Long lost parents of Amanda Elizabeth Scott

Some people are harder to figure out than others. For a long time, I’ve been trying to determine the parents of my 2nd great grandmother, Amanda Elizabeth Scott, one of my brick walls. Amanda was the first wife of Leroy Thomas Holland, my 2nd great grandfather. It’s been a while since I researched Amanda but she jumped out at me several weeks ago while trying to figure out who to write about so I took the leap. This time when I searched ancestry.com, I found Taliaferro “Toliver” Langford Scott, his wife Lovina Scott, and children Newton Scott, Amanda Scott, Eliza Scott, Martha E. Scott, Langford Scott, and Mary F. Scott living in the Western Division of Anderson, South Carolina in 1850. Jeptha Scott was probably Amanda’s uncle. This Scott family caught my attention when I saw their 13-year-old daughter Amanda. If the Scott’s provided the correct information to the census enumerator, this Amanda would have been born about 1837, well within range of the 1839 date shared by Amanda’s stepson, Aaron Hall Holland, many years later.

Census record, Western Division, Anderson, South Carolina, 1850

At the request of several family members (one of them being my grandfather, Sam Holland), Aaron Hall Holland, son of Leroy Holland and his second wife, Cindarilla Darliska Amanda Hall, spent a considerable amount of time writing an 11-page family history. In a letter dated May 15, 1964, he wrote:

About a year ago Mary Richardsons son wrote and asked me to write him and tell him about our settlement at Alief. It was never answered, although his letter answering him was written. Now, quite a while ago Sam Holland, who lives in Georgia, wrote and asked if I had any records of the Hollands. Well, there was nothing else to do but get busy and look up the records, together with the recollections of the last old man, so this is what the records show and what is remembered by me. It was a long and tough job and is as near correct as it was possible to get. Our records go back to 1800 and to 1964, from the story tells us about our fore Fathers here in the 164th year, we have just run our course.

Hall/Holland family history written by Aaron Hall Holland in 1964
(11 pages, typed front and back)

Buried on the 10th page is one sentence where Aaron mentions Leroy’s marriage to Amanda, including her birth and date dates:

Lee Roy Thomas … His first marriage was to Amanda Elizabeth Scott, who was born 18 Sept. 1839 and died 18 Dec. 1877, they were married by Rev. Jas. Vernon.

This is the only record I have of Amanda’s birth. Where did Aaron get this information? Amanda was not his mother so where did this date come from? Did Aaron have proof in the records mentioned in his letter? The birth year is different than what was recorded in the 1850 census but we all know dates are often recorded inaccurately.

I next searched “Scott” in Anderson’s weekly newspaper, The Intelligencer, for the period 1850 to 1860 and found nothing. In hopes of finding an obituary that might list Amanda’s birth, I also searched The Intelligencer for the period December 1877 through 1878. Again, I found nothing. And finally, I searched for other females named Amanda Scott living in the Anderson area after the 1850 census record and found none.

Having found all I could on Amanda, I next searched Taliaferro Scott, who apparently died January 1851 in Anderson. The June 11, 1891 obituary for his wife Melvina states “Mrs. Gambrell was twice married, her first husband being Tolaver Scott, who died years ago.” Her obituary didn’t have a lot of information, but did provide the name of Melvina’s second husband, which made it easy to find her and her children in census records.

The Intelligencer, Anderson, South Carolina, June 11, 1891 (click to enlarge)

Amanda Elizabeth Scott married Leroy Thomas Holland on December 4, 1854 so would no longer show up as Amanda Scott in records. In the 1860 census record, the enumerator recorded Amanda’s age as 23. If that’s correct, her birth year would be about 1837. This matches up with Amanda Scott in the 1850 census record.

In 1860, Amanda and Leroy lived in Regiment 4 of Anderson County, along with a daughter named Eliza. Had this daughter been named after Amanda’s sister Eliza?

Regiment 4, Anderson County, South Carolina census, 1860 (click to enlarge)

Aaron’s record includes a son named John Newton Holland, born and died on May 3, 1860. Was John named after Amanda’s brother Newton? Amanda and Leroy had another son named Thomas N. Holland. I haven’t found a record with his middle named spelled out, but could it have also been Newton?

In 1860, Amanda’s brother Newton Scott and his wife Margaret also lived in Regiment 4 of Anderson County. They were recorded on page 1 in the census record. Amanda and Leroy were recorded on page 6 so they were in close proximity to each other. In that same census record, Melvina, now married to Jordon Gambrell, was also living in Regiment 4 of Anderson County, recorded on page 20. All of Melvina’s children were enumerated with the last name of Gambrell, although their father was Taliaferro Scott. I find it significant that Amanda, Newton, and Melvina were all living in the same area. After all, families tend to stick together.

Melvin and Jordan Gambrell, Regiment 4, Anderson County, South Carolina, 1860
(click to enlarge)

In 1870, Amanda and Leroy lived in the Broadway Township of Anderson County. The enumerator recorded her age as 30 years which in this case means her birth year would have been about 1840. Close but not 1837. Melvina and Jordan were also living in the Broadway Township (recorded on page 7 by the census enumerator). Newton lived in the Varennes Township of Anderson County and was the town marshal. 

Amanda and Leroy Holland, Broadway Township, Anderson County, South Carolina, 1870
(click to enlarge)

ThruLines in ancestry.com suggests a DNA connection.

(click to enlarge)

So, is Taliaferro Langford Scott and Melvina Parker the parents of Amanda Elizabeth Scott and my 3rd great grandparents? What do you think? By the way, all the more interesting to me is Taliaferro’s middle name Langford as my maiden name is Lankford. I know for a fact that the “k” and “g” in that name is often used in the same families. Langford would have probably been a family name so how does it fit in the tree? The research continues!

If anyone reading this can shed some light on all of this, I’d love to hear from you.

References

• Hall/Holland family history, Aaron Hall Holland letter, May 15, 1964.
• Letter of Administration, Toliver L. Scott, vol. 1, p. 423, Anderson County, South Carolina, January 30, 1851.
• Mrs. Vina Gambrell obituary, The Intelligencer, Anderson, South Carolina, June 11, 1891.
• Taliaferro Langford Scott ThurLines, ancestry.com.
• United States Federal Census, Broadway Township, Anderson, South Carolina, 1870.
• United States Federal Census, Regiment 4, Anderson County, South Carolina, 1860.
• United States Federal Census, Varennes Township, Anderson County, South Carolina, 1870.
• United States Federal Census, Western Division, Anderson, South Carolina, 1850.
• Vina Parker, South Carolina, U.S., Compiled Marriage Index, 1641–1965.

Otis Cleo Holland

Otis Cleo Holland, son of Doctor Carroll Holland and Louise Christianna McCoy, was born on April 4, 1885 in Anderson County, South Carolina. He was the 5th of 9 children—Louis Cornelus Holland, Effa Holland, Lilla E. Holland, Joseph Reese Holland, Otis Cleo Holland, Arley Major Holland, Henry Grady Holland, Zadie Elucia Holland, and Laura B. Holland. Otis is my 2nd cousin 2x removed, with our nearest common relatives being John Holland and Elizabeth H. Majors.

On June 5, 1900, Otis and his family lived in the West Centerville Township of Anderson County. His father was a farmer with Reese, Otis, Arley, and Grady all helping as farm laborers. Sisters Zadie, age 9, and Laura, age 6, were the other children living in the home at the time. Otis’ parents had been married for 21 years. His mother was enumerated as having had nine children, with all but one living. With the exception of Otis’ father, everyone was able to read and write. In 1905, Otis worked as a clerk for J. R. Holland in Anderson.

On May 11, 1910, the Holland family lived in the Center Township of Oconee County. At age 25, Otis was still living at home, along with brothers Arley and Grady (enumerated as Henry G.), and sisters Zadie and Laura. Otis, his father, and brother Arley were all farmers on a general farm. Brother Grady worked as a laborer on a home farm. The census record shows that his mother had lost another child and that his father was now able to read and write. On November 16, 1910, Otis married Johnnie Holder, daughter of John Carey Holder and Carrie Louvinia Hutchison. The Greenville News, published in Greenville, South Carolina, carried a marriage notice on November 8, 1910:

Holder-Holland. Cards reading as follows have been issued: Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Holder request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter, Johnnie Kathleen to Mr. Otis C. Holland on the evening of Wednesday the sixteenth of November, at half-after eight o’clock at their home, 1015 Ella Street, Anderson, South Carolina.

The Greenville News, November 8, 1910

Otis and Johnnie didn’t waste time before starting their family. Their first child, a daughter they named Thelma, was born on October 28, 1911. A second daughter named Cleo, apparently after her father, was born about 1914. Sadly, neither daughter would grow up knowing their father. Otis died at Anderson County Hospital on July 3, 1915 following surgery for appendicitis. His brother Reese was the informant on his death certificate. Otis was buried on July 4 in the Oakwood Section of Silver Brook Cemetery in Anderson. He was 30 years old at the time of his death. 

Photo by L N M W H, Find a Grave member 47583636.

His nephew, Frank Dickson (son of Laura B. Holland), wrote a beautiful obituary (full of genealogical information) for Otis that was published in Anderson’s newspaper The Intelligencer on July 9:

Saturday morning, July 3, a little before the clock struck the hour of ten, the noble life of Otis Cleo Holland had ended its earthly pilgrimage. Only a few days before he had undergone an operation for appendicitis. From the start it was feared that he could not live. He was given every attention possible at the Anderson hospital, but for several days nothing could ease his intense pain and dreadful suffering, then “The Great Physician” simply touched him and he was at rest.

Otis Cleo Holland was born near Anderson, April 4, 1885. He was son of Mr. D. C. and Mrs. L. C. Holland, both of whom still survive him. He joined Neal’s Creek church when a boy and had been a consistent member of the Baptist church ever since. At the time of his death he was a member of the First Baptist church at Anderson.

From his youth up he was a good boy, developing into a true manly man. Well did he fulfill that great commandment, “Honor they father and mother.” A truer boy to his mother never lived, our hearts go out today to the “Grand old mother of Israel” with her heart bleeding and aching, she gives up her boy, yet the spirit of God shining in her eyes as she trusts in his goodness and knows ere long she shall again gather her children in those empty arms.

Otis loved all his people, especially his sisters, and his love and care for them was beautiful. To know him was to love him. He was so pure and clean. His language was pure and elevating, never did we hear him utter one word that was wrong. He held himself high above the crowd. Never did he mix with the unclean. Today we find joy in his last words that all was well and that he was ready to go.

November 16, 1910, he was married to Miss Johnnie Holder of Anderson. To them was born two precious little girls, Thelma, age 4 years and little Cleo, age 10 months. Their married life was sweet and beautiful, just one courtship and honey-moon. He devotedly loved his babies and how his heart must have ached as he kissed them goodbye at the hospital. In the last days his wife showed watchless courage and unlimited strength and love as she tenderly watched him. Then when the end came she was heart-broken and her life was crushed.

He leaves besides his own family and his father and mother, three brothers, J. R. Holland, A. M. Holland, H. Grady Holland, all of Anderson; three sisters, Mrs. Lila Carroll of Georgia; Mrs. Zadie McCarley of Anderson and Mrs. Laura Dickson of Townville. A sister and little brother preceded him to the grave.

The funeral was conducted at home in the room where he was married by Rev. John Speake of St. John’s Methodist church. The following acted as pallbearers: L. H. Seel, Dr. Mack Sanders, Dr. Carl Sanders, J. F. Geer, Dr. Atkinson, John Pruitt.

Internment was made at Silver Brook cemetery. The grave was left covered in beautiful flowers.

Frank A. Dickson

Johnnie was pregnant when Otis died and gave birth to a third daughter in Anderson on February 5, 1916. She named her new daughter Otis Louise Holland, apparently a second nod to the husband she loved so dearly.

References

• Anderson, South Carolina, City Directory, 1905.
• Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/100198117/otis-c.-holland: accessed 12 June 2021), memorial page for Otis C. Holland (4 Apr 1885–3 Jul 1915), Find a Grave Memorial ID 100198117, citing Silver Brook Cemetery, Anderson, Anderson County, South Carolina, USA; maintained by Clagett Girl (contributor 50087197).
• O. C. Holland, Certificate of Death no. 12815, State of South Carolina, Bureau of Vital Statistics, State Board of Health, South Carolina Death Records, 1821-1955, ancestry.com.
• Otis C. Holland – Life was Very Beautiful and He Was One Among Many, The Intelligencer, Anderson, South Carolina, July 9, 1915.
• Otis Louisa Holland, Certificate of Birth no. 47909, State of South Carolina, Bureau of Vital Statistics, State Board of Health.
• U.S. Federal Census, Center, Oconee County, South Carolina, 1910.
• U.S. Federal Census, Centerville, Anderson County, South Carolina, 1900.

Alice Davis Holland

Alice Davis Holland was born in Washington, District of Columbia (DC) in 1907. Her father was Andrew Turner Holland from Anderson, South Carolina. Sometime after 1893, Andrew moved from Anderson to Washington, DC to work for Asbury Churchwell Latimer, a Democrat from South Carolina. Latimer served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1893 to 1903 and then as a Senator until his death in 1908. Andrew apparently met Evelyn E. Padgett, daughter of George Thomas Padgett Sr. and Mary C. Racket, in DC. Alice, their only child, did not survive infancy. In October 1908, she became ill with Cholera Infantum, defined by Merriam-Webster as “an acute noncontagious intestinal disturbance of infants formerly common in congested areas of high humidity and temperature but now rare.” The website Medigoo.com describes the illness as “… an acute infectious disease of infancy, characterized by diarrhea, and in severe cases by vomiting, rapid emaciation and extreme prostration.” Several other sites note that the disease is common during the hot, summer months. Alice most likely suffered greatly and tragically died on October 20. From what I’ve read, Alice was too young to understand what was happening to her but it would have been terrifying for her parents.

Alice was buried at Congressional Cemetery, located on Capitol Hill in DC, on October 22 following a 2 pm funeral service at her parents’ home. The bio in Alice’s Find a Grave memorial 49402272 reads “The Congressional Cemetery office confirmed that this burial is unmarked. They also reported, specifically: Alice HOLLAND is buried in the Thomas PADGETT site. There is no stone for her.” She is buried in section 5, range/family vault 12, space 57b, near her grandfather, George Thomas Padgett, in section 5, range/family vault 12, space 55a. Two newspapers carried word of Alice’s death and burial:

“The Evening Star,” Washington, DC, October 21, 1908. – HOLLAND. On Tuesday, October 20, 1908, ALICE DAVIS, infant daughter of Andrew T. and Evelyn E. Holland (nee Padgett). Funeral from parents’ residence, 304 C street northeast, Thursday, October 22, at 2 p.m.

 

“The Washington Times,” Washington, DC, October 22, 1908, p. 2 – DIED – HOLLAND—On Tuesday, October 20, 1908, Alice Davis, infant daughter of Andrew T. and Evelyn E. Holland (nee Padgett).

 

“The Evening Star,” Washington, DC, October 23, 1908, Deaths in the District—The following deaths were reported to the health office during the past twenty-four hours: … Alice D. Holland, 1 year, 304 C street northeast.  

 

Evening Star, Washington, DC, October 21, 1908

I mentioned Alice in my post about her father but decided she needed her own post. I’m always saddened to see an infant death in my research. In Alice’s case, she doesn’t appear in any census records so you have to work a little harder to tell her story. I’m glad I took the time. Alice is my 1st cousin 2x removed. Our nearest common relatives are Leroy Thomas Holland and Amanda Elizabeth Scott.

References

• Alice Davis Holland obituary, The Evening Star, Washington, DC, October 21, 1908.
• Cholera infantum, Medigoo; https://www.medigoo.com/articles/cholera-infantum/.
• Cholera infantum; Merriam-Webster Dictionary; https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/cholera%20infantum. 
• Congressional Cemetery; https://congressionalcemetery.org/.
• Deaths in the District, The Evening Star, Washington, DC, October 23, 1908.
• Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/49402272/alice-d-holland: accessed 23 May 2021), memorial page for Alice D Holland (1907–20 Oct 1908), Find a Grave Memorial ID 49402272, citing Congressional Cemetery, Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia, USA; maintained by Susan Ing (contributor 47043987).

Charles Moore Lankford

This blog post is another in a series connecting the dots in my tree to the souls buried at Bairdstown Cemetery in Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia.

Charles Moore Lankford, son of Curtis Caldwell Lankford and Nancy A. E. McCarty, was born in Greene County, Georgia on September 7, 1865. He was the 6th child of 10—William A. Lankford, Mary A. Lankford, Rebeckah H. Lankford, John R. Lankford, George Washington Lankford, Charles Moore Lankford, Wade Hamilton Lankford, Joseph Jackson Lankford, Nancy Crawford Lankford, and Florence Lee Lankford. He went by Charlie and is my 1st cousin 4x removed with our nearest common relatives being Charles L. Lankford and Miss Moore.

On June 16, 1870, the Lankford family lived in Penfield, Greene County, Georgia. His father worked as a common laborer while his mother stayed home keeping house. Of the six children in the home, only John was shown with an occupation in the census record—farm laborer.

By June 7, 1880, the Lankford family had moved to the Bowling Green District of Oglethorpe County, Georgia. His father worked as a well digger, his mother kept house, and Charlie kept busy as a farm laborer. His brother Hampton was attending school but appears to be the only child at home doing so at the time. 

Charlie married Mary Franklin “Minnie” Williamson, daughter of William F. Williamson and Emily “Emmie” Allen, in Oglethorpe County, Georgia on February 18, 1886. Their first child, a daughter named Maude Estelle Lankford was born in Oglethorpe County on May 11, 1889. Their second child, a son named Horace M. Lankford, was born in Georgia, probably Oglethorpe County, on September 17, 1897.

Charles Lankford and Minnie Williamson's marriage license

On June 1, 1900, Charlie and his family lived in the Bowling Greene District of Oglethorpe County, Georgia. Charlie worked as a farmer. Minnie and Maude were both enumerated as “Mary” in the census record. The census enumerator noted that Minnie had given birth to three children, two of which were living. I have yet to find a record for the birth or death of this child. 

I have been unable to find Charlie in the 1910 census but will keep looking. When Charlie’s son Horace filled out his World War I registration card on September 12, 1918, he noted that he was employed by his father whose place of business was in Rayle, Wilkes County, Georgia. Horace also noted that his father was his nearest relative and that he lived in Rayle.

On February 2, 1920, Charlie lived on Washington Road in the Bowling Green District. In this census record, his last name was spelled Langford. He worked as a farmer on a general farm. Horace, the only child left at home, worked as a farm laborer on a home farm. Daughter Maude lived next door with her husband Andrew and daughter Knollie.

1920 Soundex Census Index for Charlie and family

On April 19, 1930, Charlie, Minnie, and Horace lived in Taliaferro County. At age 64, he had apparently retired as his occupation was enumerated as “none.” Horace worked as a laborer, hauling lumber. Charlie’s daughter Maude lived next door with her husband Andrew, widowed daughter Knollie, and granddaughter Estelle Fulcher. Minnie died of senility at age 71 in Penfield on March 9, 1939. She was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery in Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia.

On April 2, 1940, Charlie lived with his daughter Maude and her husband Andrew McElreath in Union Point, Greene County, Georgia. They were joined in the home by Horace and his wife Rosie, as well as a cousin of Andrew’s, M. D. Adkins. They had been living in the home since 1935. The only member of the family working was Andrew and he was a brick mason. Those not working were not seeking work according to the census enumerator. 

Charlie died on July 14, 1947 at his home in Shiloh, Greene County. He was buried beside Minnie at Bairdstown Cemetery following a service a Bairds Baptist Church the following day. The Oglethorpe Echo carried a notice of Charlie’s funeral on July 24, 1947:

Mr. Charlie Lankford, son of Mr. Curt Lankford of Civil War fame, was buried here (Bairdstown) last Wednesday with the Rev. O.L. Duval officiating. Mr. Lankford was well advanced in age and had been blind for several years. His funeral was well attended by a host of friends and relatives.

References

• C. M. Lankford Dies at Shiloh, newspaper and date published unknown.
• Charles Lankford and Minnie Williamson marriage certificate, Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828-1978.
• Charlie Langford, Oglethorpe County, Georgia Soundex, 1920.
• Charlie M. Lankford, Georgia, U.S., Death Index, 1919-1998.
• Funeral notice, Oglethorpe Echo, July 24, 1947.
• Minnie Franklin Lankford, Certificate of Death no. 8759, Georgia Department of Public Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics.
• U.S. Federal Census, Bowling Greene District, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, 1880, 1900, 1920.
• U.S. Federal Census, Georgia Militia District 228, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, 1860.
• U.S. Federal Census, Militia District 138, Greene County, Georgia, 1870.
• U.S. Federal Census, Militia District 607, Taliaferro County, Georgia, USA, 1930.
• U.S. Federal Census, Union Point, Greene County, Georgia, 1940.
• William F. Williams and Emily Allen, Georgia, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1754-1850.