Breckinridge-Hancock County KyArchives Obituaries.....Holt, Joseph August 1, 1894
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Peggy Russell meemawpeg7@gmail.com July 18, 2017, 4:09 pm

Breckinridge News, Cloverport, Ky., Wednesday,   August 8, 1894   
Page 1, Column 1
Passed Away -- Hon. Joe Holt Died At His Home In Washington On The 1st. inst.  
A Native Breckinridge Countian Who Figured Conspicuously In U. S. History 
During Perilous Times

Judge Joseph Holt was born in this county January 6, 1897 (should be 1807?), 
and received his education at St. Joseph's College, Bardstown and Centre 
College, Danville.  He began the practice of law at Elizabethtown in 1828.  
Removing to Louisville in 1832, he was attorney for the Jefferson Circuit 
until his departure for Fort Gibson, Mississippi, in 1835.  Here he speedily 
attained prominence in his profession, and in a speech made in favor of 
Richard M. Johnson in the National Democratic convention in 1836, his 
reputation as an orator was established.  He was frequently opposed to the 
celebrated lawyer, Sergeant S. Prentiss, and was counsel for the City of 
Vicksburg in the famous suit involving the claims of the heirs of Hewit Vick, 
to the land along the river front of that city.
     Holt returned to Louisville in 1842, afterward took a trip to Europe, and 
upon his return was appointed Commissioner of Patents by President Buchanan.  
He became Postmaster General in 1859, and when John B. Floyd withdrew from the 
Cabinet in 1960 (should be 1860?), he assumed all charge of the War 
Department.  He co-operated with General Scott in providing against hostile 
demonstrations at the inauguration of Lincoln in 1861, and in a report, 
afterward, published, described the plot made to seize the Capitol.  While he 
had been a Douglas Democrat, Judge Holt now gave his earnest support to the 
administration, and upheld the Union causes everywhere.
     He was subsequently made Judge Advocate General of the Army by President 
Lincoln, was one of the Commissioners appointed to investigate claims against 
the Department of the West, bore a conspicious part in various court-martial 
and commissions, and acted as Judge Advocate General at the trial of Booth, 
Mrs. Surratt, and others implicated in the assignation of Lincoln, March 13, 
1865, he was brevetted Major General of the U. S. Army for faithful and 
meritorious service, and December 1, 1875 was retired at his own request.  
Since that time, he has resided in Washington, D. C.
     Judge Joe Holt was an uncle of Mrs. W. H. Bowmer of this city and Col. W. 
D. Holt of Holt.  He was also closely related to the Sterrett family, Hancock 
County.
     Military funeral services were held at Washington, D. C.  The remains 
were then brought to Holt in this county by Messrs. W. D. Holt and W. G. 
Sterrett.  They arrived last Sunday, and the funeral services were conducted 
by Reverend J. B. Timberlake, of New Albany, Indiana, in Holt Memorial Chapel, 
the beautiful little church that General Holt had himself built and given to 
his home people a few years ago.  The remains were laid to rest in the Holt 
Family Cemetery






























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