52 Ancestors -- #11: Benjamin Gordon Smith

Benjamin Gordon Smith

Benjamin Gordon Smith was born on November 18, 1882 in Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, a small town 35 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. He was the first of seven children born to John Milton Smith and Amanda Larimer Horne—Ben, George Nelson, Edith McCrum, Howard Stanley, Helen Margaret, Bertha Edna, and John Thompson Smith. Honoring his paternal grandmother Jane Gordon, Ben was given her maiden name as his middle name. Ben never married nor had children.

In 1884, Ben’s mother made a baby dress (pictured below) for young Ben. We found the dress in a dirty plastic bag inside a box hidden away in a shed after my mother-in-law died in 2006. Inside the bag was a note handwritten by Ben’s sister, Bertha, stating that it was Ben Smith’s baby dress made by his mother about 1884.

On January 21, 1900, Ben, or Bennie as he was often called, joined the Apollo Presbyterian Church. He was listed as Ben G. Smith in the registry. On June 25, 1900, Ben lived with his family in the Washington Township of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He was a clerk in some sort of depot (I’m unable to read the type of depot in the census record).

On October 24, 1906, Ben’s 18 year old blind sister Edith died of typhoid fever in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. She was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

On April 26, 1910, 27 year old Ben still lived at home in Paulton, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He was a Doubler in a sheet mill.

Ben's baby dress made in 1884

Ben’s father died on March 9, 1912 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

On March 18, 1913, Ben’s 17 year old sister Helen died of heart disease in Washington Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. She was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

On September 12, 1917, Ben registered for the World War I draft. He lived in Apollo and worked as a Catcher for the American Sheet Mill and Tin Plate Company in Vandergrift, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. His World War I Draft Registration Card states that he was short and slender and that he had blue eyes and dark hair.

On January 26, 1920, Ben lived with his widowed mother and siblings George, John, and Bertha on Apollo Road in Greensburg, Washington Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Ben was a Catcher in a steel mill.

On April 8, 1930, Ben, a laborer in a steel mill, still lived at home with his mother and a four year old nephew, John Athya. Ben and his mother Amanda moved John into their home to help Ben’s sister Bertha out at the birth of her second child. John ended up staying there and was raised by Ben and his mother.

Ben and nephew John Athya

On April 5, 1940, Ben was the head of the household, living with his mother and nephew John in Paulton. He was a helper in a steel mill.

On April 27, 1942, Ben registered for the World War II draft. He lived in Apollo and his telephone number was Vand. 1557-L. Ben listed his mother as the person who would always know his address. He was apparently retired as he listed his employer as “Pensioned.”

Ben’s mother died on January 11, 1943 in Washington Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. She was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

On December 17, 1949, Ben moved to Bedford, Bedford County, Virginia to live in the Elks Retirement Home after he was unable to care for himself. According to a 1949 Elks medical record, he had been employed as a clerical worker at Illinois Steel Corporation; his desired place of burial was Riverview Cemetery in Apollo, Pennsylvania; he had a sister who had epilepsy; he had previously had measles and mumps; he’d broken a finger on his right hand as a child; and had a hemorrhoidectomy in 1946. Ben wore glasses and had had dentures for 10 years. He weighed 100 pounds at the time, but had weighed 120 pounds six years previous. Ben’s hair was black and his eyes blue. He had hardening of the arteries and a hernia.

Ben was made a permanent resident on May 8, 1950. He left the home in November 1951. I assume he went home to Pennsylvania but don’t have any facts to back that assumption. He was re-admitted to the Elks Retirement Home in Virginia on March 7, 1953. He’d had no operations or illnesses since leaving the home in 1951. He complained of poor vision.

On December 15, 1957, Ben died at 1 PM in Bedford within 10 minutes of having a heart attack. He was buried in the Elks National Cemetery, a section of Oakwood Cemetery designated as the burial place for residents of the Elks National Home.

52 Ancestors -- #10: Minor Smith Hobbs

Keeping with the Civil War veterans ...

Minor Smith Hobbs, the son of Nathan Augustus Hobbs, Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Lankford, was born on July 24, 1830 in Greene County, Georgia. He was the sixth of eight children—Robert L., Joel Garner, Rebecca B., Caroline B., Nathan Augustus Jr., Minor Smith, Elizabeth Fanny, and Marian Langford Hobbs.

On August 14, 1850, Minor lived with his family in the 14th district of Greene County. He was a 19 year old farmer. His sister Caroline B. Hobbs and her husband James M. Lankford lived three houses away.

On June 4, 1860, the family lived in Penfield, Greene County, Georgia. Minor was 27 and still living at home. His occupation was painter.



3rd Georgia Regiment Battle Flag, Georgia State Capitol

3rd Georgia Regiment Kettle Drum, Georgia State Capitol

On April 26, 1861, Minor enlisted as a Private in Company C (Dawson Grays) of the 3rd Georgia Infantry claiming residence in Greene County. He was wounded on May 3, 1863 at Chancellorsville, Virginia. He was promoted to Full Corporal 4th Class in 1864. Minor was wounded again on July 30, 1864 at Petersburg, Virginia (Crater). He stated in his pension application that one wound was by gunshot through his left shoulder, disabling it. He also stated that his right groin was affected so that the leg at times became useless and painful. He surrendered at Appomattox Court House in Virginia on April 9, 1865 having served from enlistment to surrender. He was discharged as a Corporal where he had served the Confederacy with Distinguished Service. Robert L. McWhorter stated that Minor made an excellent soldier.

Before leaving Appomattox, Minor took the regimental kettle drum and carried it home to Greene County. In 1888, Minor attended a 3rd Georgia Regiment reunion and presented the drum to the Regiment. It was determined that “Commodore” Dexter should become the custodian of the drum. After Dexter’s death, the drum was passed to William A. Wright, the son of General Ambrose C. Wright, the first Colonel of the Regiment. The drum was eventually placed on display at the Georgia State Capitol.

Before the drum was displayed (possibly in 2003), my sister, Dad, and I visited the museum and was given the opportunity to view the drum, in storage at the time. A piece of paper on the side of the drum reads: This drum was the original drum of the 3rd Georgia Regiment of Infantry, C.S.A. The drum came to the Regiment with Company C, Dawson Grays, from Greene County, at the organization of the Regiment, April 26, 1861, at Portsmouth Virginia. The first and only drummer was Seaborn Barnwell of Company C, who was the Drummer of his Company, and when the Regiment was organized he was made Regimental Drummer. The drum beat all the calls made for the Regiment for all purposes, from April 26, 1861, to the surrender at Appomattox, Virginia, April 9, 1865. When the Regiment surrendered and stacked their guns, the drum was hung on the stack by the Drummer and left to its fate. Minor Hobbs, one of the truest and best soldiers of Company C, could not walk away and leave it, but turned back and took it from the stack of guns on which it hung, swung it around his shoulders and brought it to his home in Greene County, Georgia, where he kept and cared for it until, in his old age, he delivered it into the hands of Capt. W. A. Wright, he being a member of the Regiment, who has kept it and delivered it to the committee to be placed in this case.

The Hobbs family suffered a loss during the Civil War when Minor’s brother, Nathan Augustus Hobbs, Jr. died on July 2, 1863 in the Battle of Gettysburg, Adams, Pennsylvania.

On November 1, 1864, Minor married Elizabeth Lankford, daughter of William A. Lankford and Nancy Goodman, in Oglethorpe County. Together they had one son, William, born in 1865.

Minor, Elizabeth, and William lived in Penfield on June 11, 1870. They lived next door to Elizabeth’s parents.
He was a painter and Elizabeth was keeping house.
The value of his personal estate was $300.

Minor’s wife Elizabeth died in Penfield on August 11, 1872 after a protracted affliction. She was buried at Penfield Cemetery.

On September 5, 1879, Minor married Elizabeth A. Nash, daughter of Thomas and Mary Nash, in Oglethorpe County.

In June 1880, Minor’s brother Robert was murdered in Spaulding County, Georgia.

On June 18, 1880, Minor, Elizabeth, and William lived in Woodstock, Oglethorpe County. Elizabeth’s brother John and her sister Margaret lived with them. Minor was still a painter.

Minor’s father died on June 21, 1889 at the age of 99 years. His sister Marion Hobbs Jenkins McCarthy died on November 1, 1889. Both were buried at Penfield Cemetery.

In March 1892, his brother Joel Garner Hobbs died. He was buried at Glade Baptist Church Cemetery in Point Peter, Oglethorpe County, Georgia.

In 1894 and 1895, Minor owned three acres of land in Greene County which he eventually sold for $40. He lived off the $40 during the years 1896 and 1897, along with what he earned from painting when he could get work and be able to do it.

On February 4, 1898, Minor filed for an Indigent Pension in Taliaferro County, Georgia. Drs. Nash and White stated that he was physically debilitated owing his age it being near 68 years.

On June 9, 1900, Minor and Elizabeth lived in District 605 of Taliaferro County. His occupation was landlord.

Minor’s sister Caroline Hobbs Lankford died on January 8, 1906 in Baldwin County, Georgia.

On May 4–6, 1910, Minor and Elizabeth lived at Crawfordville and Philomath Roads in District 605 of Taliaferro County. His occupation was listed as own income. He owned his home, free of mortgage.

Minor’s second wife Elizabeth (Nash) died on May 11, 1911. She was buried in the Thomas Nash Cemetery in Philomath, Oglethorpe County.

Minor died in Oglethorpe County, Georgia in August 1912 and was buried at Hobbs Cemetery in Oglethorpe County.

52 Ancestors - #9: Daniel Jack—a Civil War Veteran

Daniel  Jack

Daniel Jack, the son of Samuel Smith Jack and Catherine Beck, was born on August 30, 1840 in Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. He was the first child of eight—Daniel, Samuel Smith, John M., Matthew A., George W., Mary, David R., and Harry F. Jack. Looking at other researchers work, it appears that Samuel Smith Jack married multiple times so Daniel may have half-siblings. I’m only aware of this family so will leave it at that.

On October 9, 1850, Daniel lived with his family in the Township of Kiskiminetas, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. His father was a farmer. Census records show the home was valued at $500.

Daniel was first alto in Apollo’s first brass band organized in 1857. The band disbanded at the start of the Civil War. After the war ended, another band was formed with Daniel as a member.

On July 5, 1860, 20 year old Daniel lived at home in the Kittanning subdivision of Apollo. He was a laborer.

On April 27, 1861, Daniel was one of the first recruits to enroll in support of the Union Army when he enlisted at Camp Wright. His unit—Company G, Pennsylvania Eleventh Reserves, 40th Infantry Regiment—was recruited by S. M. Jackson at the first call for troops to fight in the Civil War. Daniel held the rank of Sergeant. On May 7, 1862, Daniel was detached to build bridges. He was captured with other members of his regiment at Fredericksburg, Virginia on December 13, 1862 and confined at Richmond, Virginia on December 17, 1862. Daniel was in the General Hospital from March 18 to April 1, 1863. On May 4, 1863, he was sent from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to Annapolis, Maryland. On January 10, 1863, he was paroled at City Point, Virginia and reported at Camp Parole, Maryland on January 14, 1863. On May 16, 1863, Daniel was sent to defend Washington. He was honorably discharged on June 13, 1864 and mustered out of the company at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a little over 30 miles from his home in Apollo.

Three years later, Daniel married Eunice Alvira Smith, daughter of John Thompson Smith and Jane Gordon, in Apollo on June 27, 1867. Together they had six children—Charles Stanley, Effie Gordon, Ethel, Alice T., Samuel Howard, and Frank Walter Jack.


On June 23, 1870, Daniel, Eunice, and Charles lived in the Kelly’s Station subdivision of Apollo. Daniel must have made a good living working in a planing (lumber) mill as his real estate was valued at $4500. The planing mill was probably owned by his father. Eunice’s half-brother, James Xenophon McIlwain and his family were neighbors, living four doors away.

Daniel’s five year old daughter Ethel died in Apollo on August 19, 1879. She was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

On June 26, 1880, Daniel and his family still lived in Apollo. His occupation was planing mill man. Eunice is keeping house with four children. Their four month old son, Howard, is sick with neuralgia.

On March 19, 1890, Daniel’s wife Eunice died in Apollo at the age of 45. Her daughter Effie and niece Edith E. Cochran were present in the home when she died. Eunice was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

Six years later on February 20, 1896, Daniel married Electra Burnette Smith, daughter of John Thompson Smith and Jane Gordon, and sister of his first wife Eunice. The marriage took place at the Apollo Presbyterian Church. Both were 55 years old.

On March 13, 1896, Daniel submitted a Declaration for Invalid Pension in Armstrong County. It states that he is “partially unable to earn a support by manual labor by reason of general disability.” His address is Apollo, Pennsylvania.

On March 28, 1899, Daniel filed papers with the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, claiming that his wife was Erectra B. Jack (maiden name Erectra B. Smith). He further states that they were married February 20, 1896 at Apollo by Rev. J. Q. A. Fullerton. The marriage was recorded in the county seat. He was previously married to Eunice A. Jack. He stated that he had living children and their names and dates of birth were Charles Stanley born May 3, 1868, Effie G. born May 16, 1872, Alice T. born May 28, 1874, Samuel H. born December 28, 1880 and Frank W. born April 28, 1885.

Daniel, Electra (center in white blouse and dark skirt), and some of the Smith women

On March 30, 1899, Daniel declared that he had been employed in the military and that he has suffered from muscular rheumatism for about five years. He also suffered from heart trouble but did not consult a physician. Daniel did not know the name of the disabilities until shortly before his application was filed for pension and that by [unreadable] of each disabilities has been disabled for five years and upwards.

On March 30, 1899, John Milton Smith (Eunice and Electra’s brother) declared that he has been acquainted with Daniel Jack the claimant for 30 years and upwards and worked with him almost constantly for 15 years at and about Jack’s Planing Mill at Apollo, Pennsylvania up to October 1893. He knows positively that he had a lame or crippled right arm from long prior to that year and knows from seeing claimant frequently and living near him that this disability has continued since that year to the present date. That he did not know what caused it at that time but has been informed since that physician called it muscular rheumatism.

On March 30, 1899, D. R. Jack of Apollo claimed that he is a brother of the claimant and has worked with claimant in and about the planing mill of Samuel Jacks and Sons at Apollo Pennsylvania for 14 years and upwards constantly and knows positively that claimant has suffered from crippled right arm and hand and has been incapacitated for general service for five years and upwards and that disability has continued until the present time, and that there is many kinds of labor that claimant cannot perform and is not in condition to do any hard labor and is incapacitated at least three fourths. That he has been informed that physicians call his disability muscular rheumatism.

Civil War Veterans. First row: Ed Dentzel, Henry Blystone, Mr. Ross, Joseph McGuire, Daniel Jack, Thomas Cochran, Sylvester Hildebrand, John Fiscus. Back row: Unknown, Enoch Whay, unknown, Samuel Ams, James Rowland, David Coulter, Hugh Owens, Col. S. M. Jackson.

On June 1, 1900, Daniel, Electra, Howard, and Frank lived in Apollo. He lived between his oldest son, Charles, and his brother Harry. There isn’t an occupation listed for Daniel, however, the census record shows zero as the number of months not employed. Daniel is able to read and write. He owns his home “free” of mortgage.

On April 15, 1910, Daniel and Electra lived in Apollo. The census record shows that Daniel has been married two times, 14 years to Electra. His occupation is listed as “own income.”

A newspaper article that ran in July 1916 stated “Mr. Daniel Jack is a life long resident of Apollo. He has been quarter-master of the local G.A.R. post for a long term of years and until two years ago has carried the colors to the cemetery on Memorial Day since the organization of the post. His residence is on S. Fourth Street.” Unfortunately I don’t know the name of the newspaper.

On January 2, 1920, the Apollo, Armstrong County census shows that Daniel owns his house and that he can read and write. There is a woman named Margaret Hunter living with Daniel and Electra. Margaret’s occupation is housekeeper; she is single and 20 years old. In an affidavit dated May 18, 1922, Margaret stated that she was 22 years old and “is employed in the home of Daniel Jack, Civil War Veteran, Pension Certificate Number 983474. That said Daniel Jack requires almost constant attention, having to have someone help dress him every day. That his mind is in such condition that if he leaves the house even for a short distance by himself he becomes lost and has to have some neighbor bring him home. Affiant has lived in the home almost three years and knows the above facts from personal knowledge. That she is not in any way related to the Soldier.”

On May 1, 1920, Daniel described himself at enlistment as 5 feet, 7 ¼ inches; complexion Florid; color of eyes Gray; color of hair light; that his occupation was Cooper; that he was born August 30, 1840 at near Apollo Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, and that he requires the regular personal aid and attendance of another person by reason of sore and crippled feet, scarcely able to walk, continuously.

On April 15, 1921, Daniel appeared before a justice of the peace in Apollo to file a declaration of pension. He claimed that he was 80 years old, a resident of Apollo, and the identical person who enrolled at Apollo under the name of Daniel Jack on April 27, 1861 as a Sergeant in Captain James H. Mills Company G, 11th Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserves Infantry, in the service of the United States in the Civil War. He further claimed that he was honorably discharged at Pittsburgh on June 13, 1864, ending his service.

On June 26, 1922, Daniel received a medical examination in Apollo. The doctor reported the following: Heart beats very irregular. Mitral regurgitation, hypertrophy dullness extending from two inches below nipple to left border of sternum ... Rheumatism [unreadable] in right and left shoulders, limitation of motion in each shoulder 1/3. Limitation of motion in left leg 3/4, in right leg 3/4, hands drawn out of shape the result of rheumatism. .... Mental condition bad, very forgetful and dull. Insane but not dangerous. He imagines people are following him, persecuting him and robbing him and trying to torture him in many different ways. No evidence of nervous habits. Eyesight—can read ordinary print with glasses but not without. The claimant can dress, eat, and attend to the calls of nature unassisted. But from disease of heart, rheumatism mental imbecility and insanity it is unsafe for him to go out unattended.

Daniel died at home at 2:30 p.m. on December 10, 1925 of a paralytic stroke. He was 85 years, 3 months, and 10 days old. He and Electra lived in the home of George Athya and his wife Bertha (Smith) Athya in Apollo. Bertha, the daughter of John Milton Smith, was Electra’s niece. Electra was the informant on Daniel’s death certificate. His obituary read: On June 27, 1867, Mr. Jack was married to Miss Eunice Alvira Smith, the ceremony being performed by Rev. J. A. Orr, pastor of the Apollo Presbyterian Church. To this union six children were born, five of whom survive: Charles S., of Vandergrift; Mrs. A. H. Biehl, of Pittsburgh; Mrs. W. H. Clark, of Lebanon; S. Howard, of Apollo, and Frank W. of Chicago. On March 19, 1890, Mrs. Jack passed away and for six years her husband traveled alone, when on Feb. 20, 1896, he married Miss Electa B. Smith of Apollo. Funeral services were conducted at the late home on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 o’clock, in charge of Rev. W. E. E. Barrens, pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church, who was assisted by Rev. W. L. Moser, pastor of the Presbyterian church. Interment was made in the Apollo cemetery. Daniel Jack had an enviable military record. He was a soldier, one might say, all his life. Away back in the early forties an organization was formed, known in those days as a militia company. This company was known as the Apollo Independent Blues. When a young boy, Daniel Jack joined this company and served until the beginning of the Civil War. The militia company was disbanded, but troops were called by S. M. Jackson who had been captain of the local militia company. One hundred men were enlisted for three years service, Daniel Jack being one of the first recruits to answer the call. At the organization of the company he was made a sergeant and left with the company on a canal boat the latter part of May 1861, and reported at Camp Wright on the Allegheny Valley railroad at Hulton station. The following month ten companies located there and were organized into a regiment of one thousand men and served throughout the war as the Eleventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserve Corps. This organization took part in many of the great battles of the Army of the Potomac. Daniel Jack was always on hand and ready to take part in any duty he was called on to do. He took part in the following battles: Gaines Mill, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg. On Dec. 13, 1862, he with others of his company were taken prisoners around Fredericksburg. [unreadable.] He then reported to his company and again took part in the battle of Gettysburg, Mine Run, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, North Ann River and Bethesda Church. The last battle in which he was engaged was fought on the last day of May, 1864, and some of his comrades were killed, and some were taken prisoner and never again heard from. This was also the last day of his three years’ service, the regiment’s time expiring the following day, June 1. He was honorably discharged and left for home after three years of service. Out of the company of 100 men leaving Apollo on the canal boat, but one man now survives, Benton Coulter, of Colorado. James S. Whitworth Post No. 89, G.A.R., of Apollo, was organized January 1, 1878. Daniel Jack was among the first to join their ranks and was made quartermaster at the organization meeting. This office he held faithfully for 40 years when his health failed and he was compelled to give it up. During all those years he handled all the funds of the Post and never made a miscount of one cent. He was a faithful member and on all occasions when the Post would turn out he was always seen at the head of the column carrying the flag, in which duty he took a delightful pride. [Editor’s Note—We are indebted to Sylvester F. Hildebrand, of Armstrong ave., for the excellent military history of Mr. Jack. Mr. Hildebrand is the youngest member of the local post and is exceptionally diligent in keeping the records of his comrades intact.]

52 Ancestors - #8: Leroy Thomas Holland

 

Leroy Thomas Holland

Leroy Thomas Holland, son of John Holland and Elizabeth H. Majors, was born on September 24, 1835 in Belton (near Pea Creek), Anderson County, South Carolina. He was 1 of 16 children—P. C., Elijah Major, Gambrell W., Martha A., Leroy, Emma C., Symantha C., Miranda Elizabeth, Martha L., Nancy L., Samantha Jane, Jane A., John Louis, Mary M., George W. P., and Eliza Amanda Holland. Leroy is my second great-grandfather.

On August 16, 1850, 15 year old Leroy lived with his parents and siblings in the Eastern Subdivision of Anderson. Census records list him as a farmer.

On December 4, 1854, 19 year old Leroy married Amanda Elizabeth Scott. Together they had 11 children—Eliza Ann, Marion Scott, John Newton, Thomas N., William Harrison, John Louis, Brown Lee, Maggie Idora, Elijah Jeffers, Andrew Turner, and William Charles Holland. The parents of Amanda are unknown to me. I found the Talliafirve L. and Lavina Scott family with a 13 year old daughter named Amanda living in Anderson in 1850 census records. This could be her family, but I honestly don’t know yet.

Leroy’s third child, John Newton Holland, was born and died on May 3, 1860. He was buried at Neal’s Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Anderson.

On June 2, 1860, Leroy, Amanda, and two children—Eliza and Marion—lived in Regiment 4 of Anderson County. A day laborer, the value of Leroy’s personal estate was $150.

On April 21, 1862, Leroy joined the Southern cause and was enlisted at Adams Run by Col. J. V. Moore as a private with Company L, Second South Carolina Rifles, Jenkins Brigade, C.S.A. Col. Moore was killed in action at the Second Battle of Manassas in August 1862. Leroy survived till the end. His movements during the Civil War follow:

• April 22, 1862: Appears on a register of payments on descriptive list—paid $50 bounty.
• May–June 1862: Muster Roll—not stated.
• July–August 1862: Muster Roll—absent/sick in hospital at Richmond.
• August 10, 1862: Appears on a register of Chimborazo Hospital No. 1, Richmond, Virginia. Admitted. Disease/remit fever. Returned to duty August 20, 1862.
• September–October 1862: Muster Roll—absent on furlough.
• November–December 1862: Muster Roll—absent without leave.
• January–February 1863: Muster Roll—absent/sick in hospital.
• February 16, 1863: Appears on a register of Receiving and Wayside Hospital, or General Hospital No. 9, Richmond, Virginia. Transferred to Chimborazo Hospital.
• February 16, 1863: Appears on a register of Chimborazo Hospital No. 5, Richmond, Virginia/chronic diarrhea. Transferred to Danville April 21, 1863.
• March–April 1863: Muster Roll—absent/sick in hospital.
• April 21, 1863: Appears on a register of Medical Director’s Office, Richmond, Virginia. Chimborazo Hospital No. 5/Danville.
• May–June 1863: Muster Roll—present/absent without leave November and December 1862. Stoppage 22.
• July– August 1863: Muster Roll—present.
• August 31–December 31, 1863: Muster Roll—absent without leave since October 25, 1863.
• January–February 1864: Muster Roll—present.
• March–April 1864: Muster Roll—present.
• May–June 1864: Muster Roll—absent/sick in hospital since June 17, 1864.
• June 24, 1864: Appears on a register of Receiving and Wayside Hospital, or General Hospital No. 9, Richmond, Virginia—admitted.
• November 23, 1864: Appears on a receipt roll for clothing, for 4 Qr.
• April 9, 1865: One of the prisoners of war surrendered by General Robert E. Lee and paroled at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia.

It appears that Leroy was absent/sick/in the hospital often. He was in the hospital for much of August 1862 but returned to duty on August 20. Was he well enough to fight in the Second Battle of Manassas—a battle that was a significant victory for the Confederates? This battle took place August 28–30, 1862 so it’s possible. By September 1862, he was again absent—on furlough.

I’d love to know how Leroy traveled back to South Carolina after the war ended in April 1865. Did he take a train? Ride a horse? Or was he one of the unlucky ones that walked home? Whatever his mode of transportation, his family was waiting for him and together they picked up the pieces and went on with life when he returned.

Unfortunately, the hard times didn’t end with the Civil War. Two and a half years later, Leroy’s sixth child, John Louis Holland, was born on January 21, 1868. He died six months later on June 26 and was buried at Neal’s Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Anderson.

On July 8, 1870, Leroy, Amanda, and five children lived in Broadway, Anderson County, South Carolina. Leroy was a farm laborer and Amanda was keeping house.

Less than two years later, Leroy’s eighth child, seven month old Maggie Idora Holland, died on March 1, 1872. She was buried at Neal’s Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Anderson.

The hard times continued when at the age of 12, Leroy’s fourth child, Thomas N. Holland, died on October 22, 1873. He was buried at Neal’s Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Anderson.

Elizabeth (Majors) Holland, Leroy’s mother, died on February 27, 1876. John Holland, Leroy’s father, died on September 9, 1877. It’s believed they were both buried in the Math Cobb Cemetery across the railroad from the old home place on Pea Creek. John had acquired quite a bit of land and upon his death, the land was divided among his children. Leroy built a house on his portion of the land and there raised his family.

The end of the year brought another blow to the family when Leroy’s wife Amanda, who was in her mid-30s, died on December 18, 1877. She was buried at Neal’s Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Anderson along with the four children who died before her.

What would life have been like for Leroy who now was left to raise his family alone? He needed help so it didn’t take long before he married again. On August 3, 1879, Leroy married Cindarilla Darliska Amanda Hall, daughter of Aaron Hall and Clementina Norris Hall, at the old home place in Anderson County, South Carolina. Witnesses were Jap (probably Jasper) Vandiver, Elijah Holland, Baskin Hall, and Aratirah Hall (no relation). Together they had three children—Aaron Hall, Lawrence Lafayette, and Joe Norris Holland.

1880 Soundex Card

On June 1, 1880, Leroy and his second wife, Amanda (Hall) Holland, lived in Broadway, Anderson County, South Carolina along with Harrison, Brown, Elijah, Andrew, and Charles. The record is marked “married during the census year” beside Leroy’s name. Leroy was a farmer who couldn’t read or write.

The fall of 1883 brought death again to the Holland family. Leroy’s oldest child, Eliza Ann Holland, died at the age of 27 on September 10. She was buried at Neal’s Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Anderson.

In the late 1880s, Leroy helped bring together the Civil War veterans of Anderson County. It probably helped them to come together to reminiscence about the war now that it was a fading memory. On December 8, 1887, The Anderson Intelligencer published the following article—Confederate Soldiers. With a view of effecting a permanent organization of the Survivors from Anderson County in the late war, there will be a meeting at Anderson, S.C., on Tuesday, the 20th of December inst., at 10 o’clock, to which everyone who now resides in Anderson County, and who served in the Confederate army, are invited to attend. Some of the objects of the organization will be to look after the welfare of comrades who are now, or may hereafter become destitute by reason of wounds or disease, for preserving the records of our separate commands, and cultivating a more intimate, social relation between old comrades. Signed, W. W. Humphreys, D. N. Major, B. F. Whitner, L. T. Holland, W. P. Tribble, B. C. Martin, J. L. Mauldin, W. D.Hall, S. J. Emruerson, Jno. H. Jones, J. M. Elgin, I. W. Martin, J. M. Welch, J. Jamison, M. P. Tribblo, A. J. Stringer, J. I. Holliday, J. F. Clinkscales.

The spring of 1890 brought death again twice to the Holland family. On March 26, 1890, Leroy’s son William Harrison Holland died at the home of Jap Vandiver. He was only 24 years old. Another son, Brown Lee Holland, died on April 5. Brown was only 21 years old. Both died in Broadway, Anderson County. The Anderson Intelligencer published the following article on April 10, 1890—Last week we chronicled the death of Mr. Harrison Holland, which occurred on the 25th ult., and now it is our sad duty to note the death of his younger brother, Mr. Brown Holland, who died last Saturday afternoon at the home of Mr. A. A. Carpenter, in Broadway Township. He had attended the bedside of his brother very closely during his illness, and on Sunday after the latter was laid away in the grave, he was stricken down with pneumonia, which gradually grew worse until death came. Mr. Holland was about 21 years of age, and was an upright, worthy young man, whose death is deeply regretted by a wide circle of friends. His remains were laid to rest by the side of his brother in the Neal’s Creek Churchyard on Sunday afternoon, Rev. C. B. Smith, of this city, conducting the funeral services.

In the early 1890s, Leroy struggled to make a living and borrowed money from Elisha Shambley to support his family. Leroy was unable to pay his debts when the money came due and lost the land for non-payment. Now Leroy was faced with needing a place for he and his family to live so he contacted his friend George Brownlee in Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia and made a deal to buy a tract of land which he agreed to make payments on. Leroy also paid cash for 80 acres adjoining the Brownlee land. Around January 1891, Leroy, second wife Amanda (Hall), and sons Elijah, Andrew, Charlie, Aaron, Lawrence, and Joe took a train from Anderson County to Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia where they spent the night. The next morning, they left for Dalton where they were met by Brownlee. Their household goods were held up for 15 days so they stayed with Brownlee at his home in Deep Springs before completing their move. Leroy’s son Andrew was unhappy in Georgia and returned to South Carolina shortly after they moved to their new property. The first year in Dalton they made a good crop but Leroy wanted to clear more land and would cut the finest trees, even though they had plenty of good farming land already in cultivation.

Leroy died of pneumonia in Beaverdale, Whitfield County, Georgia on May 4, 1892. He was buried at Deep Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Whitfield County. Aaron felt his father had worked himself to death.

On July 20, 1929, William Charles Holland, Leroy’s youngest son with Amanda Elizabeth Scott, submitted an application to the War Department for a headstone for Leroy’s grave. It was shipped a year later and still marks his grave.

Amanda, Aaron, Lawrence, and Joe moved to Alief, Harris County, Texas in January 1895. Much of the information in this blog entry was taken from a typed multi-page letter detailing Hall and Holland family history that was written by Aaron Hall Holland on May 15, 1964. He was 84 years old at the time he wrote the letter. I’m thankful that he took the time to record this family history for future generations.