My Genealogy Hound

J. L. Holloway is a prominent and wealthy planter of Lucas Township, who was born in Monroe County, Miss., September 14, 1843, being one of ten children that blessed the union of Samuel and Sophia (Mitchiel) Holloway, natives of Edgefield District, S. C. Samuel Holloway was reared and educated in South Carolina, and at the age of seventeen accepted the position of manager of his uncle’s business, which he successfully conducted until his twentieth year. He then moved to Tuscaloosa, Ala., and there married, and immediately took the management of his mother-in-law’s estate. He afterward bought a farm in Tuscaloosa County, and though quite a young man, received the election of sheriff of that county, which office he filled with entire satisfaction to all concerned, for many years. In 1843 he moved to Monroe County, Miss., from there to Aberdeen, Miss., and in 1854 took his family to the latter place, where he had purchased a large plantation, and there remained until the close of the war. In 1848 Mr. Holloway bought a farm in Monroe County, Ark., which consisted of 400 acres in cultivation; this was owned by the family until 1862; and in 1858 he purchased a large piece of land in De Soto County, Miss., on the Mississippi River, consisting of 1,212 acres, 400 acres improved and highly cultivated. This is the family homestead, and now contains some 1,100 acres of the best of improved land, with good residences, barns, etc. Mr. Holloway died at age of fifty-seven, his excellent wife surviving him thirty-one years; her death occurred in 1889. He was a leading member of the Baptist Church, in which he was a deacon many years. His wife was connected for sixty-five years with the same church. J. L. Holloway passed his youth in Monroe County, Miss., receiving his education in the schools in the village of Aberdeen, and at the breaking out of the war was about to enter college. Notwithstanding that he had made every preparation and studied diligently, and passed critical examinations, he gave up the idea, and in 1861 joined Company B, Twentieth Mississippi Infantry as a private. He was soon after promoted to the office of assistant of commissary of Stewart’s corps, and held that position until the close of the war. He participated in seventeen pitched battles, the first being on Gauly River, W. Va., at Fort Donelson, where he was taken prisoner and sent to Camp Douglas, Chicago, there being retained for nine months; he was exchanged at Vicksburg in 1862. His regiment was reorganized at Clinton, Miss., and engaged in various skirmishes from Jackson to Vicksburg, the hardest fight being at Champion’s Hill, and it captured over 300 prisoners from Raymond back to Vicksburg, and held them until the surrender of that place. The regiment was not engaged in the city, but on the outskirts, and after the surrender of that place was dismounted and sent to Jackson, and afterward to Canton, Miss., for winter quarters, where it remained until the following spring. Being ordered to Resaca it participated in that famous battle, and in all the engagements around Atlanta, Ga., up to the time Gen. Hood took command. After his (Hood’s) defeat, Mr. Holloway returned to Tupelo, Miss., and there the troops were furloughed for ten days. At the expiration Joseph E. Johnston was reinstated to the command, and Mr. Holloway rejoined the regiment at Raleigh, N. C, remaining with Gen. Johnston until the final surrender in 1865, after which he received his parole and arrived home in May of the same year. Upon the close of the war he found to his dismay that his worldly possessions were almost nothing, but not discouraged he set out resolutely, determined to succeed, and he has, for the word ‘‘ fail’’ was unknown to him. He commenced farming, and as he had never done any manual labor, of course he encountered many obstacles, and a man of less determined purpose might have failed utterly. After farming rented land for some time, he returned to the homestead which now belongs to himself and the other heirs, only three of whom are living out of the large family of ten children: Ira G. (residing in Oxford, Miss., and a member of the State senate), Samuella (wife of Dr. George A. Cairns, of Oxford, Miss.), and J. L. (the subject of this sketch). Mr. Holloway was married at Clinton, Miss., in 1863, to Miss Jerusha E. Mosby, daughter of John and Nancy (Smith) Mosby, natives of Tennessee. Mr. Mosby was a colonel in the War of 1812, and retained the title so gallantly won, during his entire life. Himself and wife were the parents of nine children, five surviving: Mrs. William Priestly (of Canton, Miss.), Matthew A., Jerusha E. (Mrs. Holloway), Mrs. Augusta Coleman and William J. (druggist of Canton, Miss.). Mr. Mosby died in 1841, and his wife in 1861. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Holloway three children have been given: Willie (Mrs. Young of this county), Miss Elise and Corinne (Mrs. Richards of Crawford, Miss). Mr. Holloway has control of 6,800 acres of land on the Arkansas side of the Mississippi River, 725 of which are under cultivation, the rest being leased. He raises from his individual labor 100 bales of cotton, and corn sufficient to supply the Arkansas side of the farm. He receives for his rented land on the Arkansas side $1,325, and on the Mississippi side $800. Mr. Holloway is public spirited and progressive, and is a liberal supporter of all laudable enterprises, well deserving the confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens. He is a Democrat in his political views, a member of Indian Creek Lodge No. 2383, K. of H., and with his eldest daughter, a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Holloway and youngest daughter belong to the Presbyterian Church.