Joseph A. Holloway

    One of the most attractive and profitable of Grant county homestead sis that located in Section Twenty-seven of Fairmount Township, and owned by Joseph A. Holloway, who is himself of a younger generation of the family in Grant County, and is an up-to-date citizen and progressive farmer, who has made agricultural a very profitable business.

    The family history of the Holloway's begins with three brothers, who came from England during the colonial days, and one of them located in North Carolina. Of Quaker stock, the family in subsequent generations have always been devoted to that church, and the descendants of the American settlers have been noted for their thrifty, their quiet, unassuming virtues, and a fine citizenship. First to be mentioned by name among the descendants of the first settler is Abner Holloway, who married Elizabeth Stanley. They lived and died in North Carolina, were farmers and Quakers, and upright and excellent people. Their four children were Jesse, grandfather of Joseph A.; Isaac, Maria and Sarah, all of whom had families.

    Jesse Holloway was born about 1805. In his native State he was married on July 2, 1826, to Eleanor Hinshaw, who was born in the same County and State, February 25, 1810.After their marriage they started to win success in the world as farmers. His wife became noted throughout a large community both in North Carolina and later in Ohio for her skill as a midwife and doctor. they lived for some years in North Carolina, and later moved to Ohio. Their children were born chiefly in the former State, but some of the younger in Ohio.

    The nine children of Jesse and Eleanor Holloway are mentioned as follows:

  1. Margaret, the oldest, was born September 22, 1828, and now at a very advanced age, is the widow of William  Mills, and lives in Neoga, Illinois, with a younger daughter.

  2. Abner, born December 6, 1830, was the father of Joseph A. and is given more space in the following paragraph.

  3. Amos, born August 29, 1834, is now nearly eighty years of age, is a retired farmer in Monroe Township of Grant County, and has a family of children.

  4. Timothy, born May 24, 1837, now deceased, lived and died in Randolph County, Indiana, was twice married and had children by both wives.

  5. Isaac, born June 29, 1840, now lives in Neoga, Illinois, where he is a retired merchant and retired school teacher, and had two children by his first wife.

  6. Elizabeth, born June 28, 1842, married Josiah Ferguson, and lives in Marion with her family.

  7. Jesse C., born December 12, 1844, died September 16, 1864, having starved to death in the Libby Prison at Richmond, Virginia, while a prisoner of war. He went out to the front as a member of Company C of the Ninetieth Indiana Regiment of Cavalry.

  8. Eleanora, born February 20, 1847, first married James Fleming, and next Elijah Stafford, and for her third husband took Martin Fisher, a Civil War veteran, and they now live in Montana, having one daughter by the third marriage.

  9. Sarah, born September 29, 1849, is deceased and was the wife of F. A. Fleming, a farmer living in Monroe Township in Grant County and having children.

    Abner Holloway was born in Clinton County, Ohio, at the date already given. His parents had moved to Ohio in the early days from North Carolina, and when he was a child they moved on and settled in Grant County, in Fairmount Township. There in the Friends Church, and with the Quaker ceremony, on May 15, 1854, Abner Holloway married Sarah Rich, who was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, October 7, 1837, and was a child when her parents came to Grant County.

    Concerning the Rich family more particular history will be found under the name of Mr. Eri Rich. After his marriage Abner Holloway and wife began life on a farm in Monroe Township. In 1882 they moved to Fairmount Township, buying land in Section Twenty-seven. He prospered as a farmer, and eventually owned tow hundred and fifty-four and a half acres of land, besides having invested interests in Fairmount. His death occurred April 1, 1903. He was a life-long member of the Friends Church, and in politics a Republican, always esteemed for his upright character, and public spirited citizenship. His widow is still living, having her home with their children.

    There were ten children born to Abner Holloway and wife, and brief mention of them is made as follows: Margaret and Sarah are both deceased, and both were married and left children. the living children are:

  1. Miriam, is the wife of Sylvester McCormick, living in Section  Twenty-seven of Fairmount Township, and having children.
  2. Marion married Emma Riffle, lives on a farm in Huntington County, and has three sons.
  3. Mary E. is the wife of William Nelson, living in New Mexico, and the parents of four sons and two daughters.
  4. Matilda J. is the wife of Elsey Mills, whose home is in New Mexico, and they are the parents of three sons and two daughters.
  5. Margaret, now deceased, was the wife of William Ozenbaugh, who lives at Swayzee, and has two living sons.
  6. Joseph A. Holloway whose career is described in the following paragraphs.
  7. Sarah E., now deceased, was the wife of Burton Leas, and he lives in Upland and has three daughters.
  8. Jesse C. married Lillie Corn, lives on a farm in Fairmount Township, and has five children.
  9. Eri is a farmer of Fairmount Township, married Clara Jones, and has one son and three daughters.
  10. Arthur A. is a farmer in Section Twenty-seven of Fairmount Township, and by his marriage to Ella Fleming has three sons and two daughters.

    Mr. Joseph A. Holloway was born in Monroe Township of Grant County, March 20, 1870. His early education was begun in the public schools and completed in the Fairmount Academy. Choosing farming as his vocation, he bought some property in Fairmount City and divided his time between farm work and teaching for several years. His home was in Fairmount from 1896 until 1899, and at the latter date he moved to Monroe Township. In 1904 he came to his father's old farm in Fairmount Township on Section Twenty-seven and there he is owner of one hundred and two acres, making a valuable and most productive farm estate. Its improvements classify it among the model places of Grant County. A fine basement barn, with ample capacity for grain and stock, is a prominent feature of the homestead, while a nicely painted white house affords the comforts of home to himself and family. As a farmer Mr. Holloway believes in sending all his products to market on the foot, and therefore feeds  his corn, oats, wheat and hay to his hogs and fine short-horn cattle.

    Politically he has for many years been an active Republican and has served as precinct committeeman and in other party posts. He is now and has been since 1910, secretary of the Fairmount Township Advisory Board. Mr. Holloway was married in Monroe Township to Miss Lorana Nelson, who was born there November 1, 1875. She was educated in her native locality and was well trained and possesses the character fitting her for her duties as housewife and mother. Her parents were Nelson H. and Mathilda (Thorp) Nelson. Her father was born in Grant County, and her mother in Ohio. For many years their home has been in Monroe Township, where they are thrifty farmers and active members of the Christian Church. There were six children in the Nelson family, two of whom are married. Mr. and Mrs. Holloway have the following children: Nelson A., born December 7, 1896, and now attending school; Clarence C., born March 2, 1898; Ancil D., who was born May 8, 1903; and Ernest W., born November 29, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Holloway are members of the Friends Church, in which Mr. Holloway was reared.

Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914.

                                                                                               Home                    E-mail me