Margaret Elizabeth "Betty" Holden

Margaret Elizabeth "Betty" Holden was born March 1865, in Mississippi, according to census records. She was the daughter of Richard James D. Holden and Martha Caroline George.

Betty married Jesse Henry Holt about 1885, in Arkansas. Jesse Holt was born November 1856, in Arkansas, the son of Amos Ammon Holt and Sabra Jane Jones. 

Amos Holt was born June 1825, in Wayne County, Tennessee and died 1913, at Gilbert, in Searcy County, Arkansas.   Sabra Jones was born May 1825, in Alabama and died 1919, in Searcy County.   They are buried in Silver Hill Cemetery, in Searcy County.   Census indicates they had 11 children.   Their children included (1) Margaret Jane Holt, b. 1851, TN, m. Henry Middleton; (2) William S. Holt, b. 1854, AR, m. Nancy Jane Wallis; (3) Jesse Henry Holt, b. 1856, AR, m. Margaret Elizabeth "Betty" Holden; (4) Enoch Sylvester Holt, b. 1865, AR, m. Georgia Shannon; (5) Adeline J. Holt, b. 1868, AR; (6) Sarah E. Holt, b. 1870, AR; (7) Amos Wayne Holt, b. 1873, AR and (8) John Holt, b. 1875, AR.

Jesse Holt was a blacksmith and a farmer.

The 1900 Sebastian County, Arkansas census, Big Creek Township, shows Jess H. Holt, head, 48, born November 1851, in AR, father born in TN, mother born in AL, married 26 years, a blacksmith; Margaret E., wife, 35, born March 1865, in MS, father and mother born in TN, married 15 years, given birth to 5 children, 4 children still living; James L., son, 13, born August 1886, in AR; Sarah E., daughter, 11, born May 1899, in AR; Elizabeth J., daughter, 7, born September 1892, in AR; Allen A., son, 5, born February 1895, in AR and Leona Stephenes, servant, 15, born August 1884, in AR. 

Jess appears on the 1910 LeFlore County, Oklahoma, census living in Shady Point Township with the family of Archibald Roberts.  Jess is shown to be 57, widowed, and a blacksmith who owned his own shop.  

The 1910 Hughes County, Oklahoma census, Town of Calvin, Ward 3 shows George G. Gates, 31, married twice, married 2 years, born OK, night watchman for railroad; Francis, wife, 21, married 1 time, married 2 years, had given birth to 1 children, 1 child still living, born AR; Elizabeth Holt, mother-in-law, 45, widow, had given birth to 6 children, 3 children still living, born AR, cook in restaurant, and Andrew Holt, brother-in-law, 15, born AR.  

(Note: I have a picture of Betty's daughter, Jane, and on the back of the picture is written "Miss Jane Holt, Calvin, Okla.". The picture was probably made between 1910 and 1920.) 

We believe Jesse Holt died prior to 1920. 

The 1920 Muskogee County, Martin Township, Oklahoma, census shows Jacob W. Holt, 32, born OK, farmer; Liza J., 27, wife; Gabril J., 10, son, born OK; Thomas H., 8, son, born OK; Betty Holt, 52, mother-in-law, widow and Allen A. Holt, 24, hired man. 

My mother said that in the early 1940's, my grandmother Adaline, who was a sister to Aunt Betty Holt, went to Porum to visit with her for a couple of days. One of my daddy's brothers took her out there and they stayed over the weekend and he brought my grandmother back home.

A letter from Dortha Gamel, a Holden cousin also doing research on the family says, "Around 20 years ago, in 1979, I got in touch with a granddaughter of Richard and Martha's, a daughter of their son James Holden, named Fannie Holden Blevins, and this is what she wrote me. "Richard Holden married Martha George, three of their children lived to be grown; Bettie Holden, married Jess Holt, they had two daughters named Francis and Jane, one son named Andy.....". My daddy said that he knew Aunt Betty had a daughter named Jane and a son named Andy.

Betty died July 27, 1954, at Porum, in Haskell County, Oklahoma.  She is buried in Fields Cemetery at Porum.

Children of Jesse Holt and Betty Holden