SEVENTH GENERATION

706. Edwin HOLT was born on 17 Apr 1805 in New London, Connecticut. He died on 2 Jul 1854 in Evansville, Iowa. He has reference number 706. The following biographical notice has been furnished for this volume:

REV. EDWIN HOLT.

When Mr. Holt was about three years old, his parents removed to New York City, where he spent his early years. He entered Columbia college in October, 1818, at the age of 13 ½. He graduated in August, 1821, and in September of the same year, commenced the study of medicine with Dr. A. H. Stevens of his own city. He soon became a favorite pupil with his instructor, himself a very eminent man in his profession, and had nearly completed his medical course, when, in May, 1822, he was convicted of sin, to use his own expression, and obtained a hope in the Savior, in the summer of the same year.
He joined Dr. Spring's church in April, 1823, and was soon induced, partly by the advice of his pastor, and also by his own convictions of duty, to turn his attention to the study of theology; he entered Auburn theological seminary in February, 1824. Ito was licensed to preach in October, 1826, and was ordained as the sixth pastor of the Presbyterian church at Westfield, N. J., by the Presbytery of Elizabethtown November 13, 1827. On the 24th of July, 1828, he was married to Miss Emily Titcomb, at Newburyport, Mass.
His pastoral relation to the church at Westfield was dissolved June 8th, 1830, and on the 20th of April, 1831, he was dismissed from Elizabethtown presbytery to Hopewell presbytery, Georgia. During the winter of 1830 he preached at White Bluff, near Savannah, and during the succeeding year in the First Presbyterian church in that city.
The next winter he received a call from the Presbyterian church in Macon, Ga., to become their pastor, which he accepted. Here he labored under very discouraging circumstances, but with a good degree of success. After a pastorate of nearly four years, during which his health became much impaired, he again came to the decision, though with much reluctance, that it was his duty to ask a dismission from his people, and was dismissed November 21, 1804.
During the following winter, at a meeting of the synod of South Carolina and Georgia, he was unanimously appointed secretary of the Southern board for foreign missions, and immediately removed to Charleston and entered upon the work of promoting the cause of missions, which was ever very near his heart. He discharged the duties of this office with much zeal and faithfulness for one year, when, feeling that his health was sufficiently established to admit of his doing so, he accepted the call of the North church in Portsmouth, N. Il., to become their pastor, and was instilled Oct. 2, 1836. Here he continued nearly seven years, and was blessed of God with one of the most powerful revivals of religion which that church has ever enjoyed. But after seeing his church built up, and greatly increased under his ministry, he felt himself compelled by circumstances over which he had no control, to leave them and accept the call of the West Presbyterian church in Carmine street, Now York, and was installed there March 20, 1843.
Here he experienced the first great affliction of his life, in the loss of his children; his infant daughter, Lucy, died very suddenly on the 2d of June, 1844, and his daughter Emily December 28th, 1845. Under the pressure of these afflictions, and his arduous labors, his health again failed, and he was dismissed from his people April 2, 1846. He was at this time entirely unable to preach, and was for a year or two laid aside from the ministry; but such was his love for his chosen work, that as soon as his voice began to return, he commenced preaching again; and in March, 1848, was installed pastor of the Congregational church in Greenland, N. H. He soon found that neither his own health, nor that of his family, would allow him to remain in the rugged climate of New England; and was again dismissed on the 7th of January, 1850, and in November of the same year he was settled over the Second Presbyterian church in Madison, Ia. Here he buried his youngest son, and the increased violence of his disease again drove him from his charge, when lie removed to Evansville, in tile same state, where he was ever ready to assist his brethren as his strength allowed, and where he was called to mourn the loss of his oldest son, a young man of fine promise.
On the Sabbath of June 12, 1854, he preached his last sermon, from Matthew xii, 41, with more than his usual impressive earnestness, in the Old Presbyterian church in Evansville, of which Rev. W. H. McCarer is the beloved and respected pastor.
Immediately after service he was seized with a severe attack of cholera, which finally terminated in his old compliant of the throat. During an illness of two weeks lie bore his severe suffering with the most exemplary patience and resignation, and expired on Sabbath morning, July 2, 1854. In the words of one of his devoted friends, "He brought to his profession a well trained intellect, and a devoted Heart. His ministry extended over a period of twenty years. The great Head of the church owned his labors in several revivals of religion."
His remains rest in the cemetery at Evansville, beside those of his oldest son, where he lead in the grave with the deepest sorrow, just eight months before his own death.

He was married to Emily TITCOMB (daughter of John B. TITCOMB) on 24 Jul 1828 in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Emily TITCOMB was born on 21 Jan 1808 in Newburyport, Massachusetts. She resided in 1864 in Greenland, New Hampshire. Edwin HOLT and Emily TITCOMB had the following children:

1021 i. Josephine HOLT was born on 1 Nov 1830 in Savannah, Georgia. She has reference number 1019.
1022 ii. Emily Lucretia HOLT was born on 10 Apr 1833 in Savannah, Georgia. She has reference number 1020.
1023 iii. Edwin Rufus HOLT was born on 23 Sep 1836 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He died in Nov 1853 in Evansville, Iowa. He has reference number 1021.
1024 iv. Stephen Philip HOLT was born on 30 Sep 1840 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He has reference number 1022.
1025 v. Lucy Adair HOLT was born on 15 Nov 1843 in New York. She has reference number 1023.
1026 vi. Taylor HOLT was born on 4 Mar 1846 in New York. He has reference number 1024.
1027 vii. Philetus HOLT was born on 23 Apr 1850 in Greenland, New Hampshire. He has reference number 1025.

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