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).