The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Frankfort, Ky. May,
1920, Vol. 18, No. 53. "Famous Steamboats and Their Captains on Western and
Southern Waters.  (Conclusion) by Ella Hutchison Ellwanger. pp. 37-40.
Franklin County.

CAPTAIN JOHN A. HOLTON, THE FORKS OF ELKHORN.  Here was another popular
commander of a "Blue Wing."  As fast as one "Blue Wing" was sold or burned,
another "Blue Wing" would arise, Phoenix like, to take its place.  It was
the most popular boat that ever plied the little Kentucky River.
    A State-wide search has been made for a photograph of any of the "Blue
Wings," but so far there seems no liklihood of obtaining one.  In response
to a letter asking for some data on the subject of her great-grandfather
and the picture of the "Blue Wing," Miss Emma Holton writes:
    "I have tried diligently to find an old picture of the 'Sea Gull' or the
'Blue Wing'.  It seems that the only picture which was ever in the family
was a plate on which pictures of four steamboats on which he (Captain
Holton) was captain were painted around the edge, and this plate was broken
some years ago, much to our sorrow."
    Miss Holton's letter has given the facts obtainable with such concise
and interesting statements that we are going to give it verbatim:
    "I am sending you a copy of his obituary, which was published in an old
Kentucky Yeoman of 1869, and I am sure you will find it interesting,
especially the part about the war of 1812."
    "Capt. John Alexander Holton was born in Baltimore, Maryland, December
27th, 1786, and was educated there.  He came to Kentucky with his parents
and settled down on the homestead near the Forks of Elkhorn, which was his
home until his death.  He seemed to have a natural fondness for the water
and as early as 1804 he was master of flat boats going from Frankfort to
New Orleans laden with produce.  It was his custom to take a small horse or
pony along to ride back, as the boat, as well as the produce, was disposed
of at New Orleans.  But he took 'turn about' riding with his crew on the
return trip, walking awhile and riding awhile.  He continued making these
trips until the war broke out with England in 1812.  You will find his
history of this period in the obituary.  After the war he returned to the
river, and was among the first to own a steamboat.
    "As far as I have been able to find, the 'Sea Gull' was the first
steamboat which he ran between Frankfort and New Orleans.  Among the
notable passengers who made trips with him was Henry Clay.  Henry Clay and
he were great friends.  On one occasion Henry Clay told Capt. Holton he
would make the trip with him from New Orleans to Frankfort, if Capt. Holton
would not let any one know who he was on his return home.  Capt. Holton
promised, but I am afraid this was an 'Indian promise,' as he managed to
send word that the great Clay was coming and to have a band and the
prominent citizens to meet him.  When the 'Sea Gull' docked at Frankfort
there was a brass band and a large throng of people to welcome him.  Mr.
Clay was so surprised and so pleased that in commemoration of the gala event
he presented Capt. Holton with a handsome gold watch and seal, the seal
being a large topaz turning on a gold pivot and mounted in gold.
    "As time passed Capt. Holton owned and was captain of several different
boats, among which was the 'Dove' and the 'Blue Wing,' No. 3.  I should
add, however, that I am not sure whether he owned the 'Dove.'  I have
heard that he was captain of the 'Wren,' but I am not sure about that
either.  However, I am sure that he was captain of several more whose
records we have lost, or else have been burned.  The 'Blue Wing,' No. 3 was
his last boat.  I have heard my grandmother tell that its furnishings were
very beautiful; that nothing pleasured her more than to go for a ride on
it.  About this time Capt. Holton's health began to fail him and he made
fewer and fewer trips on the river.  When he stayed home his nephew, Robert
Holton, a pilot on all of his boats, assumed the captaincy, and when
Captain Holton finally sold the 'Blue Wing' and retired to the homestead,
Robert Holton became its permanent captain.  His other pilot of all his
trips was John S. Phillips, and his engineer was John Powell.
    Capt. Holmes was a man of broad interests, and in addition to his river
interests, he raised thoroughbred horses.  I understand that he and Capt.
Sanders owned a stable of horses which they took from town to town to show
and race.  Capt. Holton owned and raised 'Nantura,' famous as the dam of
'Longfellow' and 'Fanny Holton,' 'Fanny Holton' being the dam of the
immortal 'Ten Broeck.'
    "He was also a very charitable and generous man.  I have heard the 'old
ones' say that it was no unusual thing for him to be supporting as many as
eleven or twelve families at one time.
    "Towards the close of his life he suffered a great deal with the wound
which he received at the battle of the Raisin, and it, together, with the
infirmities of age, caused his death.  Capt. Holton died on June 14, 1869,
and is buried in the cemetery at Frankfort."
    "Death reminds us at brief intervals that the generation of brave men
whose birth dates with the earliest history of Kentucky, is rapidly passing
away, and that soon it will be a rarity to meet with those who helped to
subdue the wilderness or by their valor in the war of 1812, whether serving
amid the snows of Canada or in the swamps of Louisiana, shed lustre on the
name of Kentucky.  A few of the younger men of that day linger among us
with vigor well preserved, but most of the better known are octogenarians
resting from the labors of life, and one by one dropping off "To join The
innumerable caravan that moves To that mysterious realm where each shall
take His chamber in the silent halls of death."
    "These reflections are suggested by the death, in his eighty-third year,
of Captain John A. Holton, which occurred in this county on the 13th
instant, and whose remains were interred in the cemetery here Tuesday,
followed by many friends.  Remarkable for native force of character, the
varied scenes though which he passed in life, and the large association he
had enjoyed with men, there was something about the deceased which
unconsciously won a stranger to his friendship, and retained through all
vicissitudes, so that it would be difficult to find any one who would not
united with those who have known him longest in pronouncing him as one of
the most estimable of men.
    "Capt. Holton died on the homestead, near the Forks of Elkhorn, on which
he was raised and from which as a young man he had started out in life.  At
an early age - as early as 1804 - he made his first trip on a flat boat,
laden with produce, from Frankfort to New Orleans, and subsequently, prior
to 1812, he made similar trips as captin of such crafts, returning, as was
the custom, on foot, through the Indian country of Mississippi and
Tennessee.
    "When the war broke out and volunteers were caled for he joined Captain
Paschal Hickman's company, which was recruited in Franklin, and which, with
two companies from Shelby and one each from Woodford, Fayette, Bourbon,
Harrison and Madison, made up the First Kentucky Rifle Regiment commanded
by Col. John Allen, of Shelby.  Gen. Peter Dudley, of this city, was
lieutenant of this company, and is among the few survivors.  In his mess
were John Hays, John Dawson, Isaac Boone, A. H. Rennick, and Lewis B.
Fenwick.  Of these Colonel Rennick, clerk of our county court, alone
remains.  The command to which Captain Holton belonged rendevouzed at
Georgetown on the 15th of August, and shortly afterwards four regiments,
under command of Gen. John Payne, marched northward to join Gen. Harrison
in defense of the lake frontier.  They wre among the first troops in the
field, and in their march, which lay through Dayton and Fort Wayne, to what
was afterwards Fort Meigs, at the foot of the rapids of the Maumee, their
sufferings from the want of provisions and the severity of the winter were
intense.  While at this place on the 17th of January, 1813, appeals came
from the Canadian French for protection from the thretened attacks of the
Indians and British, and Gen. Winchester, then in command, sent forward
about half of his force to their relief, being detachments from different
companies.  Captain Holton was among the number of were detailed with
Captain Hickman for this expedition.  The march was made with dispatach,
and on the morning of the 22nd Gen. Winchester, who commanded in person,
was surprised on the River Raisin by a superior force of British and
Indians and a large part of his army killed or captured.  In the action
Capt. Holton was wounded in the ankle and taken prisoner, but escaped the
massacre, which was, with few exceptions, the fate of the wounded who fell
into the enemy's hands.  From the battle field he was taken to Malden, now
Amherst, and thence with other prisoners, was marched through the winter's
snows five hundred miles to Fort Niagara, where he was paroled and sent
over the border for exchange.  His wound aggravated by British inhumanity,
though not rendering him a cripple, made itself felt even in the late years
of his life.
    "At the close of his term of service he returned to the river, and at 
the first introduction of steam in the western waters he gave up the broad
horns and soon became commander of a steamboat.  In this capacity he
continued for many years, first upon the Ohio and Mississippi, then on the
Kentucky river, being always a most popular and successful officer.  In
1848 he was induced to offer for the Legislature, and was elected, with no
development of party bitterness on either side, his opponent agreeing with
him to make no canvass.
    "Early in life Captain Holton married the daughter of Capt. William
Fenwick, and sister of his old messmate, who preceded him in death.  He
leaves two children - a son and a daughter - the latter the wife of Col. D.
M. Bowen, at whose residence, nursed with all the kindness which devoted
affection could prompt, he died after a protracted illness.  Peace to his
venerable remains!"

Holton Clay Phillips Powell Sanders Hickman Allen Dudley Hays Dawson Boone
Rennick Fenwick Payne Harrison Winchester Bowen
=
MD LA England MS TN Shelby-KY Woodford-KY Fayette-KY Bourbon-KY Harrison-KY
Madison-KY OH IN

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/franklin/holton.ja.txt