Holloway, Nelle 1873-1958

HOLLOWAY, PIKE, LIVINGSTON, GILLIS, FALCONER, BROWN, STEWART

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 8/31/2010 at 09:57:39

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; March 6, 1958

NELLE HOLLOWAY

Nelle Holloway's ancestors were closely linked with early American history. Her colonial ancestor, John Pike, came over from England in the year 1635. He served as a captain in the Colonial Army and later, as both a judge and first governor in the Colony of New Jersey. Robert Pike, for whom a monument still stands in Salisbury, Mass., refused as a judge to condemn three women to death for witchcraft.

Nine ancestors fought for the cause of freedom in the Revolutionary War. One, Col. Zebulon Pike, served directly under the command of General George Washington. He was also the father of Gen. Zebulon Montgomery Pike, a soldier and explorer for whom Pike's Peak is named. He was killed in the decisive battle of Saratoga in the War of 1812, at the age of 34 years.

Her own father fought with the Northern Armies in the Civil War and two nephews, first lieutenants, saw service overseas in World War I.

Nelle Winnifred Holloway was born near Kirkville, Iowa, on Jan. 29, 1873, and passed away Feb. 25, 1958, at the age of 85 years. She was the daughter of Mary Charlotte Pike and Mearis C. Holloway.

After graduation from the Jefferson high school, she taught school several years. She moved with her family to Grinnell in 1891 and attended Grinnell College with the class of 1897. She clerked in the J.A. Stone and C.A. Blair dry goods store before going into business for herself. She gave devoted care to an invalid mother for 12 1/2 years. She had been a member of the Congregational church since 1895 and was a charter member of the Grinnell Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, serving the chapter as historian for 18 years.

She loved the magnificent elm tree that stood in the parking before her home of 60 years. Of this elm she was to write:

"With a thrill it has oft
inspired me.
The leafy branches of
this sturdy tree.--
wind."

She loved poetry and gentleness, and one of her favorite poems is entitled "The Value of a Smile."

Nelle Winnifred Holloway is survived by two sisters, Mrs. W.A. Livingston, formerly of Fort Dodge, and Georgiana Holloway, two nieces, Mrs. Charles H. Gillis of Somerville, N.J. and Mrs. William E. Falconer of Walla Walla, Wash. Also Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Brown and Mr. and Mrs. Jay Stewart, cousins from Jefferson, Iowa.

Services were conducted at the Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. Leland W. Mann in charge. Pallbearers were Croft Pilgrim, Henry Alden, Clarence Vogt. D.A. Thomas, Lyman Case and Wilfred Smiley. Mrs. Wayne Denny sang "Crossing the Bar" and "No Night There," accompanied by Mrs. Esther Mullins Auman.