Individual Details

1894 - Ernest Lee Hollaway is born in July 1894 in Mist, Arkansas
1897 - Sara (Sadie) Alice is born February 13 in Mist, Arkansas.
c1899
"When Ernest was four or five he became curious about whether black would burn. He had noticed that most things were black after they burned, hence the question. He went into his sister Clyde's bedroom one day. In her closet he found a black riding skirt. To answer his curiosity, he took a match and tried to set the skirt on fire. To his surprise, it burned quickly! He did not know what to do, and so shut the closet door and ran out of the house. Soon someone saw smoke billowing from the house, but in the country there was no way to put out the fire. The large plantation house burned to the ground. This loss no doubt was a severe setback for the family finances.
Ernest never revealed to any of his family how the fire had started. When he was about 70 or 75 , he told the story to me." [records of Ernest Lee Hollaway Jr.]
1900 - I'm assuming that the above story has some validity since the family seems to have moved off the farm into town by 1900. They last two blacks listed in the household were probably servants. Bryan is born May of 1900, may have died shortly after this , he doesn't show up on 1910 census. Eugenia seems to have had 6 children with only four surviving. Willia Dokes had 10 children with 4 surviving.
Holloway, William head wm Mar 1860 40 16 yrs m. Ark. Miss Miss ferryman" Eugenia wife wf May 1859 41 16yrs 6/4 Ala Georgia Ala" Clyde dau wf Mar 1885 15 s Ark Ark Ala" Ernest i son wm July 1895 5 s Ark Ark Ala" Sadie dau wf Feb 1897 3 s Ark Ark Ala" Bryan son wm Nov 1899 5/12 s Ark Ark AlaHill, Spencer head bm Mar 1860 40 wd Ark Ken AlaDokes, Willia mother bf Mar 1840 60 wd 10/5 Ala unk Ala[US Census, Ark., Portland, Ashley Co., Enum. 15, sheet 19 p327b]
1904, March 23 - Ernest's mother "Jennie" dies of the measles. [Portland Cem. Records]
1907 - Willie marries Lou Ella Wesley (Austin) Hollaway on Oct. 15, 1907, the wife of his deceased brother, Albert. [Ark Co. Marriages 1849-1910]
1910 - Willie Hollaway is (49 years old) living in Portland, Arkansas with Ella (48) his new wife, his son, Ernest(15) and daughter, Sadie,(13). His occupation is listed as "owns farm". Bryan doesn't show up on this census and probably died shortly after birth. John D. Hollaway, Willie's brother, and his wife, Sallie, live just up the road. He also is a farmer.[Arkansas, Ashley, Enum 13/ Sheet 3, Portland]
1913 to 1915 - Ernest was attending Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas. He was majoring in literature.[Centennial History of Arkansas. vol.III, p.43]
1915-16 - He was a history instructor in the public schools of Russellville, Arkansas. He probably restarted his education in 1916 when he attended Valpariso University at Valpariso, Indiana. [Centennial History of Arkansas. vol.III, p.43]
1916 and 1917 - He became superintendent of the schools at Hermitage, Arkansas, a position that he held until 1918. [Centennial History of Arkansas. vol.III, p.43]
1917, May 30 - Ernest marries Veva Inez Reynolds probably in the Methodist church at Arkansas City.
1918, Sept 10th - Ernest enlists in the Army. He was a private in Infantry Co., #36 of the Ninth Receiving Battalion. He was discharged at Camp Pike on December 10, 1918. I'm curious about why his service was so short. When he was discharged he became superintendent of schools at Womble, Arkansas according to his article in the Centennial History of Arkansas. More recently researchers have found no record of him having a position of superintendent of the schools here. It is more likely that he may have been a principal of a school. The town changed its name to Norman in 1925.
1920, May - He quits his job to return to college at Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tennessee. He graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in June, 1921. He also gets an L. L. B degree from this same institution. He had already passed the bar to practice law take cases before the circuit courts. In 1921 he was granted the right to take cases to supreme court. [Centennial History of Arkansas. vol.III, p.43]
1921, September - He became superintendent of schools in Arkansas City and according to the article he remained in that position at the time of the writing. [Centennial History of Arkansas. vol.III, p.43]
1923 - He expected to set up his own law practice and apparently did.Ernest eventually becomes a well known judge in Ashley Co., Arkansas. [Centennial History of Arkansas. vol.III, p.43]
1930 - Ernest Holloway is living at 177 W. 3rd St. in Corning, Clay Co., Arkansas with his wife Veva, son and nephew.
Holloway, Ernest L. head renting m w 34 mar at age 21 Arkansas Arkansas Alabama Lawyer Gen.-Practice " , Veva wife f w 33 mar at age 20 Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas none" , Ernest L. Jr. son m w 10 s Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas noneAustin, Lee H. nephew m w 20 div mar at age 17 Colorado Arkansas Arkansas Agent Insurance [US Census, Arkansas, Clay Co., Corning. enum. dist. 11-18, sheet 3]
1979 - Dec 27 -
Dear Violet;I have your letter and we are upset about the news about Sadie. I hope as this reaches you you can write me a letter advising tht she is rocovering.As you may remember my first wife died of cancere. She first had cncer of the breast followed by that of a kidney. Fortunately she never suffered pain over the months she had it.Keep us advised. My present wife was always fond of her and of Ed. I had hoped she would come to see us or we could see her.I am feeling better right now. And hope will continue to imporve. I am still busy at the practice of law. Tried case at Paragould yesterday.Sadie told me abou you and your family but I don't believe I have ever seen Chris since shortly after you marriage. I do remember Roy but have not met any of his family.Tell Sadie we are hopeful for her swift recovery.Your Uncle(signed) Ernest and Aunt Mildred
1981 Jul 25 - Ernest Hollaway Sr. dies in Corning, ARletter to Violet Christenson, October 2, 1981 [letter in collection of Elroy Christenson]
10-2-81Dear Violet & All,I am sorry to be so slow about writing But I just recent found your letter it was mix'd up with Ernest Lees mail, so it was news to me.Ernest had been going down hill, for five years. For 2 years he was sick and last year it was awful, He got to where he just couldn't go. He wouldn't go to Dr or Hospitals. So I took care of him like he was a baby, He died with locked bowels. 24 hours after we got him in Hospital, The Lord was good to us, & he was mercy to take him. I have no regerts, for I did for him all I could. Yes, I am lonsome, Guess I'll miss him for the rest of my life. Jacky, has a lovely husband and two sweet little boys & she is busy as a B They are real good to me. Shes a blessing. Ive been going quiet a bit, as I told all the children, when Ernest dies that i would . So Ive visted by son in Ill. Ernest Le and his family in Nashville T. N. & with Jackie and family last week, Ernest Lee is very sweet to me he told my son, that I had been a good mother to him, But he is sure good to me. Every one at the Hollaways. Grand children great Joan K kids and the hole bunch are all just craze about me and & I love them. I am trying to sell out E. L. Law books and I am have a time, know body seames to have any money, I am also trying to sell rent house, but no luck. Its a mess.I'd sure like to met you. You know sister was my favorite Hollaway. & I had such good time together, Hope Edd. is better, make it a point to come see us. andy time let me hear for you all.Love Aunt Mildred Hollaway207 N. Polk StCorning Ark 72422
Ernest Jr. goes on to become a missionary. He has a long and successful career and spends many years in Japan with his wife and children.
Ernest Jr. marries and has four chidren who are mostly involved in the ministry. A Christmas letter lists this information. " Lee, Bill, Mark, and Rebecca all live in the Nashville area. Lee took early retirement from Thomas Nelson Publishers but continues to do free-lance editorial work. Bill had to separate from his former business partner when the partner began using company resources for his own personal welfare, so he formed "Hollaway Group," a new company doing the same type of consulting and training he has been doing for years. Mark continues to work for Rebecca's husband in a flooring business but he and his wife have recently bought a franchise for one of the chain of barber shops. Rebecca has certification for working with blind and disabled children and keeps busy going from one school to another helping them. Stephen continues as pastor of Latonia Baptist Church in Covington, KY. All of the children are so busy that I see them only once in a while. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren are in Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas, so we see them even less often. I believe 18 of the family were at a Thanksgiving dinner at a local club. We will probably have a similar or larger number at my house on Saturday before Christmas, so we do keep in touch."[letter of Ernest Hollaway Jr. Dec. 18, 2006]
sources:
Arkansas Cemetery Records, Portland Ark Mort. ScheduleChristenson, Violet. recollections of Lee, Alice Kennedy. Excerpts from the Ashley County Eagle, Arkansas 1889-1914, 2000, Alice Kennedy Lee, P. O. Box 636, Cave City, KY 42127, email - danlee@scrtc.comHerndon, Dallas T. compiler. Centennial History of Arkansas, Vol. III of 4 volumes, page 43, S. J. Clarke Publishing Company of Chicago and Little Rock, pub. 1922 Hollaway, Ernest Jr. letters and coorespondence. US Census Records,

Birth	25 Jul 1895	Portland, Ashley County, Arkansas
Census (family)-shared	20 Jun 1900	(William Lee Hollaway and Margaret Eugenia "Jennie" Machen) Portland, Ashley County, Arkansas
Census (family)-shared	20 Apr 1910	(William Lee Hollaway and Louella Wesley Austin) Portland, Ashley County, Arkansas
Marriage	30 May 1917	Russellville, Pope County, Arkansas - Veva Inez Reynolds
Draft registration	5 Jun 1917	Portland, Ashley County, Arkansas
Census (family)	3 Jan 1920	Womble, Montgomery County, Arkansas - Veva Inez Reynolds
Census (family)	10 Apr 1930	W. 3rd Street, Corning, Clay County, Arkansas - Veva Inez Reynolds
Census (family)	26 Apr 1940	W. 6th Street, Corning, Clay County, Arkansas - Veva Inez Reynolds
Draft registration	1942	Corning, Clay County, Arkansas
Marriage	Abt 1951	Mildred Crockett Shanks
Death	Jun 1981	Corning, Clay County, Arkansas

Spouse	Veva Inez Reynolds (1896 - 1950)
Child	Dr. Ernest Lee Hollaway Jr. (1919 - 2013)

Spouse

Mildred Crockett Shanks ( - )

Father	William Lee Hollaway (1860 - 1933)
Mother	Margaret Eugenia "Jennie" Machen (1859 - 1904)
Sibling	Clyde Pearl Hollaway (1885 - 1972)
Sibling	Sarah Alice "Sadie" Hollaway (1897 - 1980)
Sibling	Bryan Hollaway (1900 - 1910)

Notes