My 'Welcome' mentions my old Yahoo! pages that were wiped out. I created web pages with a neat program that put in links for parents/children and to source notes on documentation. It help me connect with distant relatives doing a search on unique family names.
I've found a home for a similar display of the pedigree and family groups in Rootsweb's World Connect. Users upload databases and the data is displayed in a group sheet format with links to children and parents. It is also displayed as pedigree charts, which makes for interesting viewing.
Some lines seem to go on for centuries. Others come to a screeching halt -- in my case, I'm certain, indicating a particular line changed their name to protect the guilty, or just never paid taxes.
My database on Rootsweb can be found under (of all things!) Blick's Family Workbook. How appropriate!! Please stop by. There are thousands of names there. I'm just getting started here.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
James Madison Holley (1877-1960)
James Madison Holley (1 November 1877-18 February 1960) was the fifth child born to Sion and Mary Elizabeth (Holleman) Holley. He was the first to be born in Polk county, Arkansas after the family moved there in 1877. He shows up as two-year-old Madison on the 1880 census, Ozark township.
Pages from Sion's Bible show his full name as James Madison and gives his birth date as 1 November 1877. His nickname was Matt, and both family and friends called him Uncle Matt. Even we grandchildren were caught between Grampa Holley and Uncle Matt.
In 1899 he filed for homestead in Sec 4, Twp 85, R32W, registered on Page 108, Book 67 in State Land Office Records for Polk County, Arkansas. While farming, he also worked at the saw and grist mills owned by his brother-in-law, Sam Witherspoon.
On 12 November 1899 he married Lydia Jane Walden (11 March 1881-15 March 1961). There was a fifty-cent revenue stamp on the copy, and a ten-cent revenue stamp on the certificate of marriage. That document tells us that J. M. Holley of Vandervoort, Polk, Arkansas, aged 22 and Miss Lydia Walden of Vandervort, aged 18, were married by S E. Choate.
When the 1900 Census was taken they were living on their homestead with Matt's brother, Mike Treece, age 9. By 1909, they had four children -- Ocie Irene, Grace Helen, Lester Ellis and Elza Monroe. Between 1909 and 1913 Matt and family moved by train to Beckham county, Oklahoma with Alvin Phillips family, son-in-law to his oldest sister, Susan Frances (Holley) Witherspoon. Their fifth child, Elmer Jerry, was born there.
The family eventually settled in Victory, Jackson county, Oklahoma, moving from Beckham county in a covered wagon. During one reunion, the trip was discussed by Ocie and Grace, who remembered the move during their teen years.
In Victory, John opened a blacksmith/garage with his brother-in-law, James Monroe "Bud" Minyard, married to Nancy Jane Holley. Two other brothers lived nearby, John Wilson, with his wife Josetta Merchant, and George Edward (known as Uncle Ed) who never married.
Lydia, known by all as Aunt Liddie, was a midwife, serving the Victory community for decades. Matt and Liddie attended the Victory Methodist Church. Although services were held each Sunday, there was not always a minister attending. In the 1950's the small frame church held mixed congregations, serving the entire community.
Farming and the blacksmith shop provided for the family. There is a tennet from that blacksmith shop donated to the Museum of the Western Prairie, Altus, Oklahoma, by his son, Elmer. A three-hook grapple and ice tongs made by Matt in the shop are in the possession of his granddaughter.
Both Matt and Liddie, and many other relatives of their generation, were buried in the Victory Cemetery.
Pages from Sion's Bible show his full name as James Madison and gives his birth date as 1 November 1877. His nickname was Matt, and both family and friends called him Uncle Matt. Even we grandchildren were caught between Grampa Holley and Uncle Matt.
In 1899 he filed for homestead in Sec 4, Twp 85, R32W, registered on Page 108, Book 67 in State Land Office Records for Polk County, Arkansas. While farming, he also worked at the saw and grist mills owned by his brother-in-law, Sam Witherspoon.
On 12 November 1899 he married Lydia Jane Walden (11 March 1881-15 March 1961). There was a fifty-cent revenue stamp on the copy, and a ten-cent revenue stamp on the certificate of marriage. That document tells us that J. M. Holley of Vandervoort, Polk, Arkansas, aged 22 and Miss Lydia Walden of Vandervort, aged 18, were married by S E. Choate.
When the 1900 Census was taken they were living on their homestead with Matt's brother, Mike Treece, age 9. By 1909, they had four children -- Ocie Irene, Grace Helen, Lester Ellis and Elza Monroe. Between 1909 and 1913 Matt and family moved by train to Beckham county, Oklahoma with Alvin Phillips family, son-in-law to his oldest sister, Susan Frances (Holley) Witherspoon. Their fifth child, Elmer Jerry, was born there.
The family eventually settled in Victory, Jackson county, Oklahoma, moving from Beckham county in a covered wagon. During one reunion, the trip was discussed by Ocie and Grace, who remembered the move during their teen years.
In Victory, John opened a blacksmith/garage with his brother-in-law, James Monroe "Bud" Minyard, married to Nancy Jane Holley. Two other brothers lived nearby, John Wilson, with his wife Josetta Merchant, and George Edward (known as Uncle Ed) who never married.
Lydia, known by all as Aunt Liddie, was a midwife, serving the Victory community for decades. Matt and Liddie attended the Victory Methodist Church. Although services were held each Sunday, there was not always a minister attending. In the 1950's the small frame church held mixed congregations, serving the entire community.
Farming and the blacksmith shop provided for the family. There is a tennet from that blacksmith shop donated to the Museum of the Western Prairie, Altus, Oklahoma, by his son, Elmer. A three-hook grapple and ice tongs made by Matt in the shop are in the possession of his granddaughter.
Both Matt and Liddie, and many other relatives of their generation, were buried in the Victory Cemetery.
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