Charles W. Holtcamp, serving for the fourth term as probate judge of the city of St. Louis, also identified with important business interests and prominent in Masonic circles as a thirty-third degree member, was born in Decatur, Illinois, September 1, 1859. His father, Charles Holtcamp, a native of Germany, was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church for more than sixty years. His mother, Mrs. Catherine Holtcamp, was born in Ohio.
After attending the public schools Charles W. Holtcamp continued his education at Illinois College of Jacksonville, Illinois, and next became a student in the law department of the Washington University in St. Louis, from which he was graduated with the class of 1882. He received the degree of Bachelor of Laws from Washington University upon his graduation from that institution and that of Master of Arts from Illinois College in 1911. Following the completion of his law course he entered upon the active practice of his profession. Through the intervening period he has been closely associated therewith both as a practitioner in the courts and since January, 1907, as judge of the probate court of the city of St. Louis. To this office he has been four times elected for terms of four years each, so that at the close of his present term he will have served in the position for sixteen consecutive years. He has always been a republican in his political views, earnest and active 1n his work for the party, and from 1899 until 1901 he was a member of the St. Louis municipal assembly.
Aside from his professional and political work Judge Holtcamp is known in business circles as the president of the Blanke-Wenneker Candy Company of St. Louis and as a director and secretary of the Blanke Brothers Realty Company of this city.
On the 22d of October, 1913, in St. Louis, Missouri, Judge Holtcamp was married to Mrs. Anne J. Howard, a daughter of Benjamin H. and Caroline Johnson. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are interested in much that pertains to public welfare.
Judge Holtcamp’s military record covers service as a member of the Illinois National Guard from 1877 until 1882 and of the Missouri National Guard from 1882 until 1904. He was senior captain of the First Missouri Volunteer Infantry in the war with Spain and lieutenant colonel of the First Infantry National Guard of Missouri from 1899 until 1904. He has long been a prominent figure in Masonic circles, being a Knight Templar, a member of the Shrine and of the Grotto, Royal Order of Scotland and an honorary thirty-third degree Scottish Rite Mason. He is also identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and belongs to the United Spanish War Veterans and the Military Order of Foreign Wars. Along strictly social lines his connection is with the Missouri Athletic Association, the Century Boat Club, the University Club and the Oasis Country Club. He is a man of high professional attainments and his capability as probate judge is especially demonstrated through his frequent reelections to office. Besides he has marked qualities which would make for social leadership and his loyalty to any cause which he espouses stands as an unquestioned fact in his career. A prominent attorney of St. Louis made the statement that the reason for Judge Holtcamp’s eminent success was his absolute fairness in all things, whether pertaining to court or personal matters. His personality is such as to inspire confidence in all with whom he comes in contact-a confidence which is always strengthened by continued acquaintance, so that he has won many warm friends and admirers.