Eunice Maude Holland

Eunice Maude Holland, daughter of Marion Scott Holland and Frances Eleanor Williamson, was born in Anderson, Anderson County, South Carolina on December 28, 1897. She was the 9th of 11 children—Minnie Lee Holland, John William Holland, Isom Todd Holland, Arthur “Brown” Holland, Sula Bell Holland, Emma Eldora Holland, Nannie Amanda Holland, Nancy Irene Holland, Eunice Maude Holland, Andrew Holland, and Julian Clair Holland. She went by Maude and is my 1st cousin 2x removed. Our nearest common relatives are Leroy Thomas Holland and Amanda Elizabeth Scott, my 2nd great grandparents.

(Photo provided by Dan Snipes: Blair Snipes (her nephew), Maude, and unknown child.)

On June 1, 1900, the Holland family lived in the Honea Path Township of Anderson County. Maude’s father was a farmer and brothers John and Isom both farm laborers. They owned the farm they lived on. Her mother was enumerated as having had 11 children, 9 of which were living. As far as I can tell, Nannie Amanda Holland and Andrew Holland were the two siblings that did not survive. Seven of the nine Holland children were still living in the home. Eunice was two years old, second to youngest.

The Holland family still lived in Honea Path when the census was taken on April 28, 1910. Maude’s father worked as a farmer on a general farm. Brothers Isom and Brown worked on the home farm. Everyone in the home was able to read and write. Maude, Irene, ad Julian were the only family members attending school. Maude’s parents had been married for 29 years. Her mother Frances died in Anderson on December 11, 1912, and was buried at Bethany Baptist Church Cemetery in Belton. Maude was 14 years old.

Maude married Nelson Miles Davis, son of William Leavells “Lev” Davis and Mary E. Gardner, in Townville, Anderson County, South Carolina on October 18, 1916. The wedding was performed by J. E. Crim, a Baptist church pastor. Maude was 19 years old and Nelson 17, although according to their marriage license, Maude was 21 and Nelson 19.

Marriage license (click to enlarge)

Maude's husband, Nelson Gardner Davis
(photo shared by Dan Snipes)

Maude was pregnant by the end of the year and gave birth to their first child, a son they named Harold Gardner Davis, in Belton, Anderson County, South Carolina on August 8, 1917. As noted earlier, Gardner was his father’s middle name and his paternal grandmother’s surname. At the time, Maude was a housewife and Nelson worked in a cotton mill.

On February 19, 1920, Maude, Nelson, Harold, and her widowed mother-in-law Mary lived in Belton. Nelson worked as a carpenter and was the only person in the home who was working. A second son named Charles Clair Davis was born in Belton on January 5, 1924. Maude’s father Marion died in Anderson on February 5, 1929. He was buried beside Frances at Bethany Baptist Church Cemetery in Belton.

On April 1, 1930, Maude, Nelson, and the boys continued to live in Belton. They owned their home which was located on Church Street and valued at $1000. The census enumerator noted that Maude was 19 and Nelson 18 when they married, different than noted above. Maude worked as a seamstress, making dresses. Nelson was a carpenter, building houses.

I have been unable to find Maude and her family in the 1940 census, however, Nelson’s World War II registration card dated February 16, 1942 shows they still lived in the Church Street house in Belton. Nelson worked for Charlie Koon of Ware Sholes Lumber Company in Greenwood, South Carolina. Their son Charles entered the military on December 3, 1943. He served in the U.S. Army, 226th Ordnance, 33rd Infantry Division. 

Maude and Nelson were still living on Church Street in Belton when the April 12, 1950 census was taken. Nelson worked as a maintenance man at a cotton mill. Their son Charles, his wife Elsie, and daughter Eleanor lived in the home as well. Charles worked as a carpenter at a cotton mill and Elsie a boxer at a garment mill. Their granddaughter Eleanor was two years old.

Maude and Nelson were still living in Belton on December 20, 1970 when Nelson died from a cerebral hemorrhage due to hypertension. He was buried on December 21 at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Belton. Maude remained in Belton until her death at home on April 10, 1994 at the age of 96. She was buried beside Nelson at Garden of Memories Cemetery. She was survived by sons Harold and Charles, four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. Her funeral service was performed by the Revs. Carroll Plemmons and Eric Davis.

Maude and Nelson were members of the Bethany Baptist Church. She played the piano by ear.

Maude playing the piano
(photo shared by Dan Snipes)

References

• Charles C. Davis, U.S., World War II Young American Patriots, 1941-1945.
• Eunice Maude Davis and Maude E. Holland, U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007.
• Harold Gardner Davis, Certificate of Birth 27837, State of South Carolina, Bureau of Vital Statistics, State Board of Health, 1917.
• Maude Davis obituary, Anderson Independent-Mail, Anderson, South Carolina, April 11, 1994.
• Maude H. Davis, Social Security Death Index.
• Maude Holland and Nelson Miles Davis, South Carolina, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1907-2000.
• Nelson G. Davis, newspaper unknown, December 1970.
• Nelson Gardner Davis, Certificate of Death 70 019797, State of South Carolina, Board of Health, 1970.
• Nelson Gardner Davis, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947.
• Personal memories of Dan Snipes, shared with Denise Murphy on February 20, 2004.
• Personal visit to Garden of Memories Cemetery, Belton, South Carolina.
• U.S. Federal Census, Belton, Anderson County, South Carolina, 1920, 1930, 1950.
• U.S. Federal Census, Honea Path, Anderson County, South Carolina, 1900, 1910.