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Below is a family biography from the book, History of Kentucky, Edition 1 by J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin and G. C. Kniffin and published by F. A. Battey Publishing Company in 1885.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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COL. G. A. C. HOLT, of Calloway County, ex-president of the State senate and lieutenant-governor of Kentucky, was born in Salem, Livingston Co., Ky., March 2, 1840, a son of James P. and Julia K. (Hodge) Holt. The father was born in Louisville, educated at the State university, and attained eminence throughout the State as a physician. His distinguished son, the subject of this sketch, was early thrown upon his own resources. He received his early education mostly at a private academy at Henderson and Murray, Ky., and before attaining the age of fifteen years he was able to teach school. He was graduated in law by the State university at Louisville, in March, 1859. He located in Murray. Ky., and opened a law office, and rapidly laid the foundation of an extended and lucrative practice, but the breaking out of the war temporarily interfered with his efforts in this direction. He responded to the call to arms by assisting in the organization of Company H, Third Kentucky Regiment of Infantry (Confederate), and was elected captain of the company. The regiment participated in the battle of Shiloh, in which most of the officers fell; took part in the principal engagements of the Southwest, and, as a part of Forrest’s command, surrendered at Gainesville, Ala., at the close of the war. At Jackson, Miss., Col. Holt received a wound in the shoulder. In March, 1864, he was made lieutenant-colonel, his commission dating November 1, 1864, to rank as such from March 25, 1864, and in November following was promoted to the rank of colonel. Upon the close of the war he returned to Murray and resumed the practice of law, taking also an interest in political affairs. In 1868 he was elected to the State senate, and in 1871 defeated Carlisle for the presidency of that body. As president of the senate he filled the position of lieutenant-governor of the State—the governor having been elected to the United States senate, and the vacancy being filled by the lieutenant-governor. Mr. Holt was again sent to the senate for a term of four years at the expiration of his first term, and through his efforts was secured material State assistance in the erection of the Murray Institute. He was also prominently identified with the passage of the Cincinnati Railroad Bill. Returning from the senate, he gave his exclusive attention to his professional interests, and has since resided in Murray. He is an active supporter of the temperance movement, and takes a warm interest in educational matters and home enterprises. Col. Holt was married October 28, 1878, to Miss Ina L. Berry, a daughter of C. A. and Mary L. Berry, of Salem, Ky.; she was educated at St. Vincent College, this State, and McPherson’s Female College, Memphis, Tenn. This union has been blessed with three children: James P., Mamie and Maggie. Col. Holt’s service in the army, amidst the perils and hardships of the Confederate cause, so impaired his health and constitution as to render him an invalid for life, and to confine him to his bed and room for seven or eight years after the war. He has won distinctions beyond most men of his age— lieutenant-colonel and colonel at twenty-four years of age. He was elected to the senate at twenty-eight or twenty-nine years of age, while the constitution requires thirty years of age. He was elected speaker and lieutenant-governor in 1881, at the age of thirty-three years—the constitution requiring the governor and lieutenant-governor to be thirty-five years old. He has won an enviable distinction at the bar in both the State and Federal courts; his practice now being in the State courts of his district, and the United States circuit and district courts of Louisville and Paducah.

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This family biography is one of 31 biographies included in the Calloway County, Kentucky section of the book, The History of Kentucky, Edition 1 published in 1885 by F. A. Battey Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: History of Kentucky, Edition 1

View additional Calloway County, Kentucky family biographies here: Calloway County, Kentucky Biographies

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