| Notes |
- Melvin F. Holter, one of the leading and prosperous agriculturists of Middletown District, Frederick County, Maryland, resided one mile west of Braddock Heights, on the road leading from Middletown to Jefferson. He was a son of William and Elizabeth J. (Coblentz) Holter, and was born, May 31, 1866, in Ballinger District, Frederick County, Maryland, on the farm owned by Professor Harry.
The Holter family was of German lineage. The first members of the family in this country, located in Frederick County, Maryland, George Holter, great-grandfather of Melvin F. Holter, settled in Frederick County about 1768. He was married February 4, 1776, to Margaret Arnold. Children of George and Margaret Holter were:
1. Jacob
2. Catharine
3. John
4. Daniel
5. Magdalene
6. Sarah
7. George
8. William
9. Margaret.
About 1815, Jacob and Catharine went to Pennsylvania, and settled in Centre County. Jacob walked from Centre County, Pennsylvania, and returned, a distance of 220 miles, or 440 in the trip, to see his brother and sisters in Frederick County, Maryland. George and John settled in Meigs County, Ohio, about 1817. The other members of the family settled in Frederick County, Maryland.
William Holter, the grandfather of Melvin P. Holter, lived near Feagaville, Frederick County. He was engaged in farming. He served in the War of 1812, and in 1814, participated in the defense of Baltimore, Maryland, against the British commanded by General Ross.
In religion, he was connected with Mount Zion Reformed Church in Feagaville.
He was married to Magdalena Beard. They were the parents of the following children:
1. George B.
2. William
3. Susan
4. Mary
5. Sarah
6. Peter
7. Samuel L.
8. John, killed in childhood by being dragged by a horse after becoming entangled in the harness
9. Elizabeth, married to James Heines.
William Holter, son of William and Magdalena (Beard) Holter, and father of Melvin F. Holter, was born November 17, 1832, and died January 27, 1899. He was brought up on a farm owned by his father, near Feagaville, Frederick County, and was actively engaged in farming nearly all of his life. For many years he was the leader of the choir in Mt. Zion Reformed Church near Feagaville. After his marriage he resided on a farm in Ballinger District, in the possession of Professor Harry. He next moved to Washington County, Maryland, and purchased a farm near Brownsville, where he remained for four years. Having disposed of this farm, he returned to Frederick County, and rented a farm near Jefferson; soon after, however, he bought the old Joseph Banner farm of 95 acres, situated three miles north of Jefferson, where he lived until his death.
He was very successful in farming, and at his death owned, besides the home place, the Peter Culler farm of 256 acres. Mr. Holter was strictly a self-made man. He started life without a dollar, and when he first began to make his own way was forced to work as a laborer, and for a short time was employed as a carpenter and fence builder. However, he was industrious and persevering, and all of his business dealings were characterized by the strictest integrity. These qualities brought him well merited success. He was highly esteemed in the community in which he made his home.
Politically, he was a Democrat.
At the time of his death he was a member of Christ Reformed Church in Middletown, in which he served as a deacon and as an elder.
Mr. Holter was married to Elizabeth J. Coblentz. The date of this marriage was March 23, 1864. She was a daughter of John and Sarah (Remsburg) Coblentz. William and Elizabeth J. (Coblentz) Holter were the parents of six children:
1. Melvin Franklin
2. John William, of Jefferson
3. Charles Richard
4. Albert Edward, resided on the old home farm in Jefferson District
5. Alma Sarah
6. Florence Virginia
Melvin Franklin Holter, son of William and Elizabeth (Coblentz) Holter, was brought up on his father's farm in Jefferson District, where he received his education in the public schools. He followed farming all of his life. He was the possessor of a fine farm known as the Zentmyer place, situated one mile west of Braddock Heights, on the road from Middletown to Jefferson. This place of 160 acres was one of the best farms in the Middletown Valley, and had upon it one of the best bank barns in the vicinity, being 106 by 46 feet. In 1856, Henry Remsburg sold this farm to Jacob Zentmyer. Tobias Horine acquired it in 1867; Daniel Kefauver in 1868; his son, D. Edward Kefauver, in 1876; and Mr. Holter purchased it in 1902.
Mr. Holter was one of the prosperous and well known farmers of the district. He was a trustee of the Derr Spring School, and one of the directors of the Valley Savings Bank, of Middletown. In politics, he is an adherent of the Democracy.
In religion, he was affiliated with the Reformed Church, being a member of Christ Church in Middletown, in which he served as a deacon, and is now an elder.
Melvin F. Holter was married, February 20, 1895, to Annie C. Kefauver, daughter of D. Edward and Annie Virginia (Culler) Kefauver. They were the parents of five children:
1. Annie Elizabeth
2. Edward Franklin
3. Elise Virginia
4. Viola Gwyndolyn
5. Daniel Vernon.
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Our Family History
1795 - 1868 (72 years)
