Henry Sparks Holt
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Company C, 9th Minnesota Infantry and Company K, 23rd Veterans Reserve Corps
The Holton Recorder, Thursday, March 5, 1908, Pg. 1
Volume 41, No. 5
Holt.
Henry Sparks Holt was born Sept. 14, 1830, at Osbury, Surey county, England. He was bound out as apprentice to a wheelwright at the age of sixteen, for five years. After serving his time, he and a companion of about his own age, decided to emigrate to the then new country of America. They embarked on a small, slow vessel and the voyage lasted many weeks. During the time, Mr. Holt’s companion was stricken with small pox and died. Mr. Holt did not contract the disease although he nursed the other through it.
He left New York soon after his arrival to this country and, after short stays in Albany and Rochester, took the long hard journey to Dubuque, Iowa, where he worked for some time. He then went to Decorah, Iowa, where he opened a wagon shop of his own and in a short time was married to Miss Pamelia Ann Schenck, April 22, 1857. Soon after he sold his shop to Decorah and moved to Austin, Minn. There he built a wagon shop. In 1860 he obeyed the call of President Lincoln for volunteers and enlisted in Co. C, 9th Minn. Vol. After serving three years he was discharged and returned to his family at Austin. In ______________ to a farm near Albert Lea, Minn., where he remained until his health failed in 1886, when he moved to Holton and has since resided here. He leaves a wife and three children, Judson, Vivian and Cretia, and nine grandchildren. Mr. Holt had been a member of the Masonic Fraternity for about fifty years. His death occurred Monday, Feb. 24, and the funeral was held on the following Wednesday. The Masons had charge of the services. Mr. Holt was a good citizen and a very intelligent man, although quiet and unassuming and had many friends who will sympathize with his bereaved family.
