1925 Biography - Charles A. Holcombe

Charles A. Holcombe, who is the present representative of the Baton Rouge district in the Louisiana State Senate and who is one of the prominent members of the bar of the capital city, was born at Jackson, East Feliciana Parish, this state, on the 6th of September, 1884. His father, the late Doctor Armstead R. Holcombe, was born at Tuskegee, Alabama, December 23, 1853, and died at Jackson, Louisiana, April 17, 1923. In Centenary College, Louisiana, Doctor Holcombe was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and in the medical department of the University of Alabama he completed the prescribed curriculum and duly received his degree of Doctor of Medicine. He became one of the leading physicians and surgeons of East Feliciana Parish, which was the stage of his professional activities from the time of his graduation until his death, and he was one of the most honored and influential citizens of Jackson, of which city he served many years as mayor. He was a stalwart in the local camp of the democratic party, was affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, held membership in various professional organizations, including Louisiana State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and both he and his wife were most zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mrs. Holcombe, whose maiden name was Lula Gordon, was born at Jackson, in 1856 there her death occurred in 1888. Dr. R. Gordon eldest of the children, is successfully established in the practice of medicine at Lake Charles; Armstead R., Jr., holds a responsible position with a large oil corporation in Texas, and there resides in the City of Fort Worth; Miss Emma is employed as bookkeeper and stenographer in the offices of Israel & Company in the City of New Orleans; Robert who still resides at Jackson, is in the employ of the Standard Oil Company of Louisiana; and Charles A., of this review, resides at Baton Rouge. After the death of his first wife Dr. Armstead R., Holcombe wedded Miss Eleanor Brown, who was born at Woodville, Mississippi, and whose death occurred at, Jackson, Louisiana, in 1900. Of the children of this marriage the eldest is Thomas, who was in the air service of the United States Army in the World war period and who now holds a Position with an accounting firm at Houma, Louisiana; Mary is the wife of John Trotter, a substantial farm near McManus, East Feliciana Parish; Eleanor died in the year 1923; and William B. is (1924) a student in the law department of __ University of Louisiana.

Senator Charles A. Holcombe profited by the advantages of the public schools of his native city, and thereafter was graduated from Centenary College as a member of the class of 1902 and with a department diploma. In 1905, he was graduated from the law department of Tulane University, and his reception of the degree of Bachelor of Laws was virtually coincident with his admission to the Louisiana bar. At Centenary College he became affiliated with the Kappa Alpha fraternity. After his graduation in law Senator Holcombe established an office in Baton Rouge, and here he has built up a substantial general practice that has involved his appearance in many important cases, both civil and criminal. His well appointed offices are in Suite 610-11-12 of the Roumain Building on Third Street.

Distinctive vitality and loyalty have marked the activities of Senator Holcombe as a worker in the ranks of tire democratic party, and he has been prominent in its councils and campaign activities in Louisiana. From 1910 to 1917 he served as district attorney of East Baton Rouge Parish, and in 1921 he was elected to the State Senate, to fill the unexpired term of Hon. L. D. Beale, deceased. He made a good record for himself, his constituency and the state, and his service in the Senate is to be Continued, as he received renomination there for on 15th of January, 1924 - a nomination that is virtually equivalent to an election. He is representative the Twenty-first Senatorial District, which is including the state capital. Senator Holcombe was one of the two delegates at large from the Sr. Congressional District in the Constitutional Convention of 1921.

Senator Holcombe and his wife are active members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, South in their home city. He holds membership in local Chamber of Commerce, and is at the time this writing serving as president of the East Baton Rouge Parish Bar Association, besides having membership in the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Masonic fraternity his affiliations are here located: St. James Lodge No. 47, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Washington Chapter No. 57, Royal Arch Masons; Plains Commandery No. 11, Knights Templars; and in the City of New Orleans, Jerusalem Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is a member also of Capital Lodge No. 29, Knights of Pythias. Senator Holcombe is treasurer of the Tobias Mercantile Company of Baton Rouge, and among his large real-estate holdings is his fine home property on Government Street.

Characteristic loyalty and zeal marked the course of Senator Holcombe in the period of American participation in the World war, and he delivered forceful speeches over much of the state in the furthering of patriotic objects, the while he made liberal subscriptions to the government war bonds, Red Cross service, etc.

June 22, 1907, recorded the marriage of Senator Holcombe and Miss Ray Jones, daughter of Stephen B. and Margaret (Kent) Jones, both of whom were residents of Baton Rouge at the time of their death, Mr. Jones having been a member of the mercantile firm of Jones & Whitaker of this city. The educational advantages of Mrs. Holcombe included those of Silliman Institute at Clinton, Louisiana. Senator and Mrs. Holcomb have four children: Margaret is a student in the Peabody High School of the University of Louisiana, and Ray likewise is attending this preparatory school of the university; Miss Charlie is attending a private school in Baton Rouge; and Francis is the youngest member of the home circle.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from A History of Louisiana, by Henry E. Chambers, published in 1925, volume 2, pages 70-71.