Joseph's cremated remains were not initally taken after his death and were available at the Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who is related. Between 2015 and 2019 his ashes were returned to his family or tribe. More information about unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a short documentary film by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
Joseph was born on 3/11/1890 to Thomas Miller Holt and Indiana Frances Beesley in Mountain Grove, in southern Missouri. It is likely that he was named for his grandfathers, Joseph C. Beasley and Jacob Holt. Although many researchers show his middle name as Jackson, he signed his name Joseph Jacob Holt so that is assumed to be correct.
It is said that Joseph’s mother may have been part Cherokee. Her parents Joseph Beesley and Elizabeth Fenix were both born in Kentucky in the 1820s, moved to Tennessee, back to Kentucky, then to Indiana and finally to Missouri. They had at least 10 children and it appears no one in the family identified as Native American.
Joseph had 10 full siblings. The six who were alive in 1929 included: Andrew Jackson Holt, Eliza Adams, Sarah Winn, Mary Wick, Christine Freeman, and John Holt.
When Joseph was about 9 years old (in 1899) his father died. His mother married John W. Skyles. In 1901 she moved from Missouri to Independence, Oregon and it is likely Joseph and several of his siblings moved to the Willamette Valley at the same time. Joseph’s mother married Franklin Richardson in 1906.
On 5/2/1908 in Benton County, Oregon, Joseph married Martha Ellen Lawrence. It was the first marriage for each of them. She was born in Oregon in 1888. On 3/19/1909 they had a daughter they named Estella Helena (aka Stella Lena). During the census of 1910 the family lived in Linn County, Oregon where Joseph did odd jobs. In 1911 their son Norman F. Holt was born. In August 1915 Joseph and Martha were divorced. Martha married Guy Wood. She and the two children were living with Guy in Rickreall, Polk County, Oregon where he was a farmer.
In June 1917 Joseph was living in Denver, Colorado where he was single and worked as a cook in the Colorado National Guard. He identified as caucasian.
Joseph's step-father, Franklin Richardson, died in 1927 and Joseph’s mother married Robert Nation in 1928. She died in 1929. Her obituary indicated Joseph’s whereabouts were unknown at that time.
Joseph’s daughter, Stella, married Verne Martin about 1927. They had 4 children. Verne died in 1935. She married Edward Picard in 1937, then Cecil Drew before 1940. He died in 1942. In April 1942 during the WWII draft registration Joseph was a patient at the National Military Home in Los Angeles, California. His emergency contact person was his daughter, “Mrs. Stella Drew of 720 North Commercial St. in Salem, Oregon.” She married Charles Barker in 1962 and Orville Farnam before 1974.
**** This section added ****
Joseph lived in San Diego, California for about twenty years before retuning to Oregon. During that time he was married to Maria 'Mary' Gonzalez (married on 23 Jul 1921 in San Diego, ca) and had three children with her: Albert Jack Holt, David Victor Holt and Virginia Lee Holt. In 1942 he registered for the WWII Draft in L.A. Ca and stated he lived at the "National Military Home" in that city and gave Stella Drew as the person to contact. Currently there is no documentation of a divorce.
**********
On 5/31/1946 Joseph married Mary E. Wise Tupper Arnett in Clark County, Washington. They were both living in Polk County, Oregon at that time. Mary was about 19 years older than Joseph. She had previously been married to Murray Arnett of Polk County and before that was the widow of Andy Tupper. Before that she was married to Mr. Wise. Her maiden name is yet unknown.
On 5/9/1949 Joseph was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital in Salem, Oregon. He died there 3 years and 4 months later after a short bout of pneumonia. He was 62 years old.
His son Norman married Sarah Brown in 1928. They had 5 children. Norman died of a heart attack in 1958 at the age of 47. Joseph’s wife Mary was living in Portland, Oregon after his death and she died in 1965. His first wife, Martha Wood, died in 1969 and was buried at Hilltop Cemetery in Independence, Polk County, Oregon. Daughter Stella died in 2/1/2000 in Sacramento. She was also buried at Hilltop Cemetery in Independence. Estella Farnam was her name at the time of her death.
Joseph was born on 3/11/1890 to Thomas Miller Holt and Indiana Frances Beesley in Mountain Grove, in southern Missouri. It is likely that he was named for his grandfathers, Joseph C. Beasley and Jacob Holt. Although many researchers show his middle name as Jackson, he signed his name Joseph Jacob Holt so that is assumed to be correct.
It is said that Joseph’s mother may have been part Cherokee. Her parents Joseph Beesley and Elizabeth Fenix were both born in Kentucky in the 1820s, moved to Tennessee, back to Kentucky, then to Indiana and finally to Missouri. They had at least 10 children and it appears no one in the family identified as Native American.
Joseph had 10 full siblings. The six who were alive in 1929 included: Andrew Jackson Holt, Eliza Adams, Sarah Winn, Mary Wick, Christine Freeman, and John Holt.
When Joseph was about 9 years old (in 1899) his father died. His mother married John W. Skyles. In 1901 she moved from Missouri to Independence, Oregon and it is likely Joseph and several of his siblings moved to the Willamette Valley at the same time. Joseph’s mother married Franklin Richardson in 1906.
On 5/2/1908 in Benton County, Oregon, Joseph married Martha Ellen Lawrence. It was the first marriage for each of them. She was born in Oregon in 1888. On 3/19/1909 they had a daughter they named Estella Helena (aka Stella Lena). During the census of 1910 the family lived in Linn County, Oregon where Joseph did odd jobs. In 1911 their son Norman F. Holt was born. In August 1915 Joseph and Martha were divorced. Martha married Guy Wood. She and the two children were living with Guy in Rickreall, Polk County, Oregon where he was a farmer.
In June 1917 Joseph was living in Denver, Colorado where he was single and worked as a cook in the Colorado National Guard. He identified as caucasian.
Joseph's step-father, Franklin Richardson, died in 1927 and Joseph’s mother married Robert Nation in 1928. She died in 1929. Her obituary indicated Joseph’s whereabouts were unknown at that time.
Joseph’s daughter, Stella, married Verne Martin about 1927. They had 4 children. Verne died in 1935. She married Edward Picard in 1937, then Cecil Drew before 1940. He died in 1942. In April 1942 during the WWII draft registration Joseph was a patient at the National Military Home in Los Angeles, California. His emergency contact person was his daughter, “Mrs. Stella Drew of 720 North Commercial St. in Salem, Oregon.” She married Charles Barker in 1962 and Orville Farnam before 1974.
**** This section added ****
Joseph lived in San Diego, California for about twenty years before retuning to Oregon. During that time he was married to Maria 'Mary' Gonzalez (married on 23 Jul 1921 in San Diego, ca) and had three children with her: Albert Jack Holt, David Victor Holt and Virginia Lee Holt. In 1942 he registered for the WWII Draft in L.A. Ca and stated he lived at the "National Military Home" in that city and gave Stella Drew as the person to contact. Currently there is no documentation of a divorce.
**********
On 5/31/1946 Joseph married Mary E. Wise Tupper Arnett in Clark County, Washington. They were both living in Polk County, Oregon at that time. Mary was about 19 years older than Joseph. She had previously been married to Murray Arnett of Polk County and before that was the widow of Andy Tupper. Before that she was married to Mr. Wise. Her maiden name is yet unknown.
On 5/9/1949 Joseph was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital in Salem, Oregon. He died there 3 years and 4 months later after a short bout of pneumonia. He was 62 years old.
His son Norman married Sarah Brown in 1928. They had 5 children. Norman died of a heart attack in 1958 at the age of 47. Joseph’s wife Mary was living in Portland, Oregon after his death and she died in 1965. His first wife, Martha Wood, died in 1969 and was buried at Hilltop Cemetery in Independence, Polk County, Oregon. Daughter Stella died in 2/1/2000 in Sacramento. She was also buried at Hilltop Cemetery in Independence. Estella Farnam was her name at the time of her death.
Joseph's cremated remains were not initally taken after his death and were available at the Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who is related. Between 2015 and 2019 his ashes were returned to his family or tribe. More information about unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a short documentary film by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
Joseph was born on 3/11/1890 to Thomas Miller Holt and Indiana Frances Beesley in Mountain Grove, in southern Missouri. It is likely that he was named for his grandfathers, Joseph C. Beasley and Jacob Holt. Although many researchers show his middle name as Jackson, he signed his name Joseph Jacob Holt so that is assumed to be correct.
It is said that Joseph’s mother may have been part Cherokee. Her parents Joseph Beesley and Elizabeth Fenix were both born in Kentucky in the 1820s, moved to Tennessee, back to Kentucky, then to Indiana and finally to Missouri. They had at least 10 children and it appears no one in the family identified as Native American.
Joseph had 10 full siblings. The six who were alive in 1929 included: Andrew Jackson Holt, Eliza Adams, Sarah Winn, Mary Wick, Christine Freeman, and John Holt.
When Joseph was about 9 years old (in 1899) his father died. His mother married John W. Skyles. In 1901 she moved from Missouri to Independence, Oregon and it is likely Joseph and several of his siblings moved to the Willamette Valley at the same time. Joseph’s mother married Franklin Richardson in 1906.
On 5/2/1908 in Benton County, Oregon, Joseph married Martha Ellen Lawrence. It was the first marriage for each of them. She was born in Oregon in 1888. On 3/19/1909 they had a daughter they named Estella Helena (aka Stella Lena). During the census of 1910 the family lived in Linn County, Oregon where Joseph did odd jobs. In 1911 their son Norman F. Holt was born. In August 1915 Joseph and Martha were divorced. Martha married Guy Wood. She and the two children were living with Guy in Rickreall, Polk County, Oregon where he was a farmer.
In June 1917 Joseph was living in Denver, Colorado where he was single and worked as a cook in the Colorado National Guard. He identified as caucasian.
Joseph's step-father, Franklin Richardson, died in 1927 and Joseph’s mother married Robert Nation in 1928. She died in 1929. Her obituary indicated Joseph’s whereabouts were unknown at that time.
Joseph’s daughter, Stella, married Verne Martin about 1927. They had 4 children. Verne died in 1935. She married Edward Picard in 1937, then Cecil Drew before 1940. He died in 1942. In April 1942 during the WWII draft registration Joseph was a patient at the National Military Home in Los Angeles, California. His emergency contact person was his daughter, “Mrs. Stella Drew of 720 North Commercial St. in Salem, Oregon.” She married Charles Barker in 1962 and Orville Farnam before 1974.
**** This section added ****
Joseph lived in San Diego, California for about twenty years before retuning to Oregon. During that time he was married to Maria 'Mary' Gonzalez (married on 23 Jul 1921 in San Diego, ca) and had three children with her: Albert Jack Holt, David Victor Holt and Virginia Lee Holt. In 1942 he registered for the WWII Draft in L.A. Ca and stated he lived at the "National Military Home" in that city and gave Stella Drew as the person to contact. Currently there is no documentation of a divorce.
**********
On 5/31/1946 Joseph married Mary E. Wise Tupper Arnett in Clark County, Washington. They were both living in Polk County, Oregon at that time. Mary was about 19 years older than Joseph. She had previously been married to Murray Arnett of Polk County and before that was the widow of Andy Tupper. Before that she was married to Mr. Wise. Her maiden name is yet unknown.
On 5/9/1949 Joseph was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital in Salem, Oregon. He died there 3 years and 4 months later after a short bout of pneumonia. He was 62 years old.
His son Norman married Sarah Brown in 1928. They had 5 children. Norman died of a heart attack in 1958 at the age of 47. Joseph’s wife Mary was living in Portland, Oregon after his death and she died in 1965. His first wife, Martha Wood, died in 1969 and was buried at Hilltop Cemetery in Independence, Polk County, Oregon. Daughter Stella died in 2/1/2000 in Sacramento. She was also buried at Hilltop Cemetery in Independence. Estella Farnam was her name at the time of her death.
Joseph was born on 3/11/1890 to Thomas Miller Holt and Indiana Frances Beesley in Mountain Grove, in southern Missouri. It is likely that he was named for his grandfathers, Joseph C. Beasley and Jacob Holt. Although many researchers show his middle name as Jackson, he signed his name Joseph Jacob Holt so that is assumed to be correct.
It is said that Joseph’s mother may have been part Cherokee. Her parents Joseph Beesley and Elizabeth Fenix were both born in Kentucky in the 1820s, moved to Tennessee, back to Kentucky, then to Indiana and finally to Missouri. They had at least 10 children and it appears no one in the family identified as Native American.
Joseph had 10 full siblings. The six who were alive in 1929 included: Andrew Jackson Holt, Eliza Adams, Sarah Winn, Mary Wick, Christine Freeman, and John Holt.
When Joseph was about 9 years old (in 1899) his father died. His mother married John W. Skyles. In 1901 she moved from Missouri to Independence, Oregon and it is likely Joseph and several of his siblings moved to the Willamette Valley at the same time. Joseph’s mother married Franklin Richardson in 1906.
On 5/2/1908 in Benton County, Oregon, Joseph married Martha Ellen Lawrence. It was the first marriage for each of them. She was born in Oregon in 1888. On 3/19/1909 they had a daughter they named Estella Helena (aka Stella Lena). During the census of 1910 the family lived in Linn County, Oregon where Joseph did odd jobs. In 1911 their son Norman F. Holt was born. In August 1915 Joseph and Martha were divorced. Martha married Guy Wood. She and the two children were living with Guy in Rickreall, Polk County, Oregon where he was a farmer.
In June 1917 Joseph was living in Denver, Colorado where he was single and worked as a cook in the Colorado National Guard. He identified as caucasian.
Joseph's step-father, Franklin Richardson, died in 1927 and Joseph’s mother married Robert Nation in 1928. She died in 1929. Her obituary indicated Joseph’s whereabouts were unknown at that time.
Joseph’s daughter, Stella, married Verne Martin about 1927. They had 4 children. Verne died in 1935. She married Edward Picard in 1937, then Cecil Drew before 1940. He died in 1942. In April 1942 during the WWII draft registration Joseph was a patient at the National Military Home in Los Angeles, California. His emergency contact person was his daughter, “Mrs. Stella Drew of 720 North Commercial St. in Salem, Oregon.” She married Charles Barker in 1962 and Orville Farnam before 1974.
**** This section added ****
Joseph lived in San Diego, California for about twenty years before retuning to Oregon. During that time he was married to Maria 'Mary' Gonzalez (married on 23 Jul 1921 in San Diego, ca) and had three children with her: Albert Jack Holt, David Victor Holt and Virginia Lee Holt. In 1942 he registered for the WWII Draft in L.A. Ca and stated he lived at the "National Military Home" in that city and gave Stella Drew as the person to contact. Currently there is no documentation of a divorce.
**********
On 5/31/1946 Joseph married Mary E. Wise Tupper Arnett in Clark County, Washington. They were both living in Polk County, Oregon at that time. Mary was about 19 years older than Joseph. She had previously been married to Murray Arnett of Polk County and before that was the widow of Andy Tupper. Before that she was married to Mr. Wise. Her maiden name is yet unknown.
On 5/9/1949 Joseph was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital in Salem, Oregon. He died there 3 years and 4 months later after a short bout of pneumonia. He was 62 years old.
His son Norman married Sarah Brown in 1928. They had 5 children. Norman died of a heart attack in 1958 at the age of 47. Joseph’s wife Mary was living in Portland, Oregon after his death and she died in 1965. His first wife, Martha Wood, died in 1969 and was buried at Hilltop Cemetery in Independence, Polk County, Oregon. Daughter Stella died in 2/1/2000 in Sacramento. She was also buried at Hilltop Cemetery in Independence. Estella Farnam was her name at the time of her death.
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