History of the Holloway Family

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Acknowledgements

There are so many people to thank for helping me piece my lineage and family history together.  My first thanks go to my Aunt Joanne Holloway Mann.  Although we've only met briefly over the years, she's been very gracious and cordial to us, letting us go through her photographs and sharing stories with us.  Of course, it was my cousin Linda Fryberger Ames who got me started by completing some of the earlier research herself and providing me with a copy of Family Tree Maker.  

The good folks of the Panola County Genealogy Forum sent us information from gravestones (about my great uncle and his family) and enabled me to connect with Mrs. Minnie Holloway Choron and her brother, J.D. Holloway (my grandfather's first cousins).  Minnie has forwarded some photos and information which I'll share with you all soon--and she made it possible for me to connect our family with Joseph Hubbard Holloway of Madison County, Alabama.   

WOW!  Minnie's package included color copies of individual portraits of her grandparents--Willie James and Sarah Elizabeth!  I also have discovered (it appears) Sarah Elizabeth's family (see Summerfords).  I'll get the portraits scanned and up as soon as I can. (10/4/98) 

Since then, the following people have provided the information and help which is reflected in the notes below and in the family outline on the other page:   

Margie Croney
Bill Selke
Teresa Neaves
Anne Coady
Dean Middleton
Don Raney
Nancy Pooley
Diane Keeton
Rebecca Jones
Dian Layman
Audrey Pool
Sue Holloway Clark
Sharon Annora Smith
Gary Horne
Fran Daniels
Linda McClain Stansell

Thank you all for your contributions and assistance. If I've left someone's name off this list, please let me know and forgive my oversight!  I am continuing to look for information that will help us fill the edges and gaps within this family outline.  If you have anything to contribute, please drop me a note!    
 

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My thanks to LaVerne of the Cumberland County, Virginia genealogy society for providing the following information (doing lookups--what a gift!) about John Holloway: 

Will Book 1, Page 153, Cumberland County, Virginia  

JOHN HOLLOWAY of Southam Parish, Cumberland Co., dated Dec 13 1757, Probated 24 July 1758.  Son, John Holloway's three daughters, viz: Sarah, Phebe, Drucilla, 200 a. of my 300 a. land beginning on West line running on both sides of Soake Arse Creek and a negro man when they arrive at age of 18 years; my son, James Holloway; my son, William Holloway, land where he enow lives; my son, Samuel Holloway, land where I live; my wife Hannah Holloway; granddaughter Mary Hudgens; daughter, Jane Meador; daughter Martha Hudgens. Ex:  wife Hanna and two sons James and William Holloway.  Wit:  John Bowden, John Hix, Charles Holand, Mary Bowden(?)  Securities: James Meador &  
Alexander Trent.  

page 160   Appraisal of estate of John Holloway, 24 July 1758  Ex:  James Holloway and William Holloway.  By:  Ralph Phlem....(?), William Clark, William B.....(?)  

Will Book 2, page 266  

Will of Hannah Holloway dated May 9, 1777  Probated 28 August 1780. Granddaughter Hannah Spiers Holloway.   Ex.  James Minter   Wit:   Thomas Suggit Hill, Moses Hubbard  

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I'm really just beginning to piece the Holloway History together.  My grandfather, Lawrence Everett (known as Sam to his friends and family) worked for the federal civil service for most of his life, as an electrical worker.  Among other jobs, that took him from Air Force installation to installation, Sam worked on the Corps of Engineer's construction at Oak Ridge, Tennessee during WW II.     

Sam met his first wife,  my grandmother (Ruby), while they both were working for a movie house.  Sam was the projectionist, and Ruby was the ticket-seller.  As I understand it, they worked in and around Bonham, TX, showing movies inside a tent that they moved from place to place.  Ruby took the two boys (my father, Jack, and his brother, Bob) and moved to California around 1935. Sam was married twice more--his third wife had worked as a lady wrestler in a carnival!      

According to family memory, Sam's father, Charles Hubbard, died when a peanut bale fell on him from the load he was hauling (Charlie was a teamster--drove a team of mules--in Gary, TX).  Charlie and his family were living in Gary, Panola County (adjacent to Shelby County) when he died.  Charles' brother, Oscar (who was nicknamed "Pony") lived in Panola County, also.  Liz Shepard graciously shares the following:  "I have been over at the Tennessee Cemetery. There is a Oscar Holloway 7/20/1883, died 3/4/1957 and wife Ada Maude, 02/08/1883- 07/26/1966."  Liz mentions that a Vernie J. Holloway is buried there also--but I'm don't know if Vernie is a member of our family. Perhaps someone reading this might help!  Thanks, Liz! 

Sam's cousin (Minnie--who remembers Sam by his middle name, Everett) also remembers how devastated the family was after Charlie's death.  Charlie's father, William James, had "moved his family  from a few miles outside of Birmingham, Alabama, to Caldonia, Texas, about ten miles from Timpson around 1884.  They moved by covered wagon and would stop at a river or creek so Grandma could cook and wash clothes."  From an article by Minnie H. Choron in the "The History of Shelby County Texas."   

Minnie Holloway  is a grand-daughter of William James Holloway.  According to Minnie, Willie James was born in Athens, Limestone County, Alabama. Willie James'  father, Joseph Hubbard Holloway, was a Baptist preacher in Madison for many years--his wife, Sally Holland, is buried in the Cole-Holloway Cemetery in Madison.  Joseph moved a few miles away after her death, and was laid to rest at the church cemetery in Swan Creek, Lincoln County, TN.     
    

History of Shelby County, TX 

Shelby County is on the eastern boundary of Texas being separated from DeSoto Parish and Sabine Parish, Louisiana by the Sabine River.  The county seat and largest town is Center, named for its geographic location of the county. Shelby County was first organized under the Mexican government as Tenehaw Municipality, found in 1824.  In 1836, the Congress of the Republic of Texas established Shelby County, named for Isaac Shelby, United State Revolutionary soldier from Tennessee.  In 1882, the courthouse in Center burned in a fire destroying all county records.  A new courthouse was built and completed in 1885 modeled on an Irish castle by architect John Joseph Emmett Gibson, an Irish immigrant.   In 1971, the courthouse was recognized in the National Register of Historic Places.  Today, the leading industries of Shelby County are poultry and egg processing, sawmills, road construction, agribusiness, general construction, manufacturing of hardwood flooring, hardwood veneer, and plywood. The Toledo Bend Reservoir and Sabine National Forest also attract many tourists.     

TIMPSON is on the Southern Pacific Railroad at the junctions of US Highway 87, 84, & 59, fifteen miles northwest of Center in northwestern Shelby County.  It was founded in 1885, when the Houston, East and West Texas Railway was being constructed through the area, and was named for P. B. Timpson, an engineer on the railroad.  Timpson received a post office that year with James H. Blankenship as first Postmaster.  In 1990, Timpson had 1,029 residents.    
    

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Bettie J. Marsh in her book THE NEAVES STORY says  "The Parents of Reese Neaves' first wife (Frances C Holloway) were Samuel (Junior) and Cary Wheeler Holloway.  Samuel was a farmer born in Cumberland Co., VA who was 84 years old at the time of the 1850 Madison Co. Alabama Census.  The value of his real estate at that time was $400.00.  He had a total of 15 children, 10 from his first marriage and 5 from his second marriage to Cary Wheeler.  One of his children became a Baptist minister and another an elected constable.     
    
From Teresa Neaves: "I've grown up hearing the story that Frances C. Holloway Neaves was killed by lightning.  My 87 year old aunt remembers the story this way:  Frances was sitting in a "straight chair" propped up against the wall of    
the house with a baby in her lap and a dog/cat under the chair when she was struck and killed by lightning.  The child lived. And, indeed, all the children show up in the 1870 census with Reese Neaves and his second wife.  I keep thinking some Madison county paper would have recorded this event but haven't had a chance to search."    
 
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Teresa has also provided the following information about Samuel Holloway Jr., and his son, Simon Minton Holloway:    
This comes from:  Madison County, Alabama Probate Records--Wills 1853-1876.  Microfilm #1305731; Item 2; Vol. 1.    

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF SAMUEL HOLLOWAY, DECEASED.    

I, Samuel Holloway of Madison County, State of Alabama, being weeke in boddy, though sound in mind and memory, do make this my last will and testament in manner and form as follows--First, I will and bequeath to my loveing wife Cary Holloway all my Estate both real and perishable, after all my just debts are paid, to have and to hold the said property,    
during her natural lifetime and after her death it is my further will and desire that my daughter Frances C. Neaves, wife of Milas R. Neaves and her husband shall have and hold all my real estate--and the perishable property to be equally divided shere and shere alike between my three daughters, Frances C. Neaves, wife of Milas R. Neaves, and    
Martha S. Sullivan, wife of Littleberry Sullivan, and Polly H. Holloway.--I doe hereby nominate and appoint my loveing wife Cary Holloway to be executrix to this my last will and testament.--In Testimony whereof I doe hereunto set my hand and seal this 1st day of March 1853.     

Sam Holloway.    
--Signed sealed published and delivered by the Testator as and for his last will and testament in presence of us.    
Larkin P. Sullivan    
John B. McHaffey    
Elias D. Winsett    
    

THE STATE OF ALABAMA.    
MADISON COUNTY.    
This day personally appeared before me, Ferdinand L. Hammond, Judge of Probate in and for said county, duly elected commissioned and qualified, John B. McCaffey and Larkin P. Sullivan two of the witnesses named above who upon being duly sworn, on oath state as follows to wit:  That each of them was present and saw Samuel Holloway sbuscribe his name to the within and foregoing will, and that at the request of the said SamuelHolloway they and each of them signed their names as witnesses to the same in the presence of the said Samuel Holloway and of each other, and also in the presence of one Elias D. Winsett, another subscribing witness who is now dead.--Affiants further state that at the time that said Samuel Holloway executed the said will, he was of sound and dis_____? mind and memory as they verily believe    

Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 8th day of June A.D.    
1857.----F.L. Hammond, Judge, P.C.    
John B. McHaffey    
L.P. Sullivan    

The State of Alabama    
Madison County.    
Court of Probate of Said County.  REgular Term, 8th June 1857.    
(See P.C. Minute Book, vo. 5, page 31.)    

--An Instrument in writing, purporting to be the last will and testament of Samuel Holloway, late of said county, deceased, having been heretofore, propounded for probate: and the execution of the same having been duly proven by the oaths of John B. McHaffey and Larkin P. Sullivan, two of the subscribing witnesses thereto, it is ordered by the court, that said instrument in writing be established as and for the true last will and testament of the said Samuel Holloway, deceased, and that the same as such be filed and recorded.----    
 
 

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From:  Alabama Records multi-volume set of abstraced records.    

    "Pro. Min. 3, page 70. Mar 30, 1854.  On the application of ELIAS WELBORN, administration of the Estate of THOMAS HOLLOWAY is committed to the Sheriff, GEORGE W. CARMICHAEL."    

    TERESA'S NOTES: [This Thomas is the son of Samuel Holloway, Jr. who predeceased his father.]    

    "Pro. Rec. 20, page 126.  Final settlement of GEORGE W. CARMICHAEL, admr. of THOMAS HOLLOWAY dec'd. April 1856.  Balance due estate $199.80.  Heirs not stated."    

    "Pro. Min. 3, page 514.  July 21, 1855.  WILLIAM H. HOLLOWAY applied for letters of guardianship for DANIEL R. HOLLOWAY; D.M. HOLLOWAY and D.M. BRADFORD, securities."    

    TERESA NOTES: [Daniel R. Holloway is the minor son of the deceased Thomas Holloway; and William H. is Daniel's brother who is "of age" and applying for guardianship of his brother.]    

    "Pro. Min. 3, page 576. October 25, 1859.  Letters of Guardianship to WILLIAM H. HOLLOWAY for DANIEL R. HOLLOWAY annulled. "    

    TERESA NOTES: [I think this date is a typo in the abstract; it's out of sequence and doesn't make sense if you follow the logistics here; I think it should be 1855. One way of knowing for sure is to check the original records.]    

    "Pro. Min. 3, page 577.  October 29, 1855.  Letters of Guardianship for DANIEL R. HOLLOWAY issued to JOSEPH HOLLOWAY."    

    RICHARD'S NOTES:  [Joseph was Thomas' older brother, and a preacher living in Madison Co at the time of his brother's death.]    

    "Pro. Min. 4, page 275. July 23, 1856.  Application of JOSEPH H. HOLLOWAY as guardian of DANIEL R. HOLLOWAY to sell Land Warrant No. 1968."    

    "Pro.Rec. 22, page 577.  Final settlement of guardian. "I DANIEL R. HOLLOWAY of Lincoln Co., Tenn., now above 21...7th June, 1858.  Receipt of DANIEL R. HOLLOWAY, 6 Feb. 1856 to GEORGE W. CARMICHAEL, admr. of THOMAS HOLLOWAY dec'd for $20.00.  On page 578 is shown 'DANIEL R. HOLLOWAY, child of THOMAS HOLLOWAY, late of said county, deceased.'"    

    "Pro. Min. 4, page 568.  21 March, 1857.  CARY HOLLOWAY *(50 N.C.)*, by her attorney, filed the will of SAMUEL HOLLOWAY *(84 V)*, who left his widow, the said CARY HOLLOWAY, twelve children and two grand-children, viz. NANCY CLARK *(56 V)*, formerly HOLLOWAY, wife of SAMUEL D. CLARK *(60 V)*, JOSEPH H. HOLLOWAY *(52 V)*, JACOB P. HOLLOWAY *(38 V)*, MARTHA S. SULLIVAN, *(22 A)* formerly HOLLOWAY wife of LITTLEBERRY SULLIVAN *(34 T, Married 1850)*, MARY H. HOLLOWAY, FRANCES G. NEAVES *(Married 1850, Vol. 53, p.5)* formerly HOLLOWAY, wife of MILUS R.   
    NEAVES *(22 A)*, all residents of Madison Co., Ala. and JESSE HOLLOWAY *(50 V, married 1837)* of DeCalb Co., Ala., SIMON HOLLOWAY (*40 V)* of Sumter Co., Ala., JOHN HOLLOWAY, SALLY TAYLOR *(married Jan. 5, 1826)* formerly HOLLOWAY wife of GEORGE TAYLOR, of Arkansas, SAMUEL HOLLOWAY of Iowa, and REBECCA H. COLE *(34 Va)* formerly HOLLOWAY, wife of HENRY COLE, of Tennessee.  All of said children are over 21.  WILLIAM H. HOLLOWAY and DANIEL R. HOLLOWAY, sons of THOMAS HOLLOWAY dec'd, a son of testator who died in his lifetime, the former over 21, and residing in Madison Co., Ala., the latter under 21 and of Tennessee, JOSEPH HOLLOWAY his guardian. 

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From Sue Holloway Clark (a descendent of Davis Milton Holloway):

Samuel, Rebecca and children (some with spouses) came to Madison Co. AL circa 1823.  Land was deeded to Samuel in Madison Co. in 1823 by Richard Davis.  At the time Samuel's will was proved Nancy, Joseph, Jacob, Martha, Mary and
Frances were residents of Madison Co. AL.  James was in DeCalb Co. AL, Simon in Sumter Co. AL and Samuel in Iowa. Will did not say where others were.  Rev. Joseph H. Holloway was living with his son, Davis Milton, on Swan Creek,
Lincoln Co. TN when he died of old age at age 71 in 1869. - Obit from newspaper.
 

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From "Life and Times of Saltillo"--    

"Soon after the Civil War, SIMON MINTON HOLLOWAY and his wife MARY ELIZABETH HORNE, came to Mississippi from Demopolis, Alabama, and settled just west of Saltillo.  The former Confederate soldier became a large land owner.  Mr. and Mrs. Holloway had three sons and two daughters.  The oldest son was Edward who married Glennie Anderson.  Hal    
married Inez Cole.  Hubbard married Sallie Means and had three children.  The daughters were Bettie Bell and Mary Orado.  Betty married John Erwin Bostick.  Mary Orado married Felix A. Tanner."    

There is a lovely white two-story home in downtown Saltillo, MS, which is still called THE HOLLOWAY HOUSE.  The J. Hubbard Holloway House was constructed in 1883 and is located at 191 North Third Avenue.  The original owners were Mr. McMear, F. Marion Roper, John W. Wesson---Interim owners:  J.H. Holloway and Mary and Olga Holloway.  The owner in 1979 was Rev. J.D. Walker.  It has double verandas with bannisters.  Eight columns with second floor balcony and wood railings; double front doors with side lights; it is a colonial plank structure with four conventional mantels, winding stairway, twelve foot ceilings and yard wide windows.  It was built by Jim McKinney.     
 

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Thanks to Bill Selke for the following information:    

John HOLLOWAY I * was born about 1700 in Essex Co., VA.  He died in 1757/58 in Cumberland Co., VA.  His will was dated 13 Dec. 1757 and proved 24 July 1758.  In 1745, while in Caroline Co. VA, he bought land in Cumberland Co. VA (then Goochland Co.).  He deeded land to his son, William, in 1750 and to his son, James, in 1751.  There is evidence that he or his family may have lived in Essex Co. VA and that his wife, Hannah, was the daughter of John Spiers of Essex Co. VA. He was married to Hannah or Susannah SPIERS * about 1728 in Essex Co., VA.    

A James Holloway, with wife Judith, in Cumberland Co. VA who moved to Mecklenburg Co. NC in 1762, was probably related to John Holloway.  The above information is from "Holloways of the South and Related Families" by  Stevens, published by Polyanthos, Inc., New Orleans, LA 70151.  The book is no longer in print but it is available on inter-library loan from Southeast Kansas Library System, 218 E. Madison Ave., Iola, KS 66749.   

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Phyllis Carter McLendon of Folkston, GA writes: Mary Holloway, daughter of John & Hannah Spiers, married Jonas Meadors, Jr. Their daughter, Phoebe b 1754 married Andrew Edwards c 1778 in SC.  Andrew Edwards was a Revolutionary War Soldier, R3262 SC Line. He died March 1819/20 in Laurens Co, SC. 

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From Minnie Lee Holloway Choron about the James Dudley Holloway family:  

Jim and Evie Holloway bought some land in the Huber Community.  Jim ran a gin and a cane mill.  He made syrup for most all the people around Huber.  Huber is eight miles from Timpson and eight miles from Center.  In 1917 Jim cut trees and had lumber made at Mr. Black's sawmill.  Then he had Mr. John Beasley to build a house.  The family moved into the new house in early 1918 and lived there until 1951 and they moved up the road one mile and lived there one year, moved to Tenaha for a year, then moved to Center to 102 Sanders Street and lived there until they both died.  Jim died February 16, 1962, and Evie Lena died Jun 13, 1967.  They both attended the Christian Church, Center, Texas. 

During World War II, James Lovis Holloway was in the air force in the motor patrol.  He went to England and crossed to France on D-Day.  He helped to clean up over there and ended up in Belgium.  He came home in September 1945.  Milton Travis Holloway was in the navy.  Jarrell Dean Holloway was in the air force as a navigator on a B-17.  He made his 50 missions and came back to the states.  Then he went to Alaska, California, Texas, Guam and other places.  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.