My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Hot Spring County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  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.

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Thomas Holt, the son of David and Selina (Seay) Holt, was born in Amelia County, Va., March 19, 1813. David Holt was born October 11, 1785, and reared on the farm in Amelia County, Va. He joined the army in the War of 1812, and served until its close, dying in Shelby County, Tenn., in 1852. Selina (Seay) Holt was born in Amelia County, on March 23, 1783, and moved to Hot Spring County, Ark., in 1856, where she died September 10, the following year—1857. Thomas Holt was reared in Danville, Pittsylvania County, Va., where he obtained a fair education in the old field school in that vicinity. At the age of fifteen, in 1826, he commenced business as a boat builder. He followed this until 1833, when he moved to Rutherford County, Tenn., where he worked at wagon-making for about three years. Then, moving to Tippah County, Miss., he followed his business for three more years, next going to Shelby County, Tenn., where he built and operated a large mill until the year 1856. Hot Spring County, Ark., then attracted his attention, and here he erected and operated a mill on the Ouachita River, near Rockport, until the commencement of the late war. When hostilities ceased he put up a mill at Hot Springs, Garland County; but soon leaving this, he moved to his present home in Magnet Cove, and since 1870 has worked at farming and wagon-making. He owns twenty acres of land and a comfortable home. In 1860 he was married to Melinda Sloan, widow of William Sloan, and daughter of James and Sarah (Fenter) Martin. Alexander H. Holt, their oldest son, was born in 1861, and is now practicing medicine at Point Cedar, Hot Spring County. The parents are both active members of the Christian Church, keeping Saturday for the Sabbath. Thomas Holt is the author of three diagrams of a religious nature, one illustrating conversion, one indicating what baptism is intended for, and one diagram illustrates the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Thomas Holt has always been identified with enterprises tending to enhance the conditions of the county, contributing as largely as his means would permit.

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This family biography is one of 52 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Hot Spring County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Hot Spring County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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