George H. Holloway, the
Great-grandfather of the Caldwell Holloways, lived at Georgetown, Va. He owned
slaves and was shot and scalped in the presence of his son, George, and a negro,
both being tied with a rope to a workbench. During the night George, Jr., cut
the rope and made good his escape, and soon thereafter came to North Carolina
and located on Little Mulberry, in this county, when about 25 years of age and
lived there until he was 85 years old. He was a local Methodist preacher, being
licensed to preach when 35 years old. He married Mary Lovins, and to them were
born eight children — Robert, Washington, George, Taylor, Sallie, Jennie,
Mahala, and Betsy. Robert married Catharine Hood; Washington, Caroline Ferrill;
Taylor, Delphia Estes; George, Lucinda Baker; Sallie, married William Fleming;
Jennie, David Setzer; Mahala, Stephen Fisher, and Betsy, Robert Fleming. These
are all dead. They were all Christians of different denominations, farmers and
good citizens. Robert was the father of nine children: J.B., Isabell, Martha,
George W., Ann, Caroline and James. J.B. married a Bristol; Isabel, John Lindsey;
Martha, W. C. Laney; George W., Mary Collett, daughter of James Collett; Caroline,
Ann and Loretta never married and James was killed in the civil war at Richmond, Va.
George Washington, who for many
years lived on Little Mulberry, and now lives at Gamewell, this county, was the
father of five sons — William, George, Robert, Zebulon and Columbus. William
married Minnie Scott; George, Lonie Specie; Zebulon, Lou Warren; Robert, Mattie
Hall, and Columbus, Eveline Minish. These are all living except Robert, who died
nearly two years ago. He was a good Christian, a consistent and worthy member of
the Methodist Church, and a good man in every respect. George is a Methodist
preacher and a member of the Western North Carolina Conference. William is a
Baptist minister and lived at Spartanburg, S.C. All of G. W. Holloway's sons
professed faith in Christ at Marvin Campground, now Gamewell, this county.
G. W. Holloway served four years in the civil war, a member of company F, 26th
N. C. regiment; was wounded in the right leg at Gettysburg, and was taken prisoner
on Sunday before surrender and carried to Hart's Island, N. Y., where he remained
three months and was treated "fairly well". He was in charge of 100 prisoners
while in confinement. He was elected colonel of the militia in this county after
the end of the war, hence his title of "colonel." He professed faith in Christ
when 12 years old and united with Mt. Olivet Methodist church, and has had prayer
in his family all the years since. In 1867 he was elected or appointed a steward
and trustee in the Methodist church and served 30 years and has been superintendent
of the Sunday school for 25 years. He has served as magistrate for a number of
years, being appointed in his father's place. The Holloways are Methodist in
religion and Democrats in politics.
P. S. — More than a year
ago Brother G. W. Holloway gave me data for the above sketch, but I mislaid my
notes and for months failed to find them. Now that he has recently passed away
it may not be out of place to publish the sketch as something of a memorial to
Brother Holloway, who was one of our best citizens and a splendid Christian
gentleman. Doubtless some changes in the Holloway family since the data was
furnished me have occurred, but no material changes so far as I know.
I. W. THOMAS