The subject of this review, who, though past the meridian of life many
years, is still in the same physical and mental vigor that have
characterized his earlier years of endeavor and he is almost as capable in
bearing his part in the concerns of his neighborhood as he was in former
days.
Samuel Marion Holt is a native of Marion county, having been
born in Foster township, June 25, 1845, the son of John F. Holt, who was
born in Georgia in 1806, and came to Marion county, Illinois, when a young
man, where he took up government land in Foster township, settling on North
Fork creek among the pioneers, there being then only four families here, the
first settlers of this creek being Isaac Agan, Hardy Foster, John F. Holt
and Moses Garrett. The subject's grandfather was Harmon Holt, who was born
in Georgia and came to Marion county, Illinois, where he died at a ripe old
age. He was of Irish descent. Harmon Holt's wife was named Ibby Holt, whom
he married in Georgia. The maiden name of the subject's mother was Elizabeth
Jones, who was born in the state of Delaware, and who came with her parents
to St. Clair county, Illinois, when five years old. Eleven children were
born to the subject's parents, five of whom are living. They are: Martha,
Henry, Mary, Matilda, Harmon, Salina, Samuel M., Sally, John D., Hardy F.
(twins) and Isabelle.
The Indians made a treaty with the government
to hunt in the new country, which was still partly a wilderness after his
parents had come. Our subject spent his early life on his father's farm and
attended the common schools, such as they were in those early days. When he
reached maturity he married, on July 21, 1864, Susan F. Atkins, who was born
in Marion county, July 16, 1847, the daughter of John Atkins, who was born
in Franklin county, Tennessee. He moved to Alabama with his parents when a
boy. He was about thirty years of age when he came to Illinois and took up
government land. He was the father of four children, an equal number of boys
and girls. He spent the remainder of his life here, with the exception of
the last fifteen years, dying at the age of seventy-three years in Texas,
where he had gone fifteen years previous.
Our subject is the father
of seven children, named in order of birth as follows: Mary M., who married
Eli M. Arnold, living in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and who are the parents of five
children; Margaret E., who married Oscar Chance, of Salem, Illinois, and who
is the mother of six children; Emma F., who married James A. Arnold, living
in Fort Worth, Texas, and the mother of two children; Rhoda A., who married
Ed. Jones, of Salem, Illinois, and who is the mother of two children; John
A. was married to Maud Davis, December 13, 1908, and lives at home; the
sixth child was an infant, who died unnamed; Lulu B., the youngest child, is
the wife of Will Harkey, who lives in Fayette county, near St. Peter, this
state, and she is the mother of one son.
Our subject is the owner of
a fine landed estate in Kinmundy township, consisting of three hundred and
eighty-five acres, of well improved land, which he has successfully managed
until it is one of the most valuable farms in the township, being under a
high state of improvement and the fields well fenced and well drained. Much
good stock of various kinds is to be seen in the subject's barns and fields,
and he always keeps good horses, cattle and hogs. He has an elegant and
comfortable dwelling, which is nicely furnished and is surrounded by a
beautiful yard and convenient outbuildings, in fact, the entire place has an
air of evident thrift and prosperity.
Our subject is a Democrat in
his political affiliations and he has long taken an active part in his
party's affairs. His wife is a devout Christian and a faithful mother, being
a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Holt is not a member of the
church and does not hold to any Orthodox creed, yet he is a believer in good
citizenship, honesty and fair dealing and is highly respected for his good
citizenship. The different members of the family are well settled in life
and highly esteemed in their respective communities. They reflect great
credit upon their parents and no doubt will ever uphold the honor of the
family name, which thus far has not been dimmed by the commission of a
single unworthy act.
Extracted 08 Jul 2017 by Norma Hass from 1909 Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois, pages 206-208.