HOLT BROTHERS
Among
the younger commercial enterprises of Lucas is the firm of
Holt Brothers, who established themselves in the livery
business in this city in 1913.
The firm consists of Henry and John Holt, both of whom
now give most of their attention to their new departure,
although they are still extensively interested in agriculture
and also own valuable Clydesdale breeding horses. Their success has
been but the outcome of intelligently directed efforts and is
the result of well applied industry and energy.
Henry
Holt was born in Clarke county, Iowa, May 1, 1876, and John in
Otter Creek township, Lucas county, Iowa, January 1, 1878. Their parental
grandparents, who came as pioneers to Iowa, were John and Ava
(Kilgore) Holt, natives of Indiana, who were born in 1824 and
1827, respectively. They
both died in the same year, the grandfather on January 2,
1864, and the grandmother in November of that year. Among their
children was Lifus, the father of John and Henry Holt. He was born in
Martin county, Indiana, December 29, 1846, and by his marriage
to Mary A. Holt in 1873 became the father of five children;
Mrs. Rowena Manley, Henry, John, Seymour and Mrs. Georgia A.
Evans. A more
extended mention of Mr. and Mrs. Lifus Holt is made in another
part of this work.
Henry
and John Holt grew up under the parental roof and were
educated to agricultural pursuits. Both brothers followed farming
successfully until the beginning of 1913, when they formed a
partnership in order to engage in the livery business in
Lucas, where they own one of the best equipped barns in this
part of the county. Within
a short time they have achieved an enviable success which must
be attributed to their business ability and their genial and
pleasing way in dealing with their patrons.
On
February 6, 1902, Henry Holt was united in marriage to Miss
Minnie Lulu Pennington, a native of Otter Creek township,
where she was born August 16, 1879. There she attended the common schools
and grew to womanhood. Her
father, A. L. Pennington, was born in Monroe county, Indiana,
January 10, 1851, and when but a year old was brought by his
parents to Otter Creek township, where he is at present
residing. His
family were among the earliest settlers in this township. The mother of Mrs.
Henry Holt was Elizabeth A. (Deckard) Holt, also a native of
Monroe county, Indiana, where she was born June 14, 1854. She came to Iowa in
1872, when about eighteen years of age. Mr. and Mrs. A. L.
Pennington were the parents of three daughters: Mrs. Ida May
Davidson, born May 2, 1877, who now resides in Chariton, Iowa;
Mrs. Minnie Lulu Holt, of this review; and Mrs. Ada Belle
Ashby, born August 26, 1886, residing with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Henry
Holt have become the parents of five children: Pearl, born January
12, 1903; Beulah, September 22, 1905; Merrill, September 17,
1907; Mildred, June 13, 1909; and Wilma, whose birth occurred
on the 12th of October, 1910. The second of these
children was born in Jackson township but the remainder are
natives of Liberty township.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Holt own forty acres of choice land
in Liberty township with good improvements.
John
Holt on March 15, 1898, married Miss Lillie Messman, who was
born in Clarke county, Iowa, January 1, 1877, both she and her
husband having been born on New Year’s day. In Clarke county
she attended the common schools and grew to womanhood under
the roof of her father and mother, Jacob and Harriet (Hart)
Messman. The
father was born on the ocean while his parents were crossing
to America and the mother was a native of Henry county, Iowa. Both passed away in
Clarke county, this state.
Mr. and Mrs. Messman were the parents of three
daughters: Mrs.
Ida Penick, a resident of Clarke county; Mrs. May Lynn, who
makes her home in Adair county, this state; and Mrs. Lillie
Holt, the wife of John Holt.
The two older daughters were born in Henry county. Mr. and Mrs. John
Holt have become the parents of six children: Olive, born August
28, 1899; Adrian J., born March 24, 1902; Ida Mae, born
December 31, 1904; Ethel F., born November 13, 1906; Irene G.,
born March 18, 1908; and Boyd R., whose natal day was January
3, 1910. Those
of the children who are old enough are attending the public
schools of Lucas.
Both Henry and John Holt give their political adherence to the democratic party and both are members of the Woodmen of the World of Chariton. John Holt is also affiliated with the Brotherhood of American Yeomen of Lucas. Besides their agricultural interests and their livery business they own registered imported Clydesdale horses, among them stallion Baron Hill, No. 15, 185; the French draft stallion, Hero, No. 17,657; and the grade Percheron stallion, Jim, No. 591, of the Iowa Department of Agriculture. These horses are kept at their barn in Lucas. Aggressive and progressive business men, the Holt brothers take a deep interest in the advancement of the city in which they make their home and have always been found in the ranks of those who have at heart the development of the section. They are successful and enterprising business men and, although their establishment has been in operation for only a few months, have already demonstrated that success is certain to crown their efforts.