Holt Collier was born into slavery in 1846 and was the slave of Howell Hinds. Hinds County is named after Howell's father, Gen. Thomas Hinds. At a very early age, Holt demonstrated his marksmanship with the rifle. At the age of 10, he killed his first Black Bear which would be one of over 3000 killed by Holt. At the outbreak of the War for Southern Independence, Holt's master and son left for the War after giving him his freedom papers and being told he was too young to fight and to remain on the plantation. Holt disobeyed his master by running away from the plantation, stowing away on a riverboat and joining Howell and his son in Memphis, TN. Holt, by choice, joined the 9th Texas Brigade serving in Company I throughout the War. During Reconstruction, Holt was accused and acquitted for the alleged murder of Captain James King by a military tribunal in Vicksburg. Holt left the state on advice given by William A. Percy of Greenville going to Texas working as a cowboy on the ranch of his former commander, Sullivan Ross, future Governor of Texas. Upon the murder of his former master, Holt returned to Greenville for his funeral and remained in Greenville for the rest of his life. Holt became nationally known in 1903 as the guide for the Teddy Roosevelt Bear Hunt of that year. This hunt gave rise to the "Teddy Bear" when Teddy refused to shoot a bear captured by Holt and tied to a tree. Holt lived to the age of about 90, passing from this life on August 1, 1936. Holt was buried on August 3 in Live Oak Cemetery which is located on the old Plumridge Plantation where Holt grew-up and hunted black bear.
Holt Collier was born into slavery in 1846 and was the slave of Howell Hinds. Hinds County is named after Howell's father, Gen. Thomas Hinds. At a very early age, Holt demonstrated his marksmanship with the rifle. At the age of 10, he killed his first Black Bear which would be one of over 3000 killed by Holt. At the outbreak of the War for Southern Independence, Holt's master and son left for the War after giving him his freedom papers and being told he was too young to fight and to remain on the plantation. Holt disobeyed his master by running away from the plantation, stowing away on a riverboat and joining Howell and his son in Memphis, TN. Holt, by choice, joined the 9th Texas Brigade serving in Company I throughout the War. During Reconstruction, Holt was accused and acquitted for the alleged murder of Captain James King by a military tribunal in Vicksburg. Holt left the state on advice given by William A. Percy of Greenville going to Texas working as a cowboy on the ranch of his former commander, Sullivan Ross, future Governor of Texas. Upon the murder of his former master, Holt returned to Greenville for his funeral and remained in Greenville for the rest of his life. Holt became nationally known in 1903 as the guide for the Teddy Roosevelt Bear Hunt of that year. This hunt gave rise to the "Teddy Bear" when Teddy refused to shoot a bear captured by Holt and tied to a tree. Holt lived to the age of about 90, passing from this life on August 1, 1936. Holt was buried on August 3 in Live Oak Cemetery which is located on the old Plumridge Plantation where Holt grew-up and hunted black bear.
