Civil War Records of Abner Dumont Holt

 

Obituary of Abner Dumont Holt

Concord Enterprise, July 25, 1923

 

newspaper clipping

                       

OLDEST VETERAN OF
CIVIL WAR DIED

Abner D. Holt was Patriotic Leader of Town for Half a Century

    Abner D. Holt, oldest Civil War veteran and patriotic leader of this town for half a century died at his home on Summer St. on Wednesday July 18 at 11 in the morning. He had been confined to his bed for months with illness incident to advanced age. The old veteran answered the last call peacefully, gently passing to the beyond surrounded by his family.
     Mr. Holt, 84 years of age, was born in Wilton, N.H., the son of Abner and Bertha Holt. He married Abbie [   ] of Lowell, May 8, ’67, whom he survived several years. He leaves two children Fred Holt of Maynard and Mrs. Anna Ramsdell of Boston.
     Mr. Holt was a resident of Lowell when the Civil War broke. He enlisted at the first call and with Capt. Howe of Lowell joined General Butler in his expedition on New Orleans. After the first enlistment expired he joined the Butler Rifles and when this outfit disbanded he enlisted in Bo. M.V.M. He was in many engagements. And served with his company until discharged after the war.
     In 1869 Mr. Holt established a plumbing and heating business in West Acton. In 1872 he moved his business to Maynard for nearly two score years his plumbing and heating business was the largest in these parts. He served the town as Selectman in 1877.
     He was always prominent in G.A.R. circles. He was commander of the old Henry Wilson Post G.A.R. that existed in Maynard in the early days and later was commander of Isaac Davis post. G.A.R. of West Acton with which he affiliated when the Wilson Pact surrendered its charter.
     He was a charter member of May’d Lodge I OOF and was prominent in Odd Fellow circles of the state in his younger days. He held every office in the gift of the local lodge.
     One of the active members of the Methodist church he served for 25 years as chairman of the trustees and continued his service to the church until advance age limited his activities.
     Funerary services held on Saturday afternoon at 2 at his late home were attended by large numbers. Rev. CF Redstone, pastor of the Methodist church officiated. Quartette selections were sung by Elmer Cook, Wm Johnston, Ralph Jones and Linsey Smith.
     The bearers were Frank Rand, Thomas Denniston, George Smith, George Newton, Martin Dewitt and Richard Purmenter of Maynard Lodge I O O F.
newspaper clipping 2      While it was not a military funeral the patriotic orders were represented. Isaac Davis Post G A R [was] represented by a delegation of five old Civil War comrades of the deceased led by George Towne, commander. Frank J De Mars Post A L had a delgation representing the army and navy in uniform. The soldiers were Frank Downey, stanley Dudlinki, Arthur Moynihan, John Carey and Commander Loenard Smith and the sailors were Carl Peterson, Daniel Connors, Percy Taylor, Eden Tobin, William Coughlin bugler sounded taps at the grave.
     Interment was in the family lot at Glenwood cemetery. There was an abundance of floral tributes.