Franklin County, KY - Bios:  Holt, William H.
Posted by Sandi Gorin on Fri, 20 Aug 1999
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William H. HOLT 3507, Franklin Co. 

Surname: Holt

Lawyers and Lawmakers of Kentucky, by H. Levin, editor, 1897. 
Published by Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago. 
Reprinted by Southern Historical Press. p. 103. Franklin County.

WILLIAM H. HOLT, an eminent attorney of Frankfort, and ex-chief justice of the court 
of appeals, was born in Bath county, Kentucky, November 29, 1842. His early education 
was obtained in the common schools of his native county, supplemented by study in Twinsburg, 
Ohio, and in Fort Edward Institute, New York. Subsequently he attended the Albany Law 
University, of Albany, New York, where he was graduated in May, 1863, with the highest 
honors of his class. He was admitted to the bar on the 5th of May, of the same year, and 
in June, 1863, began practice in Mt. Sterling. His legal attainment of a high order insured 
his success, and within a short time he had secured a large clientage. He was recognized as 
one of the leaders of the bar of eastern Kentucky and continued in active practice in Mt. 
Sterling until 1884, when he was elected associate judge of the court of appeals. His eight 
years of service were marked by the utmost fidelity, and his carefully prepared decisions, 
based upon the principles of law, commanded the respect and excited the admiration of his 
fellow members of the court of last resort. While not aspiring to office, Judge Holt has 
taken an active interest in politics, and has always been a stalwart Republican. When a 
young man he canvassed eastern Kentucky for the thirteenth constitutional amendment, 
abolishing slavery. He has twice served as presidential elector and seconded the nomination 
of Hon. John Sherman at the Chicago convention in 1884. The district from which he was 
elected judge in 1884 is comprised of forty counties, and he enjoys the distinction of 
being the first Republican who has ever served the state as chief justice. Of undoubted 
integrity, untiring industry, fine intellect, eloquent in speech, he is known and recognized 
as one of the leading men of the state, and is numbered among the ablest all-round lawyers 
of the commonwealth.