Sacramento Valley Biographies

Rev. David Eldred Holt

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, March 2009.

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

          Of southern birth and lineage, the Rev.
David Eldred Holt displays in his character many of the qualities that have
distinguished citizens of that section of our country for generations, and
has won for himself a popularity and esteem which place him among the
influential citizens of Woodland, Yolo county, where he is rector of St.
Luke's Episcopal Church. The family has long been established in Virginia,
where William, the grandfather of Rev. Mr. Holt. was born of English
ancestry, early members of the family having followed William the Conqueror
to England. In manhood he studied medicine and surgery under Dr. Rush, and
during the Revolutionary war served as surgeon. After peace was declared he
established himself in his native state and followed his profession, but
finally located in Georgia, practicing medicine there until his death. One
of his sons, David Holt, a native of Bedford county, Va., also studied
medicine, graduating from a medical college in Philadelphia, Pa. He located
in New Orleans and practiced his profession and at the same time engaged as
a planter in Wilkinson county, Miss. His death occurred in Woodville,
Wilkinson county, at the age of ninety years. His wife, formerly Juliette
White, was a native of Wilkinson county, Miss. and a daughter of James
White. The latter went from his native city, Philadelphia, to Mississippi
and engaged as a merchant in Wilkinson county, where his death occurred. His
wife, formerly Lucy Elizabeth Parrott of Philadelphia, was a daughter of
Thorpe and Sarah (Barton) Parrott. Mrs. Holt died in Columbus, Miss., the
mother of ten children, of whom six are living.  Three sons followed the
example of their father (a soldier in the war of 1812), by serving in the
Civil war. Joseph was surgeon for the Second Mississippi Regiment and after
the close of the war he located in New Orleans, where he now lives. John S.
became judge advocate in Richmond, with the rank of colonel, later returning
to Mississippi, where his death occurred. Dr. Joseph Holt has acquired
prominence in his adopted city, having served for many years as president of
the board of health, during which time he invented the system of maritime
sanitation to take the place of the old system of quarantine then in force. 
        The eighth child in order of birth, David Eldred Holt was born near
Woodville, Wilkinson county, Miss., in 1844, and was there reared to young
manhood, receiving his education in the public schools and also through the
splendid training in the parental home. He became a member of a company of
cadets and in 1861 enlisted in Company K, Sixteenth Mississippi Regiment, in
Mahon's corps, Anderson's division of the Harris brigade. He served in the
Army of Virginia, during which he participated in thirty-five engagements,
among which were the following: Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville,
Spottsyl-vania, Battles of the Wilderness, Petersburg, Gettysburg, etc. On
the 21st of August 1863, he was taken prisoner on the Weldon Railroad and
was held captive until December, when he was returned to Savannah, Georgia.
He then accepted a position on the courier staff of Jefferson Davis, holding
the same until the capture of the latter, when he made his way to
Mississippi to join Kirby Smith. Returning to his home upon the close of
hostilities he studied pharmacy under the instruction of his father, with
whom he remained until the latter's death. He then accepted a position with
Finlay & Brunswig, a wholesale drug firm of New Orleans, and for the
following fifteen years was engaged in opening up trade for them throughout
the southern states. During the last five years in which he was in their
employ he began the study of the ministry under the board of chaplains of
the diocese of Mississippi, and May 12, 1895, was ordained priest in
Jackson, Miss., by Bishop Hugh Miller Thompson. Following this he accepted a
position to found congregations and churches in southern Mississippi, and in
that capacity he remained until November 1, 1901, when, needing a change of
climate, he came to Woodland, Yolo county, and here took charge of St.
Luke's Church. This congregation was established in 1872 and is now one of
the strongest churches of this city. Rev. Mr. Holt has given his best
efforts to the advancement and upbuilding of the church and has won the
esteem and love of his parishoners, as well of all who have met him
socially.
          In Woodville, Miss., Mr. Holt was united in marriage with Mary
Edith Therrel, a native of that place and a daughter of John B. and Jane
(Dunlap) Therrel, the former at one time interested in the banking business.
He died at the age of eighty-four years. To Mr. Holt and his wife were born
the following children: Jennie D., of Mississippi; David, editor of the
Biloxi Herald, of Biloxi, Miss.; Juliette, wife of W. H. Adams, principal
owner and manager of the Florida Fish & Produce Company of Jacksonville,
Fla.; Joseph, of Woodland; Helen, wife of Catesby E. Hubbard, of Terry,
Miss.; Edith, who died at the age of seventeen years; Lucy, at home; Eldred,
in Woodland; Therrel and Harold. Fraternally Mr. Holt was made a Mason in
Asylum Lodge No. 21, of Woodville, of which he was senior warden, and now
belongs to the lodge and chapter of Woodland, holding the office of prelate
in Woodland Commandery No. 21, K. T. He is identified with the Knights of
Pythias of Crystal Springs, Miss., and the Woodmen of the World of Terry,
Miss. He is a member of the United Confederate Veterans, and although a
Democrat politically is a firm supporter of the Roosevelt administration. He
is dean of the Sacramento Deanery.

"History of the State of California and the Biographical Record of the
Sacramento Valley, California, J. M. Guinn, The Chapman Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1906, Pages 290-291.