Thomas Holloway was born in Screvens
County, Georgia in 1827 and moved with his family (David Holloway) to
Early County, later Calhoun County, prior to 1850. Little is known about
his early childhood but it can be assumed that he grew up and lived the
life of a farm boy in pioneer days.
In 1849, Thomas married Martha Rodgers, the daughter of John
Rodgers and began farming with his father-in-law. Sometime in the 1850s
he bought land and built a log house one mile east of Edison. This is
the same location that his daughter, Roxie and Sam Massey, later built
their home. next door to Tom. This house was still standing in the mid
1940s and was being used to store corn and cotton after being picked and
awaiting a wagon to carry it to the gin.
During the 1850, Thomas and Martha had three children,
Christopher C. (Chris), John D. and William R. (Dick).
The
problems between the North and South continued to escalate, until in
1861, the Northern Armies invaded the South. In response to a call for
volunteers, Thomas went to Albany, Ga. in 1863 and joined the
Confederate Army. He enlisted in McCartha's Company, Mercer artillery,
22 Battalion, Ga. Siege Artillery.
He stationed at Thunderbolt Station which was in a horse shoe bend on the
banks of the Savannah River just south of Savannah (presently in the
Savannah city limits).
During the latter part of the war, apparently there was no need
for siege artillery at this station, so his infantry company was
available for operations else where as needed.
They were part of the Confederate army that took part in the Battle
of Olustee which is 35 miles west of Jacksonville, Florida. The
Confederates had established a defensive line across the Jacksonville to
Tallahassee railroad, between Ocean Pond on the north and a swamp on the
south, a distance of about one mile.
OLUSTEE BATTLEFIELD
However, the main battle developed East of this line and more troops
from both sides were ordered up. Thomas Holloway's company was pulled
out of the defensive line and sent into the fight about the middle of
the battle where they participated in the rout of the Union forces.
After Olustee they were sent back to Savannah. He later served
under Gen. Joe Johnston during his fight against Yankee General
Sherman's army up through Georgia, South Caroling and North Carolina
and for the rest of the conflict. He surrendered with Gen. Johnston's
army at Bentonville, North Carolina in April 1865. After the surrender,
he returned to Calhoun County, went to Albany, was paroled, returned
home and continued to farm.
In 1867, Thomas and Martha's fourth and last child, Roxanna, was
born. Thomas' children grew up, married, and settled on farms in the
immediate neighborhood. He continued farming.
Thomas and Martha lived in their log house until his death on 19
Feb. 1901.
Thomas farmed until 1889 when, after some years of failing eye
sight, he became totally blind and somewhat disorientated.
On 18 April, 1895 he applied for a Georgia disability pension
under the Act of 1894 for his service in the Confederate army.
The pension was approved in 1896 and he apparently drew the
pension until his death on 19 Feb. 1901.
He is buried, beside his wife Martha (Rogers), at the Old
Philadelphia Cemetery three miles East of Edison.
Additional info:
He married his wife, Martha Rogers, in 1850. In the 1850 census, he
and his wife were living with his father-in-law, John Rodgers.
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