JOHN MARSHALL HOLT, who resides on section 15, Vergennes Township,
Jackson County, well deserves mention among the prominent farmers of this
community. His life record is as follows: He was born in Land Grove, Vt.,
September 7, 1831, and is a son of Joseph and Hannah (Peabody) Holt, who
were also natives of the Green Mountain State. The father was a farmer and
carpenter. Emigrating westward, he located on Tuthill's Prairie, Jackson
County, Ill., in the fall of 1835, and some years later purchased a farm on
section 16, Vergennes Township, now known as the old Holt homestead. He
removed thither in 1840, and made it his home until 1874, when called to the
home beyond. His wife passed away in 1868. They had fourteen children:
Cynthia, wife of Valentine Keath, of Perry County; Maria, wife of B. Walker,
of Perry County; Caroline, wife of L. Sweetland; Charlotte, wife of John
Mecum, of Perry County; Putnam, who died in Vermont; Joseph, who married
Sarah J. Mecum and lives in Perry County; La Fayette, who married Martha
Hodge for his first wife, and afterward wedded Margaret Holt and died in
1891; Minerva, who became the wife of John Macglouchin, and after his death
married John Roundtree, but is now deceased; Lucinda, deceased wife of
Charles Warner, of St. Louis; Mary, who died in childhood; Lucy A., wife of
John Coply, of Alton; De Witt, who married Margaret Pool; and Louisa, wife
of Marshall Nichols. The parents were members of the Methodist Church, and
in politics Mr. Holt was a Democrat until 1864, after which he supported the
Republican party.
Our subject attended the subscription schools of
his native state, and remained at home until his marriage, September 7,
1853, to Emily Tuthill. In 1855 he purchased his present farm of one hundred
acres, and has made it his home since 1857. Mrs. Holt is a daughter of John
and Nancy (Arnold) Tuthill. Her father was a native of Vermont, but after
his marriage lived in New York for many years. The children of the family
were: Sarah B., wife of John Helm; Eliza A., wife of James Brown; Nancy W.,
wife of James McClure; Caroline, wife of Frank Campbell; Samuel, who died at
the age of ten; Laura, wife of George McClure; Mary, who died at the age of
fifty-two; Daniel; Phoebe, wife of Andrew Young; Mrs. Holt; and Jane, wife
of Constantine Murphy. The father was a farmer and also engaged in the
manufacture of half-bushel measures. In 1856 he came with his family to
Jackson County, accompanied by four brothers and two sisters: John, Daniel,
Cephus, Russell; Hannah, wife of F. Lovejoy, and Sallie, wife of Thomas
Ross. Judge Richard Tuthill, of Chicago, is a son of Daniel. The father of
Mrs. Holt died March 20, 1859, at his home on Tuthill's Prairie, and his
wife passed away in 1851. He was a Democrat in politics and a soldier in the
Black Hawk War. Both were members of the Methodist Church, and were highly
respected people.
To Mr. and Mrs. Holt were born eight children.
William A., born August 2, 1855, was married December 3, 1884, to Julia
Moore, and has four children: Marshall, Ruby, Homer and Eula B.; Ella M.,
born February 6, 1857, is the wife of John Quigly, and has five children:
Lillian, Ira, Logan, John and Gertrude; Ora L., born February 14, 1859, is
the wife of William Cathey, of Montana, and their children are Earl, Eunice
and Gerald; Lucretia J., born April 18, 1861, is the wife of Austin Spencer,
by whom she has four children: Lee, Bertha, Blanche and Merwin; they also
lost two children. Jennie was born September 28, 1863, and is at home;
Phoebe Y., born January 29, 1866, died at the age of six years; Myrtle E.,
born February 26, 1868, is the wife of James Campbell, and has one child,
Wilda; Emily E., born October 12, 1872, is the wife of Moses Quigley, and
has a daughter. Myrtle.
Mr. and Mrs. Holt are members of the
Methodist Church, and in politics he has always been a Republican. He and
his wife now have a pleasant home on their farm, which is the abode of
hospitality and good cheer. They have many friends throughout the community,
and by all who know them are held in the highest regard.
Extracted 01 Aug 2020 by Norma Hass from 1894 Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry, and Monroe Counties, Illinois, pages 682-683.