Pulaski County ArArchives Biographies.....Holt, Winfield S. 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ar/arfiles.html
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 July 18, 2009, 3:05 pm

Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922)

WINFIELD S. HOLT.
    Winfield S. Holt, president of the Arkansas Abstract & Loan Company and one
of the most progressive and enterprising business men of Little Rock, has long
been an important factor in the business circles of the city. He came to this
state from New England, his birth having occurred in Tolland county,
Connecticut, June 26, 1864. He is a grandson of the Hon. Orrin Holt, who
represented Connecticut in congress and who belonged to one of the distinguished
old families of that section of the country. Norman and Catharine (Griggs) Holt,
parents of Winfield S. Holt, removed from the Atlantic seaboard to Missouri in
1868 and took up their abode on a farm in Knox county. There the son, then but
four years of age, was reared in the usual manner of the farm bred boy. He
pursued his early education in the public schools of that county and started out
in the business world in 1881, when a youth of seventeen years, by entering the
employ of the Illinois Central Railroad Company at Tamaroa, Illinois, where he
remained for two years. At the eud of that time he came to Little Rock and
initiated his business career in this city by accepting a clerical position in
the First National Bank, of which the late Logan H. Roots was then president. A
little later Mr. Holt became identified with mercantile interests as treasurer
of the S. B. Kirby Company and in June, 1887, he accepted the position of Little
Rock representative for the Union Manufacturing Company of Toledo, Ohio, engaged
in the manufacture of sewing machines. Mr. Holt conducted the business for this
corporation at the corner of Main and Sixth streets and not only did he have the
supervision of the company's interests in Arkansas, but also in Texas. Oklahoma
and Indian Territory, this being prior to the coalition of the lagt two. Thus
step by step Mr. Holt advanced in business circles to a place of prominence and
in 1897 he received from President McKinley appointment to the position of
postmaster.

    The official service of Mr. Holt was characterized by the utmost fidelity to
principle and crowned with the confidence and high respect of all who knew aught
of his service. He was twice reappointed to the position under President
Roosevelt and for twelve years and eight months continued as postmaster of the
city, remaining in the office until his successor qualified on the 1st of March,
1910. He thoroughly systematized the work of the office, rendered to the public
the best possible service and was instrumental in promoting the movement leading
to the erection of a large addition to the post office building. Following his
retirement from office Mr. Holt became manager of the farm and loan department
of the Arkansas Guaranty Title & Trust Company of Little Rock and at the present
time he is at the head of the Arkansas Abstract & Loan Company, controlling
important and extensive interests of that character.

    On the 22d of December, 1886, Mr. Holt was united in marriage at Albion,
Illinois, to Miss Maud S. Spiller, a native of Carbondale, Illinois, and a
daughter of George Spiller, now deceased. Mrs. Holt possesses marked artistic
talent of high order and one of her canvases has been hung in the Paris salon.
The social position of Mr. and Mrs. Holt is a most enviable one and their circle
of friends is almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance. Mr. Holt
has long figured as one of the leaders of the republican party in this state and
formerly served as secretary of the republican state central committee. He was
also at one time chairman of the county central committee and secretary of the
state league of republican clubs. He is likewise widely known in fraternal and
social organizations and stands at all times for those things which make for
public progress, for civic betterment and for higher standards and ideals of life.


Additional Comments:
Citation:
Centennial History of Arkansas
Volume II
Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1922


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ar/pulaski/bios/holt256bs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/arfiles/

File size: 4.6 Kb