Charles N. Holden

Charles N. Holden (May 13, 1816 – September 29, 1887) was an American politician who served as city treasurer of Chicago, a Chicago alderman, president of the Chicago Board of Education, and Chicago commissioner of taxes. He was the unsuccessful Republican Party nominee for mayor of Chicago in 1862.

Holden was born May 13, 1816, in Fort Covington, New York.

Holden was a school teacher at the age of 20.

After working as a store clerk for a year, Holden moved to Chicago. He soon moved to Will County, Illinois, where he briefly lived with relatives and found work at a claim. Quickly moving back to Chicago, he found employment at a clerk in John H. Kinzie's lumber yard.

Holden was elected as a Chicago alderman from the 5th ward in 1855, serving until 1857, when he was elected Chicago city treasurer, a position he held through the following year.

Holden was a supporter of the 1860 presidential candidacy of Abraham Lincoln. He served on the committee that arranged the construction of the Wigwam, which was built to host the 1860 Republican National Convention.

In 1862, Holden was the Republican Party nominee for mayor of Chicago. He lost the election to Democratic nominee Francis Cornwall Sherman.

In 1864, Holden was elected as Chicago's commissioner of taxes, holding that position for four years.

He was a member of the Chicago Board of Education. From 1864 through 1866, Holden served as president of the Chicago Board of Education. The city named one of its schools after him.

Holden was one of the organizers of Chicago's Second Baptist Church, and held a number of leadership roles within that church. He was involved in the founding of the Morgan Park Theological Seminary.

Holden was a trustee of the state insane asylum.

Holden, in his later years, worked at the firm of A. H. Holden & Co. He would also manufacture paint. For over twenty years, Holden served as treasurer of Chicago's Firemen's Benevolent Society.

In 1841, Holden married Frances Woodbury.

Holden's extended family was well-involved in Chicago politics. This included Charles C. P. Holden, his cousin.

Holden died September 29, 1887, at his Chicago residence of a stroke. He had suffered a previous stroke roughly a year earlier, from which he had only partially recovered. His funeral was held October 3, 1887, at Chicago's Second Baptist Church.