COL. GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS CHRISTIAN HOLT

Ex-president of the State senate and lieutenant-governor of Kentucky, was born in Salem, Livingston County, Kentucky, 02-Mar-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, Col. Holt was early thrown upon his own resources. He received his early education mostly at a private academy at Henderson and Murray, Kentucky, 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, Kentucky, 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 assiting in the organization of Company H, Third Kentucky Regiment of Infantry (Confederate), and was eleced captain of the company. The regiment participated in the battle of Shiloh, in which most of the officers fell, took park in the principal engagements of the Southwest, and as a part of Forrest's command, surrendered at Gainsville, 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 was 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 postion 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 throughhis efforts was secured material State assis tance 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 28-Oct-1878 to Miss Ina L. Berry, a daughter of C.A. and Mary L. Berry, of Salem, Kentucky, she was educated at St. Vincent College, this State, and McPherson's Female College, Memphis,Tennessee. This union was blessed with three children, James P. Holt, Mamie Holt, and Maggie Holt. Col Holt's service in the army, amidst the perils and hardship 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 distiuctions 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 lientenant-governor in 1881, at the age of thirty-three years.The constitution requiring the governor and lientenant-governor to be thirty-five years old. He has won an enviable distinction at the bar in both State and Federal courts.