Jesse Lynch Holman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jesse Lynch Holman
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| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Indiana | |
| In office October 8, 1835 – March 28, 1842 |
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| Appointed by | Andrew Jackson |
| Preceded by | Benjamin Parke |
| Succeeded by | Elisha Mills Huntington |
| Judge of the Supreme Court of Indiana | |
| In office May 5, 1817 – December 28, 1830 |
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| Appointed by | Jonathan Jennings |
| Preceded by | Seat established |
| Succeeded by | John T. McKinney |
| Presiding Judge of Indiana Territory's Second Judicial Circuit | |
| In office September 20, 1814 – December 21, 1816 |
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| Appointed by | Thomas Posey |
| President of the Indiana Territory Legislative Council | |
| In office August 15, 1814 – September 10, 1814 |
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| Constituency | Dearborn and Jefferson Counties |
| Member of the Indiana Territory House of Representatives from Dearborn County | |
| In office 1814 |
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| Preceded by | Isaac Dunn |
| County Prosecutor of Dearborn County | |
| In office May 28, 1811 – 1814 |
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| Appointed by | William Henry Harrison |
| Preceded by | James Dill |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jesse Lynch Holman
October 24, 1784 Danville, District of Kentucky, Virginia |
| Died | March 28, 1842 (aged 57) Aurora, Indiana |
| Resting place | River View Cemetery Aurora, Indiana |
| Spouse |
Elizabeth Masterson
(m. 1810) |
| Relations | Allen Hamilton (son-in-law) |
| Children | 6, including William S. Holman |
| Parents | Henry Holman Jane Gordon |
Jesse Lynch Holman (born October 24, 1784 – died March 28, 1842) was an important person in early Indiana. He was a lawyer, politician, and judge. He also wrote books and poems, helped plan cities, and was a preacher. Jesse Holman helped start important places like Indiana University, Franklin College, and the Indiana Historical Society. He was one of the first judges on Indiana's highest court, the Indiana Supreme Court. He also served as a United States federal judge.
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Early Life and Career
Jesse Holman was born on October 24, 1784. His birthplace was near Danville, in what was then the District of Kentucky, Virginia. This area is now part of Kentucky. He grew up in a frontier region, which means it was a new and developing place.
Instead of going to law school, Holman "read law." This means he studied law on his own or by working with an experienced lawyer. He became a lawyer in Kentucky on September 2, 1805. He worked as a private lawyer in several Kentucky towns from 1805 to 1811.
In 1808, Holman moved to the Indiana Territory. He bought land in Dearborn County. From 1811 to 1835, he continued his law practice in Aurora, Indiana Territory. Indiana became a state on December 11, 1816.
Early Political Roles
Jesse Holman became a well-known politician and judge. In 1811, Governor William Henry Harrison appointed him as the prosecutor for Dearborn County. This meant he represented the government in legal cases.
In 1814, he served as a representative for the Indiana Territory. He was also the President of the Indiana Territorial Council that same year. From 1814 to 1816, he worked as a judge for the Circuit Court of Indiana Territory.
Serving on Indiana's Highest Court
In 1817, Governor Jonathan Jennings appointed Jesse Holman to be a justice on the Indiana Supreme Court. This is the highest court in the state. He served in this important role until December 28, 1830.
A Landmark Case: Ending Slavery
One of the most important cases Jesse Holman heard as an Indiana Supreme Court Justice was called Lasselle v. State. In this case, the court had to decide if slavery was allowed in Indiana.
Holman and the other judges ruled that slavery was completely forbidden in Indiana. They said the state's constitution clearly intended to stop slavery entirely. This decision was a big step towards freedom for many people.
Federal Judge Service
On September 16, 1835, President Andrew Jackson chose Jesse Holman to be a judge for the United States District Court for the District of Indiana. This is a federal court, meaning it handles cases related to national laws. He officially started this job on October 8, 1835.
President Jackson nominated him again on March 21, 1836. After some discussions, the United States Senate approved his appointment. He received his official document, called a commission, on March 29, 1836.
Jesse Holman served as a federal judge until his death on March 14, 1842. He passed away in Aurora, Indiana. He was first buried at his home, Veraestau, but was later moved to the Holman family plot at River View Cemetery.
Community Contributions
Besides his work as a judge, Jesse Holman was very active in his community in Dearborn County. He helped plan the town of Aurora in 1819. This involved laying out streets and plots of land.
Holman was a lifelong member of the Baptist church. He was involved in missionary work and Sunday school programs. He helped start the First Baptist Church of Aurora in 1820. He also helped create the Indiana Bible Society in 1831.
He strongly believed in public education. He helped establish Aurora's public library. He also worked as the superintendent for Dearborn County schools from 1832 to 1834. In 1834, he became an ordained minister and preached at the First Baptist Church of Aurora.
Author and Family Life
In 1808, Jesse Holman wrote a novel called The Prisoners of Niagara; or, Errors of Education.
In 1810, Holman married Elizabeth Masterson. Her father, Judge Richard M. Masterson, was a wealthy landowner and judge in Kentucky. In 1811, Jesse and Elizabeth moved to Dearborn County with their first child. They built a home called "Veraestau" on a hill overlooking the Ohio River.
Jesse and Elizabeth had six children. One of their sons, William S. Holman (1822–1897), later became a Congressman. Their daughter, Emmerine, married Allen Hamilton, who helped found Fort Wayne, Indiana.
