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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Fulton County
Munsell Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908

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The Biography of William HOLT 

Transcribed exactly according to the original complete text by Alice Stipak. 

[Surnames: BRICE, HANNON, HOLT, MARTIN, McCOY, McDOWELL, WRIGHT] 

[starting on p. 922] 

    
HOLT, William.--For more than thirty-five years the name of William Holt has been identified with Fulton County, and during that time his zeal has found an outlet in the occupations of peace and war, and his experiences have ranged from sickness and health, from poverty to prosperity. He is one of the very early families of Bernadotte Village, where he was born October 11, 1839, and to which came his father, Willard Holt, in 1831. Willard Holt and his wife, Minerva (Nichols) Holt, were born among the rugged hills of Vermont, and it would seem that something of the granite of their surroundings entered into the framing of their thoughts and aspirations. At any rate, their journey westward was accomplished only after the most severe sacrifices in order to purchase clothing, food and other equipment, and on the way they met with many obstacles and disadvantages incident to travel at that early day. To encourage him upon his arrival in the wilds, as Illinois then was known, Mr. Holt had the assurance of a comfortable livelihood from his trade of brick mason and plasterer, and this he followed in Bernadotte for the balance of his active life. 
    
William Holt has grown up with Fulton County. The prairies of the Central West were as ignorant of their possibilities for usefulness as was the barefooted boy whose meager education was acquired at the first subscription school in his neighborhood. Eventually he began work on a farm and was thus employed when the Civil War presented a claim upon his energy and patriotism. Enlisting in August, 1862, in Company I, One Hundred and Third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, he went into camp at Peoria, and from there was ordered to the front, where, at Mission Ridge, the One Hundred and Third distinguished itself by charging up the ridge and capturing the rebel batteries. Later the regiment advanced to Atlanta, Ga., in all taking part in [page 923] thirty engagements, and Mr. Holt remained an active factor in the ranks until at Raleigh, N. C., he was overcome by sunstroke and passed for dead. He had no hospital record, but through nerve and determination and by the aid of his commanding officer, Colonel Wright, he rallied sufficiently to be able to follow the regular routine of the camp, being finally discharged at Chicago, June 21, 1865. 
    
After returning he was unable for some time to engage in active work, but having finally recovered he rented a farm in Bernadotte Township, purchased a team of horses and turned his attention to farming. On October 31, 1866, he was united in marriage to Mary Z. Brice, who was born in Miami County, Ohio, August 7, 1834, a daughter of William and Margaret (Martin) Brice, who were early settlers of Ohio, and died in that State. Mr. and Mrs. Holt became the parents of the following named children: Rachel J., born December 15, 1867, the wife of George David McDowell, of Kansas; Thomas, born October 1, 1870, a farmer in Bernadotte Township, who married Emma Hannon; and Frank, born November 24, 1878, who married Gertrude McCoy, and lives on a farm in McDonough County. In 1880 Mr. Holt purchased 80 acres of land on Section 18, Bernadotte Township, under heavy timber, all of which he has cleared and improved. Owing to affection of the eyes and heart, probably resulting from exposure during the Civil War, he has been unable to do any hard work during the past few years, and has handed over to younger strength a large part of the farm responsibility. Nevertheless, he has been an influence for good, leading a wholesome and simple life, honest in all of his undertakings, and public spiritedly interested in all that pertains to the welfare of the community. In spite of illness and discouragement, he retains his hold upon the bright side of life, and his heart and sympathies go out to the interests and enthusiasms of the younger generation around him. Mr. Holt has voted the Republican ticket ever since the organization of that party, but he has never held office or been active in local politics. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.