The Holzlider house in Pierceville, Jennings County, Indiana. |
William purchased 40 acres of woodland for $700 in Pierceville, Indiana in 1902 or 1903. I'm sure it was quite a job to clear the land of trees. According to a letter written by William's daughter Bertha, the ground was all in "chunks." William and his young sons, Omer and Clyde (my great grandfather), worked hard plowing the land to make it tillable.
William's grandaughter Martha Holtzlider in 1937. |
Ella Holzlider died in 1917 at the age of 51. In 1920, William was still running a farm at the age of 64, with Russell and Bertha living at home. William had retired from farming by 1930 and was living with his son Russell and his wife in Indianapolis.
My grandmother, Martha Holtzlider (pictured at right), wrote a letter in 1985 to her uncle Russell Holzlider, describing her only memory of her grandfather William:
I do remember singing to Grandpa Holzlider during what I believe was his last illness. I was about 6 years old and it was an awesome experience for one so young and I have never forgotten standing by his bed and singing. I don't remember the name of the song. That is the only recollection I have of Grandpa Holzlider.
William died from heart disease on July 22, 1934, at the home of his son Clyde in Greensburg, Decatur County, Indiana. He and Ella are buried at Brewersville, Jennings County, in Bear Creek Cemetery.
Thank you for this post. Russell Holtzlider is my grandfather. It was very confusing to my sister and I as to why you named it the Green family Archives. Our mother, Russell's daughter married a man with the last name of Green, my father. So when we saw this we tried to figure out how the Holtzliders had anything to do with the Greens.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know Russell's parents names, so this was very helpful.
Thank you again.