Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

HOLLEY, Alexander Hamilton,
ENCYCLt »l'i:i)l.\ OF I'.H XiKAI'HY
as the Holies Manufacturing Company,
Manufacturer, Governor.
with Mr. Holley as president, which position
he held until Ins death. It i- t" be
Governor Alexandei Hamilton Holley said that to him America owe-, thi
was descended from John Holley, a native
of England, who settled at Stamford,
Connecticut, about [644. The line was
ginning of its prestige in his lin<
goods. He was also active along other
lines, lie aided in promoting and estab-
respectably but not notabl) continued to
Luther Holley, a man of great vigor of
mind, and of exceptional business ability,
qualities which were transmitted to his
six sons, all of whom attained distinction,
especially Myron Holley, the reformer.
Leaving the farm, Luther Holley removed
to Salisbury, where he established an iron
manufacturing business, and in which he
was succeeded by his son, John Milton
lishing the Harlem and the Housatonic
railroads, those also in Dutchess and Columbia
counties. New York, and especially
the Connecticut Western, in which he was
a member of the directorate and the executive
committee. He was also active in
the organization and management of
,,:i,lks >» Salisbury. Boston, and elsewhere.
His benevolent disposition found
Holley, in association with John C. Coff- evidence in the fostering care he gave to
ing. John M. Holley married Sally Por-
ter, of a fine family, and they were the
parents of Governor Alexander H. Holley.
Governor Holley was born August 12,
1804. at Salisbury. Connecticut, and died
at Lakeville, same State. ( October 2, 1887.
After attending schools in Sheffield. Mas-
the School for Imbecile-, at Lakeville, pri-
vately established; and his last public ad-
dress, delivered only a few months before
his death, was made at the dedication of
its new building.
\ Whig in politics, in 1844 ne was a
delegate in the convention which nom-
sachusetts, and Ellsworth, Connecticut, mated Henry Clay for the presidency. In
he entered Yale College, but feeble health 1S54. without his knowledge, he was nomforbade
his continuance there, and at the inated Lieutenant-Governor, and was
age of sixteen he took a clerkship in his elected, his election as Governor followfather's
counting room. He had not much ing in 1857. In February, 1858, as Gov-
passed his majority when his father died, ernor, he attended the unveiling of Craw-
greatly increasing his labor and responsiford statue of Washington, at Richmond,
Virginia, and at a public banquet given on
bilities, and when there were premonitions
of the great financial panic which
came in the next year. Notwithstanding
these cares, and while devoting himself
industriously to his business concerns, he
found time to give much attention to po-
litical matters, and was a frequent con-
tributor to the press on political and so-
that occasion he delivered an address in
which he deprecated any attempt at dis-
solution of the Union. In i860, he was a
delegate in the convention which nom-
inated Abraham Lincoln for the presi-
dency, and throughout the Civil War, in-
capacitated through age for hard service,
ciological topics. In 1844 he began the he did all in his power to inspire in others
manufacture of pocket cutlery, employing a spirit of jive patriotism. In 1866,
workmen from the noted factories in Governor Buckingham offered him a State
Sheffield. England. This business he con- commissionership to the World's Fair in
tinued with Nathan W. Merwin as a part- Paris, but his delicate health compelled
ner until 1854, when it was incorporated his declination. His last public appear-
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