These pages contain information on the Holly family which resided
in the Mountain Peak community. If you have questions or comments
about a particular item, please contact the submitter, Bill
Page <BPAGE@lib-gw.tamu.edu>.
First Generation
1. Ephraim HOLLY, married Katherine ---. They are in Edgefield Co., S.C. in 1810, and in 1820 he was in Wilkinson Co., Ga. In the 1810 Census they have a son and daughter under 10 years old. In 1820, they have a son 16 or over, a daughter 11-16 and two sons under 10. The daughter is Elinor HOLLY (number 2 below) and one son was Hazael (number 3 in this history), who was born 19 April 1812 in Edgefield Co., S.C.
2. Elinor HOLLY was born about 1809 in S.C. and married in 1829 in Hall Co., Ga. to Drury A. MORTON. Elinor was in Blount Co., Ala. in the 1850 Census with a daughter Manila age 18 years.
3. Hazael HOLLY was born 19 Apr. 1812 in Edgefield Co., S.C. and died 25 Sept. 1892 in Taylor Co., Tx. Hazael was orphaned at the age of 8 or 9 years and was taken to Gainesville, Hall Co., Ga. On 3 Sept. 1833, Hazael married first Sarah BYNUM in Blount Co., Ala. He married (second) Sarah MORTON, on 2 Jan. 1842 in Marshall Co., Ala. Sarah MORTON was born 25 March 1819 in Blount Co., Ala. and died 29 April 1864 in Titus Co., Tx. Hazael was married for the third time 15 Dec. 1866 to Milly WADE, who was born on 7 Dec. 1844 and died on 17 Aug.1901 in Taylor Co., Tx. Sarah MORTON was a niece of Drury MORTON and a daughter of James MORTON. In 1850 Hazael and family were living in Blount Co., Ala. and also in 1855 (as shown in the 1855 Alabama state census, p.40). In 1860 they were at Vathermoso, Morgan Co., Ala. They moved to Tx. during the Civil War. In 1870 Hazael was living in Lamar Co., Tx. near Paris and in 1880 he was in Ellis Co., Tx.
For some unknown reason, Hazael HOLLY's farm is listed under the name of his son, Benjamin, in the 1880 Census of Agriculture (Ellis Co., precinct 6, page 15). That census showed:
HOLLY, Benjamin owner
67 acres tilled
8 acres "unimproved land"
$800 value of farm, including land, fences & buildings
$100 value of farming implements
$400 value of livestock
2 horses of all ages on hand June 1, 1880
2 mules and asses of all ages on hand June 1, 1880
11 milch cows
18 other cows
4 calves dropped
1 cow sold living
90 lbs. butter made on the farm in 1879
5 swine on hand, June 1, 1880
20 barn yard poultry on hand June 1, 1880 (exclusive of
spring hatching)
200 eggs produced in 1879
12 cords of wood cut in 1879
The 1890 Ellis Co., Tex. Census (justice precinct # 6, Mountain Peak) shows:
Holly, Haziel 78 years old, born in S.C., his father
born in S.C., no birthplace indicated
for his mother. Haziel owned both his
home and his farm, and both were free
of
mortgages.
, Millie wife of Haziel, 50 years old, mother
of
2 children, both of whom were living
, Wilson son of Haziel Holly, 11 years old.
Later Hazael and Milly HOLLY moved near Potosi, Taylor Co., Tx.
Second Generation
Children of Hazael and Sarah BYNUM HOLLY
4. E. Katherine HOLLY b. 23 Jan 1835
5. Elijah HOLLY b. 16 May 1836
6. Asa Bynum HOLLY b. 2 Mar 1839
Children of Hazael and Sarah MORTON HOLLY
7. Mary HOLLY b. 9 Oct 1842
8. Jesse Benson HOLLY b. 2 Feb 1844
9. Martha Jane HOLLY b. 17 Dec 1845
10. Dicy HOLLY b. 22 Dec 1847
11. Rhoda Manilla HOLLY b. 17 Oct 1849
12. Sarah Selemma HOLLY b. 13 Aug 1851
13. Emily Josephine HOLLY b. 15 Apr 1854
14. Joel Allison HOLLY b. 4 Mar 1856
15. Lucinda Rilla HOLLY b. 10 Mar 1858
16. Elizabeth Idelar
Amberson HOLLY b. 16 July 1860
17. Benjamin Ephraim HOLLY b. 11 May 1862
Children of Hazael and Milly HOLLY
18. Nancy Caldony HOLLY b. 11 Sept 1868
19. Wilson Cheatham HOLLY b. 3 July 1878
Third Generation
4. E. Katherine HOLLY was born on 13 Sept. 1835 in Blount Co., Ala. and died on 14 Sept. 1900. She married on 26 Nov. 1857 to John Godwin NESMITH, who was born on 19 July 1840 in Blount Co., Ala. and died on 28 Feb. 1911. In 1870 they are living in Blount Co., Ala. Living with them are S. S. HOLLYage 18, who is Sarah Selema, sister of Katherine HOLLY, and Isaac HOLLY age 10 and E. N. HOLLY (male) age 8. They were in Ellis Co., Tx. in 1880. They were in Brown Co., Tx. in 1900 according to the Federal Census. Living with them in 1900 is their youngest daughter, Fannie (Frances) BURNS and her two children; Inis, age 5, born in Nov. 1894 in Tx. and William, age 4, born in May 1896 in Tx.
Children of Katherine and John NESMITH
Sarah Adlen b. 22 Oct 1858
20. Sophronia Caldonia b. 30 Sept 1864
21. John T. b. 28 July 1865
William Burr b. 29 Aug 1867
Wallace Henry b. 30 Oct 1869
Lenora Ann b. 23 Dec 1872
Susan Frances b. 23 June 1875
5. Elijah HOLLY was born on 16 May 1836 in Blount Co., Ala. and
died in the hospital at Hugernet Sprints, Va., in 1864. He was
in Company D, 6th Regiment of Ala.
6. Asa Bynum HOLLY was born 2 March 1839 in Blount Co., Ala. and died in 1864 in Va. He married Martha Jane NESMITH. They had a son Isaac M. born about 1859. In the 1860 Census they were living in Morgan Co., Ala. and Asa was a farmer with $225 of personal property. In Ellis Co., Tx. Isaac married Eliza FARLEY on 6 Aug. 1883. Asa BYNUM, a minister, performed the marriage service.
7. Mary HOLLY was born 9 Oct. 1842 in Blount Co., Ala. and married Augustus "Gus" SIMPSON.
8. Jesse Benson HOLLY was born 2 Feb. 1844 in Blount Co., Ala.
and died 20 Feb. 1905 at Swenson, Stonewall Co., Tx. He married
first Frances (Fannie) E. PHILLIPS, who was from Daingerfield,
Tx. Fannie was born about 1845 and died about 1874. Jesse and
Frances were living in Titus Co., Tx. in 1870.
Jesse served in Company D, Goode's Tx. Cavalary in the Civil War,
enlisting in 1864 after his mother died. He married for the second
time on 29 Dec. 1878 in Ellis Co., Tx. to Mary Anna (BROWN) DAVIDSON,
who was born on 29 July 1854 and died on 19 Nov. 1943 in Stonewall
Co., Tx. Jesse and Mary are buriedin the Brazos Valley Cemetery
nine miles north of Swenson, Tx. Mary moved to Lubbock Co., Tx.
after Jesse died, but was living with her daughter, Alice HILL
when she died. Mary was a widow with a daughter, Ida
(born 15 May 1876) when she married Jesse. Jesse and Mary lived
in the Mt. Peak Community in Ellis Co. They moved to Eastland
Co.; then in 1900 they lived in Jones Co., Tx. and later moved
to Stonewall Co., Tx. After Jesse died, Mary moved to Lubbock
Co., Tx., living near Becton and later in Idalou.
Children of Jesse and Frances HOLLY
Sarah Eveline b. ab 1868
Mary Elizabeth b. 4 Mar 1869
Joe Melican b. 19 Nov 1871
Children of Jesse and Mary HOLLY
Ellen Josephine b. 28 Sept 1879
Roxie Jane b. 2 July 1881
Hase (Hayes) b. 5 Aug 1883
Alice Pheny b. 4 Feb 1886
Jess Eligh b. 14 Apr 1888
Bennie B. b. 29 July 1890
Odom Lonnie b. 30 Aug 1892
Viola Myrth b. 23 Oct 1894
Hillard Willard b. 24 July 1898
9. Martha Jane HOLLY was born on 17 Dec. 1845 in Blount Co., Ala.
and died in 1880 in Ellis Co., Tx. She never married.
10. Dicy HOLLY was born on 22 Dec. 1847 in Blount Co., Ala. and died on 20 Dec. 1929. She married first on 13 Aug 1876 in Ellis Co., Tx. to John PAGE, who was born 19 April 1852 and died 1 Oct. 1883.
The 1880 Ellis Co. Census of Agriculture shows that John Page was owner of 75 acres of improved land, tilled, including fallow and grass in rotation (pasture or meadow); 5 acres of improved land, permanent meadows, permanent pastures, orchards or vineyards; 5 acres of unimproved land, woodland and forest; 80 acres of other unimproved land, including "old fields," not growing wood.
His farm was valued at $1200, including the land, fences and
buildings. His farming implements were valued at $25. His live
stock was valued at $100. During 1879 he paid $75 for farm labor
(including the value of boarding workers). During 1879 he hired
farm labor for 20 weeks. The estimated value of all farm productions
(sold, consumed or still on hand) produced in 1879 was $365.
On June 1, 1880, he owned 2 horses, 1 milch cow, and 1 other cow.
1 calf was dropped during 1879, and during that same year he
sold 2 cattle. During 1879 he made 25 lbs. of butter. On June
1, 1880 he had 1 hog and 4 barnyard "poultry." During
1879 his farm produced 500 eggs. In 1879 he had 25 acres of Indian
corn, which yielded 25 bushels;
2 acres of oats, for 60 bushels; 20 acres of wheat, for 10 bushels;
and 35 acres of cotton, which yielded 6 bales. In 1879 he had
5 acres of peach orchards, with 500 bearing trees, which yielded
250 bushels of peaches. The total value of the peaches sold and
consumed equalled $120. During 1879 he cut 15 cords of wood,
worth $22.
On 26 Apr. 1889, Dicy HOLLY PAGE married second Henry W. KILGORE, in Ellis Co., Tx. Family stories state that Dicy was a forceful woman and continued to manage the family's money after she and Henry KILGORE married. H.W. and Dicy KILGORE did not have any children together. Dicy and John PAGE are buried in the Mt. Peak Cemetery. Living with them in 1880 was a nephew, Elijah HOLLY age 17 and born in Ala. (There was a Isaac HOLLY, age 20 years and born in Ala. living with John MAJOR)
Children of Dicy and John PAGE
22. Sarah b. 18 June 1877
23. William Hugh b. March 1879
24. Dora b. Feb. 1881
11. Rhoda Manila HOLLY was born 17 Oct. 1849 in Blount Co., Ala.
and died on 18 July 1922 in Ellis Co., Tx. She married on 4 July(?)
1870 in Lamar Co., Tx. to S. Washington TAYLOR, who was born 7
Feb 1846 and died 1 Dec. 1882. They are buried in the Mt. Peak
Cemetery, Ellis Co., Tx.
Children of Rhoda and Washington TAYLOR
25. Ellen A. b. 4 May 1871 d. 26 Dec 1882
26. Lucy b. about 1873
27. Lewis A. b. 3 Jan 1875 d. 4 Sept 1886
28. Josie b. 1877 d. 1957
29. James b. 11 Feb 1880 d. 31 July 1971
30. Luther E. b. 17 Aug 1882 d. 28 Oct 1892
12. Sarah Selemma HOLLY was born 13 Aug. 1851 in Blount Co.,
Ala. and died in 1914 at Cedar Hill, Tx. She married on 2 Nov.
1876 to Allen HALE, who was born 11 July 1848 in DeKalb Co., Tenn.
and died in 1891 at Cedar Hill, Tx. Allen HALE was the son of
Daniel HALE and Lourany PAGE HALE. He was a first cousin to John
B. PAGE and Zeb PAGE. Allen and Sarah HALE are buried in Little
Bethel Cemetery near Cedar Hill, Tx.
Children of Sarah and Allen HALE
31. Barney Hazael b. 1876
32. Mattie Lou (Martha) b. 28 Feb 1879
33. Daniel Dee b. May 1880
13. Emily Josephine HOLLY was born 15 April 1854 in Blount Co.,
Ala. and died 11 Jan. 1935 in Lubbock Co., Tx. She married on
17 June 1874 in Cooke Co., Tx. to John Christopher Jerome BURNS,
who was born 20 Jan. 1854 in Tx. and died 5 March 1933 in Lubbock
Co., Tx. Emily and her family lived for a short time in Cooke
Co., Tx. where they sold a tract of land on 20 Feb. 1875 and then
moved to Ellis Co., Tx. They lived in Brown, Eastland, Stonewall
and Haskell Counties in Tx. Emily and John were living with her
father, Hazael HOLLY, in 1880. Emily and John BURNS lived in
Lubbock Co., Tx. for several years. They lived for a while at
Abernathy, Tx.
Children of Emily and John C. J. BURNS
34. Walter Augustus b. 18 May 1880
Johnnie R. b. 8 July 1882 d. 4 Dec 1884
35. Hazel (son) b. 11 Oct 1884
Larrissia (dau) b. 31 Oct 1886
George W. b. 6 July 1888
W. Ben b. 29 Aug 1890
Joseph b. 4 Sept 1892
Jess Jiaroan b. 6 Aug 1895
Charley Travis b. 16 Mar 1898
14. Joel Allison HOLLY was born 4 March 1856 in Blount Co., Ala.
He married on 28 Dec. 1874 in Ellis Co., Tx. to Dicy BYNUM. They
lived for a while in Ellis Co. and then moved to Potosi, Taylor
Co., Tx. Joel was appointed postmaster on 16 March 1898 and the
postoffice was in his home.
Children of Joel and Dicy HOLLY
36. Sarah Catherine b. ab 1876
Jess b. ab 1877
Leona b. May 1880
37. William Wirt b. July 1882
38. Elizabeth b. May 1884
Bertha b. May 1888
Robert b. Mar 1890
Claude b. July 1892
Pierce b. Dec 1895
Myrtle b. Oct 1897
15. Lucinda Rilla HOLLY was born 10 March 1858 in Blount Co.,
Ala. She married in 1874 in Cooke Co., Tx. to John E. BURNS.
16. Elizabeth Idelar Amberson HOLLY was born 16 July 1860 in Morgan Co., Ala. and died 22 Sept. 1882 in Ellis Co., Tx. She married on 27 Feb. 1880 in Ellis Co., Tx. to Zeb. D. PAGE, brother of John B. PAGE (who was married to her sister, Dicy HOLLY). She is buried in the Mt. Peak Cemetery, Ellis Co., Tx. Idelar and Zeb PAGE were living with John and Dicy (HOLLY) PAGE in 1880, in Ellis Co. After Elizabeth HOLLY PAGE died, Zeb PAGE marred Sarepta BARTLES, in about 1885.
17. Benjamin Ephriam HOLLY was born 11 May 1862 in Morgan Co., Ala. and died on 8 May 1942 at Potosi, Taylor Co., Tx. He married Martha Jane BURNS, who was born 15 Feb. 1869 in Mississippi and died on 16 Nov. 1914 at Potosi, Taylor Co., Tx.
Children of Benjamin and Martha HOLLY
Pearl Annie b. 3 Oct 1889 d. 29 Oct 1889
Edgar L. b. May 1891
Owen b. Mar 1894
Horace b. Mar 1896
Ruth b. Oct 1898
Stephen Wesley
18. Nancy Caldony HOLLY was born 11 Sept. 1874 in Ellis Co.,
Tx. and died in 1914 in Maud, Okla. On 19 July 1886, she married
Eli J. GLOVER in Ellis Co., Tx.
Children of Nancy and Eli Glover
Isaac b. 7 Apr 1888
Arthur b. d. 1932
Gracey
Eva (Era ?) b. 1901 d. 1974
Erma
Collie
19. Wilson Cheatham HOLLY was born 3 July 1878, in Ellis Co., Tx. and died 30 Sept. 1933 at Potosi, Taylor Co., Tx. He married on 13 Dec. 1898 at Potosi to Olive L. McMAHON, who was born 9 Oct. 1880 in Dallas Co., Tx. and died on 23 May 1933 at Potosi. They are buried in the Potosi Cemetery.
Children of Wilson and Olive HOLLY
Ethel b. 28 July 1900
Edith b. 25 Feb 1902
Bertha Lee b. 28 Apr 1906 d. 28 Aug 1906
Tommy Lee b. 22 Dec 1907 d. 21 Nov 1912
Mabel b. 5 May 1911 d. 8 Apr 1976
Wilson C. b. 14 Feb 1923
Fourth Generation
20. Sophronia Caldonia NESMITH was born 30 Sept. 1864 in Blount Co., Ala. She married John E. WILLIAMS on 4 March 1879 in Ellis Co., Tx.
21. John T. NESMITH was born 28 July 1865 in Blount Co., Ala. He married Bettie STEPHENS on 2 Aug. 1883 in Ellis Co., Tx.
22. Sarah (Sally) PAGE, daughter of Dicy and John PAGE, was born 18 June 1877 and died 19 July 1954. She married Elder William Z. CORBIN, who was born 30 Aug. 1873 and died 22 Sept. 1938. They are buried in the same plot as Dicy and John PAGE, in Mountain Peak Cemetery.
23. William Hugh PAGE (b.Mar.1879-d.12 Oct. 1931) m. Ethel Edward HURT (b.25 Jan. 1885-d.30 Sept. 1970) in Ellis Co., Tx. Hugh PAGE served in the Coast Artillery during the Spanish American war. They lived in Midlothian, where he was in business with his relative, Rufus H. MORTON. Hugh and Ethel PAGE had three children: William Hurt PAGE, (b. 2 May 1912, Midlothian, Tx., d. 19 July 1914, Midlothian, Tx.), John Hugh Page (b. 10 Sept. 1915, Midlothian, Tx. d. 21 Aug. 1971, Wichita Falls, Tx.), and Eugene A. Page (b. 1920, Midlothian, Tx.)
24. Dora PAGE (b.Feb. 1881, d.25 Feb. 1946, Collin Co., Tx.) married James (Jim) BRIDGEFARMER (d.28 Sept. 1946, Collin Co., Tx.)
25. Ellen A. TAYLOR, daughter of Rhoda and Wash TAYLOR, wasborn 4 May 1871 and died 26 Dec 1882. She is buried in the Mountain Peak Cemetery.
26. Lucy TAYLOR was born about 1873 in Tex., most likely Lamar Co., Tx. She is listed with her parents in the 1880 Ellis Co. Census.
27. Lewis A. TAYLOR was born 3 Jan. 1875, most likely in Ellis Co., Tx. and died 4 Sept. 1886 in Ellis Co. He is buried in the Mountain Peak Cemetery.
28. Josie TAYLOR (born 1877, died 1957) married Louis Edwin ESKRIDGE. They are buried in the Mountain Peak Cemetery.
29. James L. TAYLOR was born 11 Feb. 1880 in Ellis Co., Tx. and died 31 July 1971. He married Mattie E. ???, who was born 11 Oct. 1885 and died 17 Feb. 1973. They are buried in the Mountain Peak Cemetery.
30. Luther E. TAYLOR was born 17 Aug. 1882 and died 28 Oct. 1892. He is buried in the Mountain Peak Cemetery.
31. Barney Hazael HALE, son of Sarah and Allen HALE, was born in 1876 at Mountain Peak, Ellis Co., Tx. He married first, Oda PICKETT and second to Alice Deverlin BOLDING.
32. Mattie Lou (Martha) HALE was born 28 Feb. 1879 in Ellis Co., Tx.
33. Daniel Dale HALE was born in May 1880 in Ellis Co., Tx.
34. Walter Augustus BURNS, son of Emily and John C. BURNS, was born 18 May 1880 in Ellis Co., Tx. and died 2 Nov. 1932 at Lovington, New Mexico. He married on 9 April 1909 to Estella BAKER, who was born at Burket, Coleman Co., Tx. He is buried in the Antioch Cemetery, Antioch, New Mexico.
35. Hazel BURNS, son of Emily and John C. BURNS, was born 11 Oct. 1884 and died in Aug. 1947 in Lea Co., New Mexico. He married on 28 April 1918 to Tollye SHUMAN, who was born in 1900. Hazel homesteaded land in Lea Co., New Mexico in the Antioch Community near the Tx. State Line, between Lovington, New Mexico and Plains, Tx. Hazel is buried in the Antioch Cemetery in Lea Co., New Mexico.
36. Sarah Catherine HOLLY, daughter of Joel and Dicy HOLLY was born about 1876 in Ellis Co., Tx.
37. William Wirt HOLLY was born in July 1882. He married Cora Victoria SMOTHERS. When he married he was living in Waxahachie, Ellis Co., Tx.
38. Elizabeth HOLLY was born in May 1884. She married Samuel
Miller SMOTHERS, who was a brother of Cora, who married Wirt HOLLY.