William Holladay (1802-1891)

William Holladay (1802-1891)

William HOLLADAY was born on 24 Nov 1802[1] in Adair County, Kentucky.[2] He died on 1 Mar 1891[3] in Adair County and is buried in the Holladay Cemetery.

William lived and farmed all of his life in Adair County. He was the last of Zacharias and Kitty’s four adult children to marry. In the 1830 census he appears to be still living with his parents, but more study of tax, land, and census records is needed in order to understand the living arrangements of Zacharias, William and Joseph during this period.

William was a solid citizen who was active in the Zion (Baptist) church community. He raised a large family and seems to have placed great value in education. At least two of his children became teachers, his son William and youngest daughter, Betty, who was educated at Georgetown College.

William’s activities in the Zion church included contributing to its building fund and serving as a messenger (delegate) to the Russell Creek Association of Baptists. Further evidence of his devotion to both the Baptist church and education is provided in the obituary of his son Anderson Holladay, which states that “His (Anderson’s) father and mother had ‘The Baptist Banner and Western Pioneer’ in their home.” Also, “As a boy he learned to read the English language by pondering over the ‘Western Recorder’ pages even before he started to school.” (The name of the publication was changed to ‘The Western Recorder’ in 1851.)

William married Mary Anna (Polly) Reynolds on 3 Jan 1832.[4] [5] Polly was born on 26 Feb 1813[6] in Adair County and was the daughter of Henry Reynolds and Nancy Sallee.

Of Zacharias’ three sons, William appears to have been the closest to his father. Zacharias spent his declining years living in the household of William and Polly. After Zacharias’ death William went to the Adair County Court to enter his father’s will for probate. The will was proven by William’s brothers-in-law, Joseph S. Reynolds and James H. Reynolds. William was named administrator of Zacharias’ estate and posted a bond of $30.00. (John W. Garnett was named as his surety.)

William and Polly had nine children born between 1832 and 1851. Polly died On Christmas day of 1851[7]. She was buried in the Holladay Cemetery. At the time of her death their youngest child, Betty, was only six months old and there were four other children in the household under age ten. What a sad Christmas time that was for the Holladay clan!

Just over two years later, on 3 April 1854, William married Elizabeth Ruberts of nearby Casey County.  Elizabeth was born 10 Feb 1810 in Kentucky and was the daughter of John Rubarts/Ruberts and Sarah (Sally) Cabell.

Elizabeth and William had no children of their own, but they shared a house full of children and young adults. By 1860 there were still seven children living at home; the oldest daughter had married, and one son had died of consumption. In the 1880 census William is age 77 and head of the household, Elizabeth is 67, and living with the family were two spinster daughters, Frances, age 39 and Bettie, 29, as well as son Thomas and his wife and daughter. As we know, there were many more multiple-generation households in those days.

Elizabeth (Ruberts) Holladay died on 20 October 1882 and was buried in the Pelley-Rubarts Cemetery.

William lived another eight years and died on 1 March 1891 at age 88. He was buried next to Polly in the Holladay Cemetery.

William HOLLADAY and Mary Anna (Polly) REYNOLDS had the following children:

1. Henry HOLLADAY, born on 1 Oct 1832; married Mary Anthony (Molly) GARNETT on 16 Apr 1863; died on 3 Oct 1889.

2. James HOLLADAY, born on 16 Sep 1834; married Mattie N. EPPERSON on 10 Feb 1876,  Adair County, Kentucky; died in 1918, Adair County, Kentucky.

3. William HOLLADAY, born on 6 Sep 1836 in Adair County, Kentucky; died on 26 Aug 1859.

4. Catherine HOLLADAY, born on 20 Nov 1838, Adair County, Kentucky; married Henry J. HENSON on 16 Mar 1858; died on 13 Mar 1865.

5  Frances HOLLADAY, born on 17 Sep 1841, Adair County, Kentucky; married Edmund Pendleton WAGGENER; died on 10 Sep 1904.

6. John HOLLADAY, born on 1 Dec 1843, Adair County, Kentucky; married Ellen WAGGENER on 14 Mar 1878, Adair County, Kentucky; died on 18 Oct 1900, Elba, Coffee, Alabama.

7.  Thomas HOLLADAY, born on 28 Mar 1846, Adair County, Kentucky; married Martha Jane WILLIS on 16 Dec 1869, Gradyville, Adair, Kentucky; died on 5 Dec 1889.

8.  Anderson HOLLADAY, born on 1 Apr 1848, Adair County, Kentucky; married Susan Elizabeth (Susie) TAYLOR on 17 Mar 1874, Casey Co., Kentucky; married Stella E. AYRES; died on 27 Feb 1940, Augusta, Butler, Kansas.

9.  Mary Elizabeth (Betty) HOLLADAY, born on 12 Jun 1851, Adair County, Kentucky; married Reuben CONOVER; died in 1939, Adair County, Kentucky.

Prepared by Jay A. Holladay, PO Box 815, La Canada, CA 91012  email: jholladay@ca.rr.com, jholladay@alum.mit.edu Last update 23 January 2009.

Notes

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[1] William Holladay Family Bible Records, 1802-1918. Original held by Martha Garnett Chamberlain, Columbia, Kentucky. Photocopies of two transcriptions of family data from this bible are in possession of the author. These copies were obtained during visits to Adair County, Kentucky, probably from family files at the Adair County Public Library.

[2] William (Billy) Holladay Family Group Sheet, Holladay Family Data, compiled by Mrs. John C Holladay, Provo, Utah. Photocopy in possession of the author. This sheet lists a number of sources, some specific and some in generic form.

[3] William Holladay Family Bible Records, 1802-1918.

[4] Adair County, Kentucky, Marriage Bonds, County Clerk’s Office, Columbia. Photocopies of originals in notebook, “Adair County Marriage Bonds”, compiled by Margie Coffey, at Adair County Public Library, Columbia. Unnumbered certificates. Holladay-Reynolds marriage bond dated 3 January 1832. Marriage between William Holladay and Polly Reynolds, daughter of Henry Reynolds who gave his consent. Names William Holladay and Henry Reynolds as sureties.

[5] Ruth Paull Burdette, compiler, “Marriage Records of Adair County Kentucky 1802-1840” (Burkesville, KY: R.N. Smith and Laura Lee Butler, 1975), p.56. ‘HOLLIDAY, William and Polly Reynolds, dau. of Henry Reynolds. 3 January 1832 by Petty.’

[6] William Holladay Family Bible Records, 1802-1918.

[7] Ibid.