My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Knox County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

Rev. James M. Holt, a leading citizen of Knox County, was born in Kentucky, January 19, 1818, and is a son of Richard and Nancy (Deshazer) Holt, both natives of Virginia, where they were married. The parents moved to Kentucky about 1810, remaining in that State until 1835; then came to Missouri, locating in Marion County, and fifteen years later made a final move to La Grange, Lewis Co., where they died. Our subject was reared at home, living with his parents until he was thirteen years old, when he taught school a number of years very successfully, never having any difficulty in securing a position. The last school he taught was at La Grange, Lewis Co., Mo. After 1849 he devoted his time to the study of theology, was licensed in 1849 and ordained in 1850, and is now a faithful and earnest minister in the Baptist Church. For fifteen years he was moderator of the Wyaconda Association of United Baptists. In 1839 he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Luckett, and six children were born to this union, of whom four are living, viz.: James E., Edward L., Mary A. and Frank S. Mrs. Holt having died he was then married to Maggie A. Mobley, daughter of Thomas and Millie Mobley, by whom four children were born, the following three living: Charles M., Fannie E. and Katie L. Mr. Holt was a Whig, during the days of that party, but is now a Democrat, and has never aspired to office, although he is now the postmaster of Newark. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has taken all the degrees in the Blue Lodge, chapter and council. He is now in his seventieth year, and still takes great interest in public matters, donating as far as he is able to all laudable enterprises.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 204 biographies included in the Knox County, Missouri portion of the book,  The History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties, Missouri published in 1887.  For the complete description, click here: Knox County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Knox County, Missouri family biographies here: Knox County, Missouri Biographies

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.