William Woods Holden was born near Hillsborough, North Carolina on November 24, 1818. Holden held many positions in his life, most notably a newspaper printer & editor, politician, and most famously Governor of North Carolina. William was the original provisional governor of North Carolina after the Civil War in 1865 and later served in the same office from 1868-1871. During Reconstruction he became embroiled in the so-called Kirk-Holden War,  a police action which sought to abolish the Ku Klux Klan, and protect African American's and Republicans in North Carolina. Due to his opposition to the Klan and imposition of martial law, Holden's opponents had him impeached and removed from office. He died in Raleigh on November 2, 1892.