Holst, Hermann

EDWARD, VON, historian, born at Fellin, Livonia, June 19, 1841; studied at Dorpat and Heidelberg; settled in St. Petersburg in 1866; but, having aroused the displeasure of the Ru ian government by the publication of a pamphlet while travelling in Germany, he was banished, and came to the U.S., engaging in literary work for several years. In 1872 he was appointed profe or at Strasburg University; subsequently filled the chair of Modern. History at Freiberg, and in 1892 was called to the chair of History at the University of Chicago. His principal work has been translated by J. J. Lalor and A. B. Mason, under the title of The Constitutional and Political History of the United States; other works include a Life of John C. Calhoun, a Life of John Brown, and The Constitutional Law of the United States of America. Hol's tein, in Iowa, a post-town of Ida co., 167 m. N. W. of Des Moines, on C. & N. W. R.R.; has machine shops and is a grain shipping point. Pop. (1895) 775. Holt, Joseph, jurist, was born in Breckenridge co., Ky., Jan. 6, 1807; educated at St. Joseph's College, Bards town, and at Chester College, Danville, and admitted to the bar. He was appointed, by President Buchanan, Commi ioner of Patents in 1857, and Postmaster-General in 1859; succeeded John B. Floyd as Secretary of War, in Dec., 1860; made judge-advocate general of the army by President Lincoln, with the rank of colonel; appointed head of the bureau of military justice, with the same title but with the rank of brigadier-general, in 1864, and in that capacity conducted several notable cases, including the trial of the a a ins of President Lincoln. In 1865 he was made brevet major-general. Died Aug. 1, 1894. Bounded (1890) 649. facturing place, having large Be emer steel works and other industries. Pop. (1897) about 8,500. Home's tead Laws. Laws pa ed in the U. S. Congre to enable settlers to obtain homes on government lands, and by States to exempt the home of a family from sale to pay the debts of its owner and to restrict the right of free alienation. Laws granting some degree of exemption in the ownership of the homestead have been pa ed in nearly all the States and Territories, which vary considerably in their provisions, though po e ing certain characteristics in common. The purpose of these laws is to secure the family in the po e ion of a home, in the event of misfortune or improvidence in the head of the household. In general the Homestead Laws may be taken advantage of by any person, rich or poor; but in a few States homestead provision is made only for the families of poor debtors, or needy widows or orphans. In general, a homestead exemption may be claimed by a husband or other head of the family, usually by placing on record a written declaration of the claim. The homestead must be owned and occupied by the claimant, and remains liable for purchase-money debt, taxes, builders' liens, and some other obligations. The amount that may be exempted varies in various States, from $5,000 down to $1,000 or le , in some cases it being limited to a few hundred dollars. In Delaware, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Oregon there are no homestead exemption laws. Under the Homestead Laws of the U. S., public lands may be entered upon under certain restrictions, and a tract of land of 160 acres occupied for agricultural purposes. The law requires the incumbent to live upon and cultivate the land for five years. This being complied with, he may obtain a patent to the land from the general land office at Washington, which gives him a permanent and absolute title to the homestead, which becomes a sacred provision for the family, being protected by law from alienation by the householder and from execution for his general debts. Where homestead entries are made by soldiers and sailors who served 90 days or more during the Civil War, the term of enlistment, not to exceed 4 years, is deducted from the 5 years' legal residence.