David Hollister & the Hollister Family (4)

 Part Four - T.J. Hollister and Family

If you missed Part 3 of the story, go here . . .

If you missed Part 2 of the story, go here . . .
If you missed Part 1 of the story, go here . . .

Toward the end of his life, David Hollister would make one last journey, along with a number of the children, and would set down in Mapleton, Iowa. Here, they would settle in the surrounding area and raise their families on the prairie. David's fourth-born, Thomas Jefferson Hollister, was in his 20s when the family headed west. In Mapleton, he met another traveler from Wisconsin, Hannah O'Neil, and they married, raising seven children together. Some of those children would fan out across the United States as they reached adulthood, and one would make the ultimate sacrifice. The last part of this series is their story.

The children of Thomas Jefferson Hollister and Hannah O'Neal:
Stella, Grace, Rush, Mable, Loren, Nona, and Thomas.

Thomas Jefferson Hollister

David and Caroline's fourth child, Thomas Jefferson Hollister, who seemed to have gone by the name Jeff (and sometimes TJ), was born in 1855 in Ridgeway, Wisconsin. His father, David, was born during the Jefferson administration, and he must have had some admiration for that founding father, as that was the only president he named a son after. Jeff was still single and in his 20s when he went to western Iowa with the rest of the family. In 1880, he was working as a blacksmith and boarding with a family in Wisconsin. By 1885, he was married, had a newborn, and was living on Main Street in Mapleton. He married Hannah O'Neil (b.1858, d.1935). 

Hannah O'Neil and Thomas Jefferson Hollister

By 1900, Jeff and family had moved to the small burg of Ute in the Town of Saint Clair, about three miles from Mapleton and he was still listed as a blacksmith. By the 1910 census, the family was back in Mapleton and Jeff's occupation was listed as 'laborer - odd  jobs." By that time, the blacksmith profession, which had also served his father and brother, was certainly on the decline.

In her journal, daughter Grace described some hard times in the Hollister household. When the family moved back to Mapleton, they lived for a short while with David. He had a large house and Hannah was also looking after him. There was a bit of a falling out between David and Jeff and it is reported that Jeff refused to attend his father's funeral. Grace also noted that David left most of his estate to his youngest two sons and that seemed to add to the family strife. It is unclear whether Jeff and Hannah stayed together as he developed some health and mental issues. Grace noted that her father had started drinking and did not have steady work. The 1910 Census notes his occupation as 'odd jobs.' Hannah, who was an accomplished seamstress, started sewing for others to make ends meet. In August of 1917, Jeff was declared insane and committed to a hospital for some period of time. By the 1920 Census, he was back home, and he would die in 1924.

The O'Neil Family

Hannah was born in Wisconsin and at about the age of seven, her family headed west to Mapleton. Her parents were Francis O'Neil (b.1812, d.1890) and his second wife, Elizabeth Nevin (b.1826, d.1905). Francis O'Neil was born in 1812 in County Armagh in Ireland (now Northern Ireland). He is reported to be the son of James O'Neil (b.1785, d.1817) and Nancy (Agnes) Hughes (b.1787). Elizabeth Nevin (b.1826, d.1905) was from Renfrewshire, Scotland. Her parents were William Nevin and Mary Raeside. William Nevin was a weaver by trade but the family was split up and there was little contact between father and daughter. She came to America with an aunt, Margaret Raeside and Margaret's husband, John Hamilton. They sailed on the ship Elijah Swift, arrived at the Port of New York in September 1849 and settled in Portage, Wisconsin.

Both Francis and Elizabeth had prior marriages and lost their spouses. Together, they raised several children from these prior marriages, as well as having eight more of their own. A large portion of the O'Neil family would come to Iowa from central Wisconsin before 1870. There, they farmed and operated a hotel called the Mapleton House. It is interesting to note that the O'Neil family, the Jeff Hollister family, and the Laurissa Hollister (Wade) family are all listed next to each other in the 1885 Iowa census, living on Main Street in Mapleton. To find out more about Hannah's father, Francis and the O'Neil family, read the O'Neil family series here.

 The Children of TJ and Hannah:

• Stella (or Estella) (b.1884, d.1961) - daughter Stella would marry Reuben Holcomb in 1905. He came from Wisconsin and lived for a brief time in Mapleton after his first wife died. Stella, Reuben, and a newborn, Sally, would go back to his home in Monroe, Wisconsin, where she lived for the rest of her life. They had three children to go along with the two from Reuben's first marriage.

Obituary of Stella Hollister, Monroe Evening Times, May 19, 1961: "Mrs. Stella Holcomb, 77 of 1008-1/2 17th Avenue, died at 7:20 a.m. today in St. Clare hospital. She had entered at 4 pm yesterday for emergency surgery. Heart failure caused her death. Mrs. Holcomb was the former Stella May Hollister, daughter of Thomas J. and Hannah O'Neil Hollister. She was born May 12, 1884, in Mapleton, Iowa. She taught school four years before her marriage Feb. 29, 1905, to Rueben T. Holcomb at Onawa, Iowa. They moved to Monroe in 1906. Mrs. Holcomb was a past matron of the St. Omar Eastern Star chapter and a 50-year member. Surviving are two daughters, Miss Sally and Mrs. Grace Roth, both at home; a step daughter, Mrs. Trella Head, Tucson; three sisters, Mmes. Grace Cockerill, Santa Monica, Mable Larson, Alhambra, California, and Nona Horton, West Covina, California, and four step grandchildren. Her husband died Oct. 29, 1949, and a sone, Donald R., August 26, 1932. She also was proceeded in death by a step son, Ralph E. Holcomb, and three brothers, Rush, Loren, and Thomas Hollister. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday in the Stuessy funeral home. Friends may call after noon Sunday. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemeterty.

Stella Hollister and Baby Grace Holcomb

• Grace (b.1886, d.1981) - daughter, Grace would marry Clifford Cockerill in about 1907. He worked as a lineman in Iowa but then later they settled in Woodward County, Oklahoma, where he operated a drug store. They raised at least five children, and Grace died in her 90s in Los Angeles. She is buried in Santa Monica. At the age of 78, Grace wrote down memories of her childhood and family and some of the trials and tribulations that occurred, including her Dad's drinking problems

Grace Hollister with Sister Stella

The Gravesite of Grace Hollister at Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica.

• Rush (b.1889, d.1942) - son Rush would marry Maud Foster. They initially lived in Plymouth County, Iowa, where Rush worked as a lineman for the telephone company. Later, they went to Perry County, Kentucky, where Rush continued to work for the phone company. It seems they did not have any children. Rush and his wife are buried in Forest City, Iowa

Rush Hollister

The gravesite of Rush Hollister at Oakland Cemetery in Forest City, Iowa.

• Margaret (Maggie) (b.1891) - died as an infant of whooping cough.

• Mable (b.1893, d.1964) - daughter Mable would marry Walter Larson (b.1892, d.1947) and raise one or two children. They lived in Mapleton but would move to the Los Angeles area sometime before 1940 and are buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica, California.

Mabel Hollister

• Loren (b.1894, d.1918) - son Loren was a casualty of  World War I. He first enlisted in the Iowa National Guard in April 1917 and was selected for duty overseas in the 168th Infantry, Rainbow Division. He arrived in France in November of 1917 and was placed in the Signal Corps Division. On July 26, 1918, he was killed by artillery fire at the Battle of Chateau Thierry while running telephone equipment from headquarters to a forward battalion. In September of 1918, a large memorial service, attended by over 4,000 persons, was held in Mapleton City Park. As was customary in WWI, he was initially buried in France and finally returned to Mapleton in 1921, where there was a funeral service also greatly attended. The American Legion Post in Mapleton was chartered in 1920 and is named for Loren.

Obituary of Loren Hollister from The Mapleton Press, May 25, 1989: "Loren Hollister of Headquarters Co.. 168th Infantry, son of Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Hollister, who was known by his friends as "Johnnie", was born in Ute. Iowa, on December 22, 1894. When he was seven years old, he came to Mapleton, Iowa, where he attended the public school and grew to manhood. Four days after the declaration of war with Germany on April 10. 1917. he enlisted in Co. B. 3rd Regiment, Iowa National Guard, at Ida Grove, Iowa. He was selected for overseas duty 168th Infantry. Rainbow Division. Loren arrived In France on the 27th of November. 1917, and was placed in the Signal Corps Division. He spent six weeks with the school of the Signal Corps and then returned to duty with the Rainbow Division. From that time on until his death in action on Jury 26, 1918. in the battle of Chateau Thierry, he did his "bit" In the battles and hardships of the Rainbow Division. His letter to his mother repeat over and over his satisfaction in being able to help In the great task of the hour. He told her not to worry about him. saying that he was alright and was trusting In God to take care of him. He leaves to mourn his loss, Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Hollister. his parents: four sisters, Mrs. R.T. Holcomb of Monroe. Wisconsin. Mrs. C.B. Cockerll of Qulnton, Oklahoma, arid Mrs. W.E. Larson and Mrs. Otto Horton of Mapleton. Iowa: and two brothers. Rush R. of Kingsley. Iowa, and Thomas of Mapleton, Iowa."

Loren Hollister, WWI casualty.

• Nona (b.1896, d. 1971) - daughter Nona would marry Otto Horton (b.1898, d.1942) and raise at least two children. Like her sister Mabel, the family would head to Los Angeles before 1940 and they are also buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica, California.

Nona Hollister

• Thomas (b.1899, d.1941) - son Thomas Jr. was living with his widowed mother in Mapleton in 1930. He died in Los Angeles in 1941. It is unclear if he ever married and he is buried in Santa Monica.
  

Obituary of Thomas Hollister from the Ute Independent, May 8, 1941. "According to a telegram receiv­ed here Monday by J. R. Ham­mond from Mr. Waller Larson of Venice, Cal., her brother. Tom Hol­lister of Santa Monte, Cal., a former Mapleton resident, passed away Saturday evening. Funeral services were held in Santa Monica Wednesday, with burial in the Santa Monica ceme­tery. He is survived by four sisters, Mrs. Larson. Mrs. Nona Horton and Mrs. Grace Cockerill of Ven­ice, Cal., Mrs. Stella Holcomb of Monroe, Wis., and one brother, Rush Hollister of Forest City, Ia. His parents and one brother, Loren Hollister, for which the Mapleton American Legion Post is named, preceded him in death. Further details could not be ob­tained for this week's issue of The Mapleton Press. Ute Independent, May 8, 1941."

Thomas Hollister Jr.

The gravesite of Thomas Hollister at Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica.

It is interesting to note that four of the Hollister children ended up in Los Angeles, California. It is not known why they headed there but it was likely as a result of the depression and better opportunities or maybe just for the weather. The opportunities that had brought many of David Hollister's children to Iowa in the 1880s would have changed dramatically by the 1930s.

Thomas Jefferson Hollister would die in 1924 at the age of 69 and Hannah O'Neil would die in 1835 at the age of 76 and are buried in Mapleton.

Obituary of Thomas J. Hollister from The Mapleton Press: "Thomas J. Hollister dies in Sioux City of Bright`s Disease - Old Settler followed blacksmithing for many years" . . . Thomas J. Hollister, who ranked as one of the early settlers of Mapleton, died a week ago Wednesday in a Sioux City hospital of Bright`s disease. Mr. Hollister made a valiant fight but he could not conquer the disease. He had not been in good health for some time, and when his condition became alarming he was hurried to Sioux City for the best of treatment. Thomas Jefferson Hollister was born at Adamsville, Wis., January 1, 1855. There he lived until he came to Mapleton with his parents in 1882. It was here that Mr. Hollister met Miss Hannah O`Neil and in 1883 they were married. Eight children were born to the couple. One child died in infancy and a son Loren, made the supreme sacrifice in the world war; being the first Mapleton man to lay down his life in the cause, the local American Legion post was named after him.  The surviving children are: Mrs. R. T. Holcomb of Monroe, Wis.; Mrs. C. B. Cockerill, of Quinlin, Oklahoma; Mrs. W. E. Larson of Mapleton; Mrs. Otto Horton of Mapleton; Rush, of Kingsley and Tom of Mapleton. Mr. Hollister is also survived by four brothers - Niles and Deraine, of Mapleton; David of Rodney and Erastus of Montana, and one sister Mrs. George Wade of Chicago. Mr. Hollister was a blacksmith by trade. He followed the business until 1917, after which he took charge of the city scales which he operated until his last illness. Funeral services were held Friday after noon at the Methodist church. Burial was in the family lot in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Mr. Hollister, because of his long residence here, enjoyed a wide acquaintance. His family is one of the best known in this locality. 

Thomas Jefferson Hollister, the son of David, is buried
at Mount Hope Cemetery in Monona County, Iowa

Obituary of Hannah O'Neil from The Mapleton Press: "Real Monona County Pioneer and Mother of First Mapleton Boy Killed in Word War Passes Away at Her Home on Monday. Funeral services for Mrs. Hannah O'Neil Hollister, 76-year-old pioneer resident of Mapleton, who died at her home on Monday following a brief illness, were held at her home on South Fourth Street at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon with Rev. George W. Dunn of Ida Grove, formerly of Mapleton, in charge. Internment was at Mt. Hope cemetery under the direction of the Duschl Funeral Home. Members of Loren Hollister post of the American Legion served as pallbearers. Members of the post and Auxiliary members attended the services in a body. Hannah O'Neil, Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Francis O'Neil, was born at Baraboo, Wis., August 8, 1858. She came to this community July 15, 1866, in a covered wagon. She was married to T.J. Hollister at Onawa May 12, 1883. Mapleton has been her home for nearly 70 years. She was one of the town's best known women and had been influential in the community's history. She was kind and loving, a friend of everyone who knew her. She was a member of American Legion Auxiliary and a "Gold Star Mother" being the mother of Loren Hollister for whom the Mapleton American Legion is named. He was the first Mapleton by killed in the World War. Mrs. Hollister is survived by six children, Mrs. R.T. Holcomb of Monroe, Wis., Mrs. C.B. Cockertill of Quinlin, Okla., Rush Hollister of  Forest City, Ia., Mrs. W.E. Larson of Bozeman, Mont., Mrs. Otto Horton of Las Angeles, Cal., and Tom Hollister of Mapleton, three sisters, Mrs. Margaret Hammond and Mrs. Ella Pichney of Mapleton, and Mrs. Agnes Donery of Sioux City, and two brothers, L.H. O'Neil of Mapleton and Ed O'Neil of Linden, Ore. Mr. Hollister and two children, Margaret and Loren, proceeded her death.

Hannah O'Neil, the wife of TJ Hollister, is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery.

Conclusion

This is the story of another pioneering family that came out of colonial America. David Hollister was born in western New York just after the turn of the 18th to 19th Century. At that time, the United States was a new nation with Thomas Jefferson as its third president. David's parents grew up during the American Revolution and his children would live well into the 20th century. The identity of his parents and ancestry is still in the works but as more information becomes available, it seems certain that this will be settled. David would marry twice and lead his large family west with the opening of new frontiers in the Northwest Territories. He would settle in Wisconsin in the year before it became a state. Later, he and a number of children would head further west. David would live to about 100 and die on the Great Plains of western Iowa at the start of the 20th Century. His children, including my direct ancestors, Thomas Jefferson Hollister and Hannah O'Neil, would carry on in Wisconsin, Iowa and other places as the country became settled in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Research Notes: Information for this report comes from a number of sources: United States Census, Iowa and Wisconsin State Census, public family trees found at AncestryDotCom and Family Search, a number of historical publications (Iowa County History, Monona County History, etc.), family history books (noted in the text), on line archives of the Mapleton Press, other vital records, other on-line sources, and a helpful distant cousin Peggy.