Leonidas Holloway
Leonidas Holloway, a pioneer of 1851, who for many years has been a well-known resident of Spencer township, has been retired form active life for some years; but in spite of his 84 years he retains physical health and possesses a memory which goes back to the beginning of a very remarkable career. Mr. Holloway was born in Knox County, Ohio, July 18, 1822, and is a son of David and Phoebe (Clark) Holloway.
David Holloway, the father, was born in Scotland, May 21, 1786, and emigrated to America and settling in New Jersey. In New York, on July 11, 1807, he was married to Phoebe Clark who was born July 19, 1785. To this union were born five daughters and four sons. All of the nine children reached maturity, married and had families of their own. Leonidas, of this sketch, was the eighth in order of birth and although his life was probably endangered more than that of any of his brothers or sisters, he has survived them all. David Holloway was a very early settler in Knox County, Ohio, traveling by team from the East to Massillon and then settling in the woods that extended for miles over the present cultivated fields of Knox County. His life was that of the early pioneer, and he met and overcame the hardships of that early day with the courage and capacity which the very name of pioneer implies. He died in Knox County on September 10, 1862, aged 76 years. His wife had passed away many years before, dying September 19, 1838.
Leonidas Holloway was reared in Knox County, not far from Mount Vernon, Ohio. His schooling was limited, the time, locality and circumstances preventing the seizing of many educational opportunities. Like many other young men of his day, he drifted far from home, led by an adventurous spirit and a hardiness of physical health which sought an outlet different from the confinements of rural life. Thus he went to Texas and for 18 months served with the Texas Rangers prior to enlisting at New Orleans for service in the Mexican War. During his first years of service he was a member of the First Battalion, Texas Cavalry, and it was during his third year that he participated in the storming of the city of Monterey and the taking of Buena Vista. In the earlier part of his service he was under the command of Gen. Sam Houston, but later he served under Gen. Zachary Taylor. He continued in the service until the close of the war, escaping with but a flesh wound.
In 1851 Mr. Holloway came to Allen County, and settled in the woods, in true pioneer style. In order to reach the Spencerville road he was obliged to cut the forest trees, making a path 40 feet wide which reached from the canal, and which is now known as the Spencerville and Dayton turnpike road. In those early years in Spencer township, he was kept busy clearing off the timber. In those days he split rails to the number of unknown thousands. His first home was a cabin of round logs which sufficed until a better one, of hewed logs, could be erected to take its place; in this second cabin his son, John W., was born, in 1861.
When this son was five weeks old Mr. Holloway once more offered his loyal services to his country in her hour of need. He enlisted at Spencerville, in Company I, Fourth Reg., Ohio Vol. Cav., under Colonel Kenneth and Capt. Henry Rogers, which regiment was attached to the Second Army Corps and ordered to Cincinnati. From that distributing point his regiment was sent with others to the various points of danger, and he served faithfully until he was discharged at Baltimore, Maryland, in 1865, without having received any serious injuries. His military service covered many years and he was personal concerned in some of the most important events in the history of our country. He now draws a pension of $18 per month. After the close of the war, he again returned to peaceful pursuits and has lived quietly as an agriculturist ever since. His well-improved farm of 40 acres is situated in Spencer township, and in addition to this property he owns considerable realty in Spencerville.
On July 2, 1848, Mr. Holloway was married at Mount Vernon, Knox County, Ohio, to Tillethia Ann Doty, who was born in Knox County, May 1, 1830, and is a daughter of Samuel B. and Margaret (Crider) Doty, who reared a family of five sons and five daughters. Mrs. Holloway and two sisters still survive, these being: Mrs. Sarah Burk, of Delphos, Ohio, and Mrs. Catherine Elizabeth Bott, of Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Holloway have has six children, as follows: Pheobe Ellen, born September 9, 1849, who died in August, 1862; Margaret Ann, born August 11, 1851, who was married March 21, 1873, to Amos Lee, and died May 25, 1874, leaving one son, William Lawrence, of Spencer township; Rachel Maria, born February 25, 1854, who died in August, 1863; Sarah C., born February 20, 1856, who was married May 3, 1878, to William Geething, and died January 26, 1879; Samuel B., born February 26, 1859, who was married on July 3, 1881, to Hannah Chambers, and died October 31, 1891, leaving two daughters Florence and Ada, both of whom are married and live in Kansas; and John W., born in 1861, who is now a prominent farmer located in section 24, Spencer township.
For many years after Mr. and Mrs. Holloway settled in Spencer township, pioneer conditions prevailed. The clearing of the land and its subsequent cultivations was not the only hardship. It was a long distance to mill, the old post mill on the Auglaize River being the nearest one available, and the country was still so densely wooded and little settled that danger from the wild animals of the woods was by no means past. On one occasion Mrs. Holloway, while out from home on some necessary business, accompanied by her dog, treed a bear. Although she had had many experiences it is doubtful it she had previously had a similar one, Fortunately she was able to call to her assistance a neighbor, Jacob Bennett, who was an old hunter, and he killed the animal before it could do any damage. Mrs. Holloway is one of the old pioneer members of the Christian Church in Spencer township. She was reared a Baptist, but united with the Christian Church at Mount Vernon and she is respectfully and affectionately known as the "Mother of the West Union Christian Church.
Mr. Holloway has also been a member of the Wet Union Christian Church from its very organization, and he ahs been liberal in its support. With Daniel Richardson he purchased an acre of ground and laid out the cemetery and assisted in the erection of the church edifice. In like manner Mr. Holloway has continually given support to the advancement of the schools in the township, has helped in the building of the good roads and has lent his influence in the direction of everything which has promised to be of substantial benefit to his part of his county. In the public affairs of Spencer township, Mr. Holloway has always been a prominent factor and he has served at various times in all but two of the township offices. He is a valued member of the Spencerville post of the Grand Army of the Republic. Few if any residents of Spencer township are better or more favorably known than Mr. and Mrs. Holloway.