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John Holohan
05-10-2016, 06:29 PM
Post: #1
John Holohan
I read Roy Chamlee's Lincoln's Assassins some years ago, but recently ran across a description of Surratt boarder John Holohan in it that had not registered before:

"Holohan was an unsavory character who had left his work as a stone cutter in Baltimore for a more profitable but less reputable position as a bounty broker. A bounty broker negotiated in human lives, serving clients who could buy their way out of military service by paying someone to take their place. The business was despised by both Confederate and Union officials. The bounty broker operated like a loan shark, taking advantage of the distress of others. Most authorities considered bounty brokers loathsome opportunists who should be put out of business." (p. 24)

I know next to nothing about John Holohan (and his family), but I do not recall reading elsewhere that he was an "unsavory character." Could someone help enlighten me (or point me in the direction of another thread or article or research)? Thanks!
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05-10-2016, 06:40 PM
Post: #2
RE: John Holohan
I believe Mr. Hall found reference to Holohan having charges against him for domestic abuse and that it was possible that the Catholic church suggested moving to the boardinghouse of a gentle, pious, Catholic widow...
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05-10-2016, 07:32 PM
Post: #3
RE: John Holohan
His arrest for assaulting his wife was reported in the March 6, 1862 Evening Star (first column, under "Police"):

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/s...nge&page=1

There are posts on this thread (11-14) about his arrest for treason in 1861.

http://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussio...T.+Holohan
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05-11-2016, 01:09 PM
Post: #4
RE: John Holohan
(05-10-2016 07:32 PM)Susan Higginbotham Wrote:  His arrest for assaulting his wife was reported in the March 6, 1862 Evening Star (first column, under "Police"):

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/s...nge&page=1

There are posts on this thread (11-14) about his arrest for treason in 1861.

http://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussio...T.+Holohan

Thanks, Susan. That certainly supports Chamlee's description of "unsavory."
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05-12-2016, 01:29 PM
Post: #5
RE: John Holohan
Does anyone know if there are any images extant of John Holohan or any members of his family? I have never seen any.
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05-12-2016, 03:34 PM
Post: #6
RE: John Holohan
Dennis, I think I own over 70 books on the assassination, and with a very high degree of confidence, I can tell you there are no photos of John Holohan in any of them. This includes Ed Steers' encyclopedia - no photo of Holohan.
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05-12-2016, 04:46 PM
Post: #7
RE: John Holohan
I maintain a list of people that I want true photos of and most of them are "Johns:" John Surratt, Sr., John Lloyd, John Holohan. Mary seems to have had a rough time with the Johns in her life (and don't think what you're thinking of thinking...). I also want a proven picture of Sarah Slater.
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05-12-2016, 05:15 PM
Post: #8
RE: John Holohan
(05-12-2016 04:46 PM)L Verge Wrote:  I maintain a list of people that I want true photos of and most of them are "Johns:" John Surratt, Sr., John Lloyd, John Holohan. Mary seems to have had a rough time with the Johns in her life (and don't think what you're thinking of thinking...). I also want a proven picture of Sarah Slater.

Not to mention Peanut John!
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05-12-2016, 06:43 PM
Post: #9
RE: John Holohan
(05-12-2016 05:15 PM)Tom Bogar Wrote:  
(05-12-2016 04:46 PM)L Verge Wrote:  I maintain a list of people that I want true photos of and most of them are "Johns:" John Surratt, Sr., John Lloyd, John Holohan. Mary seems to have had a rough time with the Johns in her life (and don't think what you're thinking of thinking...). I also want a proven picture of Sarah Slater.

Not to mention Peanut John!

Definitely!
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05-12-2016, 10:24 PM (This post was last modified: 05-13-2016 01:58 PM by Jim Woodall.)
Post: #10
RE: John Holohan
(05-10-2016 07:32 PM)Susan Higginbotham Wrote:  His arrest for assaulting his wife was reported in the March 6, 1862 Evening Star (first column, under "Police"):

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/s...nge&page=1

There are posts on this thread (11-14) about his arrest for treason in 1861.

http://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussio...T.+Holohan

Here is another item I recently found up on LOC regarding the dismissal of John T Holohan from his status of being a stonecutter up at the Capitol in 1852. I guess he was into politics with a big mouth even back then. 'Twas not the safest way to be with a government job, especially back then.

clipping at LOC from John T Holohan

Just noticed something else from the above article. The article mentions John W Smith. John Holohan's father-in-law is John William Smith. John Holohan married Eliza Smith two years earlier on June 27, 1850.

I can start seeing where there might have been trouble brewing in that family from the way this is worded. Perhaps John W Smith was not too happy already with his son-in-law.
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05-13-2016, 09:51 AM
Post: #11
RE: John Holohan
(05-12-2016 10:24 PM)Jim Woodall Wrote:  
(05-10-2016 07:32 PM)Susan Higginbotham Wrote:  His arrest for assaulting his wife was reported in the March 6, 1862 Evening Star (first column, under "Police"):

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/s...nge&page=1

There are posts on this thread (11-14) about his arrest for treason in 1861.

http://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussio...T.+Holohan

Here is another item I recently found up on LOC regarding the dismissal of John T Holohan from his status of being a stonecutter up at the Capitol in 1852. I guess he was into politics with a big mouth even back then. 'Twas not the safest way to be with a government job, especially back then.

clipping at LOC from John T Holohan

Just noticed something else from the above article. The article mentions John W Smith. John Holohan's father-in-law is John William Smith. John Holohan married Eliza Smith two years earlier on June 27, 1850.

I can start seeing where there might have been trouble brewing in that family from the way this is worded. Perhaps John W Smith was not too happy already with his son-in-law.

Am I the only one having problems opening the link? Would love to see the contents of this article.
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05-13-2016, 10:16 AM
Post: #12
RE: John Holohan
Laurie, try this.
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05-13-2016, 02:06 PM
Post: #13
RE: John Holohan
(05-13-2016 10:16 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Laurie, try this.

I think Laurie was referring to my post. My link was bad. I adjusted the original post and am posting the correct link below:

clipping at LOC from John T Holohan

I am also adding another link below since the original link was having problems on my iPad (not my computer):

Holohan article
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05-13-2016, 05:41 PM
Post: #14
RE: John Holohan
For years, I have thought that Holohan was a tombstone cutter! Stone cutter at the Capitol seems a tad more "prestigious," despite the fact that he was probably one small element in a larger labor force.

As an aside, the National Cathedral in D.C. has had to go to Italy over the years to find stone cutters qualified to do the intricate work on its stone structure. In the case of the Cathedral, it is certainly art work.
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05-13-2016, 05:53 PM
Post: #15
RE: John Holohan
(05-12-2016 04:46 PM)L Verge Wrote:  I maintain a list of people that I want true photos of and most of them are "Johns:" John Surratt, Sr., John Lloyd, John Holohan. Mary seems to have had a rough time with the Johns in her life.
The same goes for the other Mary and John Watt, who is another John without a photo. But here's a nice website on WH gardeners:
http://www.timberpress.com/blog/2016/03/...residents/
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