HOLT, Lewis

HOLT, BROWN

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/28/2014 at 11:58:11

History of Decatur County Iowa and Its People
Illustrated, Volumne II.

Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith
Supervising Editors

The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. Pp. 383-84. Chicago. 1915.

LEWIS HOLT

Having passed the seventy-ninth milestone on life's journey, Lewis Holt was reared in Ohio and attended the public schools of Monroeville, that state, in the acquirement of his education. He afterward taught school in the Buckeye state and remained there until 1859, when he emigrated westward, settling in Decatur county, Iowa. He continued to follow the profession of teaching for two years after removing here and some of his pupils are living in the county today and have great-grandchildren. After devoting two years to educational work he began following the carpenter's trade, which he had learned in Ohio. At the time of the Civil war he was drafted and went to Des Moines, where he enrolled as a member of Company A, Sixteenth Iowa Infantry. He was at the front for several months and was with Sherman on the memorable march to the sea. When peace was restored he returned to this county and for many years followed his trade, gaining an enviable reputation for his expert workmanship and honorable business methods. He erected most of the buildings in Van Wert, including the schoolhouse, which is still standing. Eventually he purchased land in Long Creek township, one mile north of Van Wert, to the improvement and operation of which he devoted several years. However, when his sons reached maturity he turned the work of the farm over to them and took up his abode in Van Wert, where he has since lived. He erected his own residence, doing all of the work unaided.

Mr. Holt was married, in Ohio, in the spring of 1859, to Miss Rosanna E. Brown. Her parents were pioneers of the Buckeye state and her father passed away there but her mother died in this county. Mrs. Holt was called to her reward on the 5th of May, 1909. She was the mother of nine children, as follows: Charles E.; Wallace; Janet P.; Edwin; Xellie; Jessie T.; and three who died in infancy.

Mr. Holt is a republican and has held a number of local offices, serving as justice of the peace, as assessor, as a member of the town council and as mayor. He has at all times proved worthy of the trust and confidence reposed in him and has discharged his duties with ability and conscientiousness. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order and he also belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic. His wife was a devout member of the Freewill Baptist church. He is much interested in everything relating to the general welfare and can be depended upon to promote worthy causes. His life has been a busy and useful one and the structures which he has erected stand as monuments to his skill and his habit of doing all that his hand finds to do to the best of his ability.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014