He and William H. Gale were jointly appointed by President Andrew Johnson.
[1][2] A native of Connecticut, Holly graduated from Kenyon College in Ohio.
After graduation, he studied law privately with Henry Stanbery and Thomas Ewing, Sr. in Ohio.
[3] During the American Civil War, Holly served in the Union Army as part of the 2nd Colorado Cavalry Regiment.
[5][6] Holly died on September 7, 1901, three days after his 82nd birthday, in Beulah, Colorado.