William T. was a son of James and Kenhappage (Keith) HOLMES of Harrison Co., KY and Vermillion Co., IL. William m. 1866 to Sarah JOHNS; served in 3rd IN Calvary, was personal bodyguard to Gen George A. Custer, and won Congressional Medal of Honor; moved in 1867 to Joplin, MO; d. 31 Aug 1916, while visiting relatives in St.Clair Co., MO. [civil war information on Holmes family supplied by Raymond O. Wilson, robertowilson@mindspring.com]

Ann Larabee has just published a book about the most infamous Keith in modern memory, Alexander Keith, Jr., the infamous nephew of Alexander Keith of Keith’s Brewery in Halifax.  It’s called The Dynamite Fiend: The Chilling Tale of a Confederate Agent, Con Artist, and Mass Murderer, and has some discussion of the old Keith Clan in Scotland. I think it would be of real interest to Keiths everywhere. It’s available in all major bookstores and amazon.com.

This a very interesting book, written by a Keith, on the history of the founding of Hollywood. Many of the stories are untold treasures that were hidden away in the family attic for years. At last you can learn how Hollywood got its name and who the Scot behind its creation really was. Nominated for many awards, including the Pulitzer Prize. An added benefit is the author will speak at your meetings.

Written by Gaelyn Whitley Keith, who is a California native and a graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. A writer, she wrote for South Bay Magazine and was awarded top honors in a national writing competition. Ms. Keith is working on her second book, The Father of Hollywood: After That.

See: TheFatherOfHollywood.com