William M. Holt

WILLIAM M. HOLT, one of the prominent and sturdy farmers of Labette township, Labette county, Kansas, was born in York county, Pennsylvania, in 1824, and is a son of Jacob and Amy (Ward) Holt, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania. The great-grandfather of William M. came from Germany to the United States, and followed farming. As both grandfather and father were also farmers, it is but natural that the subject hereof should follow in the footsteps of his ancestors. In early boyhood he evinced a love for farm work, and coupled with it the convenient auxiliary trades, those of carpenter and cabinetmaker, which he followed until he located in Kansas, in 1870.

Mr. Holt entered his present farm land at Independence, Kansas, and has resided on the same ever since. He has one of the best improved farms in Labette county. His residence, a two-story, ten-room, frame structure, together with the splendid barn and other buildings on his farm are monuments of his own handiwork. He has built well, and in his declining years is reaping the harvest of the seed planted and sown by a careful hand and a studied purpose.

William M. Holt was the fifth in a family of eight children. They were, - George, Jacob, Elizabeth, Louisa, William M., Solomon, Frederick and Samuel.

Mr. Holt chose for his life companion, Nancy Fetrow, who was born in Pennsylvania, in 1835, They reared the following children: Jacob, who lives at home and follows the blacksmith trade; Elizabeth; Anna; John; William, Samuel; and Lizzie. Our subject is a Republican, in politics, and in religion, a member of the German Lutheran church.