Career
Born, on a farm, in the town of Franklin, Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, Holly learned the butcher"s trade when he was nineteen years old and established a record of slaughtering and dressing a beef complete for the block in 4 minutes and 26 seconds. He owned a meat market in Tisch Mills, Wisconsin, for eighteen years, and since 1910, owned a farm in the town of Carlton, in Kewaunee County. Holly served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1921 to 1927 and was a Republican.
Holly was in the dairy and cheese cooperative movements.
Holly died at his daughter"s house in Kewaunee, Wisconsin after being in failing health.