Holton (Leblanc) - Frank Holton

Frank Holton

Frank E. Holton was born March 10, 1858 in Allegan Michigan to farmers Otis (b.1827) and Hanna A. (b.1829) Holton. He grew up with three sisters: Emma E. Holton, Alice Holton and Leona Holton. By the time he was 34, Frank Holton was an accomplished trombone player and principal trombone of the Sousa Band, a role that would later be filled by Arthur Pryor. In 1885 he had partnered with James Warren York in York & Holton, York's successor to the instrument maker Smith & York which became J.W. York and Sons before Holton established his own company in 1898. Frank Holton's wife Florence was a music teacher. They had no children. Frank Holton, though not an instrument maker himself, expanded his company to manufacture instruments which was his occupation until retiring at age 80. Frank Holton died after a protracted illness on April 16, 1942 at the age of 84.