Hopkins Holsey | |
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.jpg) Hon. Hopkins Holsey | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromGeorgia'sat-large district | |
| In office October 5, 1835 – March 3, 1839 | |
| Preceded by | James C. Terrell |
| Succeeded by | Richard W. Habersham |
| Member of the Georgia House of Representatives fromHancock County | |
| In office 1825 - 1826 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1779-08-25)August 25, 1779 |
| Died | March 31, 1859(1859-03-31) (aged 79) Brightwater estate,Butler, Georgia, U.S. |
| Resting place | Brightwater estate,Butler, Georgia, U.S. |
| Party | prior to 1837 -Jacksonian 1837 onward -Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Blake Mitchell (1826-1837) Julia Neisler (1850-1859 his death) |
| Alma mater | University of Virginia Litchfield Law School |
Hopkins Holsey (August 25, 1779 – March 31, 1859) was aUnited States representative, newspaper publisher and lawyer fromGeorgia.
Hopkins Holsey was the second of five children born to Susannah Ingram and James Holsey inCampbell County, Virginia nearLynchburg on August 25, 1779.[1][2] In 1806 the Holseys moved toHancock County, Georgia where they established a large plantation. When Hopkins was in his late teens, his father died, leaving the operation of the plantation to Susannah, Hopkins, and his older brother, Gideon.[2] Nonetheless, Hopkins was able to attend theUniversity of Virginia inCharlottesville,Virginia where he was a member of theClariosophic Society. After graduating in 1819, he went north to enterLitchfield Law School inConnecticut. After completing his course of study, he returned to Hancock County to establish a law practice, and to enter local politics.[1][2] In 1826 Holsey married Elizabeth Blake Mitchell ofJones County, Georgia. After the marriage, both the Holseys and the in-laws moved toHarris County, Georgia.[2]
After establishing a law practice in Hancock County, Holsey ran for as seat in theGeorgia General Assembly.[3] After losing two close races in 1823 and 1824, Holsey was elected in 1825 as one of three State Representatives fromHancock County, in theGeorgia House of Representatives.[3] He served one term before eventually moving toHarris County, Georgia.[1] In 1835, he was elected as a JacksonianRepresentative from Georgia to the24th United States Congress to serve the remainder of the term left vacant whenJames C. Terrell resigned due to poor health. During his first term, he served from October 5, 1835, until March 4, 1837. Holsey switched political parties to win reelection to his seat as aDemocrat in the25th Congress. His entire congressional service spanned from October 5, 1835, until March 3, 1839.[3]
After his congressional service, he moved toAthens, Georgia, where he took up farming, and eventually journalism after he purchased theSouthern Banner.[4] In his editorials, Holsey "advocated theMissouri Compromise, the annexation of Texas and the strict enforcement of thefugitive slave law."[4] However, in 1850 South Carolina threatened secession, and attempted to embroil Georgia. While Holsey was "unflinchingly opposed to federal encroachments, and strongly favoredstates rights" he was nonetheless "bitterly opposed (to) secession and theBanner became the leading exponent of the union cause in the Sixth congressional district, if not in the state."[4] Holsey, the political lightning rod, and his newspaper would soon become involved in what became known as the "Tugalo Tragedy", when an insane or disgruntled woman (contemporary accounts are divided on the point) named Jane Young entered the newspaper office looking for Holsey. She didn't find him, but in a case of mistaken identity, shot an employee and fled into the street.[4] Holsey was not injured, but claimed that the woman was after him for his unionist views. Ms.Young (who lived along theTugalo River which gave a name to the event) was brought before mayor Cincinnatus Peoples, and sentenced to two years in prison for assault with the intent to murder.[4] Soon afterward, Holsey, as an outspoken proponent of unionism, and attempting to capitalize on his recent brush with death, was compelled to run (unsuccessfully) for the33rd United States Congress as a unionist Democrat, on what was called the "Tugalo Ticket" "against the disunion wing and the Whigs".[3] He was defeated by the populist Democrat William Morton.[4] Within a year after his defeat, Holsey sold the newspaper and began practicing law again, inButler, Georgia, with his brother-in-law, Col. Daniel W. Miller.[1][4]
He died at Brightwater, his estate near Butler, and was buried there.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromGeorgia's at-large congressional district October 5, 1835 – March 3, 1839 | Succeeded by |
