Charles N. Holden
Chicago politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charles Newton Holden (May 13, 1816 – September 29, 1887) was an American politician who served as city treasurer of Chicago, a Chicago alderman, president of the Chicago Board of Education, and Chicago commissioner of taxes. He was the unsuccessful Republican Party nominee for mayor of Chicago in 1862.
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Charles N. Holden | |
|---|---|
Holden, circa 1868 | |
| Chicago Commissioner of Taxes | |
| In office 1864–1868 | |
| President of the Chicago Board of Education[1] | |
| In office 1864–1866 | |
| Preceded by | Walter Loomis Newberry |
| Succeeded by | George C. Clarke |
| City Treasurer of Chicago[2] | |
| In office 1857–1858 | |
| Preceded by | O.J. Rose |
| Succeeded by | Alonzo Harvey City |
| Chicago Alderman from the 5th ward[2][3] | |
| In office 1855–1857 Serving with Jasper D. Ward (1855–56) Russell Green (1856–57) | |
| Preceded by | William H. Scoville |
| Succeeded by | Artimas Carter |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Charles Newton Holden May 13, 1816 Fort Covington, New York |
| Died | September 29, 1887 (aged 71) Chicago, Illinois |
| Resting place | Rosehill Cemetery |
| Party | Republican |
| Relatives | Charles C. P. Holden (cousin) |
| Signature | .png){kind=small} |
Early life
Holden was born May 13, 1816, in Fort Covington, New York.[4][5]
Career
Holden was a school teacher at the age of 20.[4]
After working as a store clerk for a year, Holden moved to Chicago.[4] He soon moved to Will County, Illinois, where he briefly lived with relatives and found work at a claim.[4] Quickly moving back to Chicago, he found employment at a clerk in John H. Kinzie's lumber yard.[4]
Holden was elected as a Chicago alderman from the 5th ward in 1855, serving until 1857, when he was elected Chicago city treasurer, a position he held through the following year.[4][2]
Holden was a supporter of the 1860 presidential candidacy of Abraham Lincoln.[4] He served on the committee that arranged the construction of the Wigwam, which was built to host the 1860 Republican National Convention.[4]
In 1862, Holden was the Republican Party nominee for mayor of Chicago. He lost the election to Democratic nominee Francis Cornwall Sherman.[4][6]
In 1864, Holden was elected as Chicago's commissioner of taxes, holding that position for four years.[4]
He was a member of the Chicago Board of Education.[4] From 1864 through 1866, Holden served as president of the Chicago Board of Education.[1] The city named one of its schools after him.[4]
Holden was one of the organizers of Chicago's Second Baptist Church, and held a number of leadership roles within that church.[4] He was involved in the founding of the Morgan Park Theological Seminary.[7]
Holden was a trustee of the state insane asylum.[8]
Holden, in his later years, worked at the firm of A. H. Holden & Co.[4] He would also manufacture paint.[9] For over twenty years, Holden served as treasurer of Chicago's Firemen's Benevolent Society.[4]
Personal life
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In 1841, Holden married Frances Woodbury.[4]
Holden's extended family was well-involved in Chicago politics. This included Charles C. P. Holden, his cousin.[8][9]
Death
Holden died September 29, 1887, at his Chicago residence of a stroke. He had suffered a previous stroke roughly a year earlier, from which he had only partially recovered.[4] His funeral was held October 3, 1887, at Chicago's Second Baptist Church, and he was buried at Rosehill Cemetery.[7]