. Active pallbearers will be John T. Saulter, Vincent V. Smith, Ralph K. Smith, Arthur R. Baxter, Edward B. Raub, Edward J. Scoonover, William H. Morrison Jr. and Marshall T. Levey.