Beavers, James (b. ABT 1752, d. ABT 1800)

Note: James was an Ensign in the Navy in 1778.

Census: Date: 28 AUG 1870
Place: Washington Township, Webster County, Missouri

Census: Date: 2 JUN 1880
Place: Washington Township, Webster County, Missouri

Census: Date: 2 JUN 1880
Place: Washington Township, Webster County, Missouri

Census: Date: 2 JUN 1880
Place: Washington Township, Webster County, Missouri

Census: Date: 2 JUN 1880
Place: Washington Township, Webster County, Missouri

Census: Date: 2 JUN 1880
Place: Washington Township, Webster County, Missouri

Note: [Strahan Family Reunion .FTW]

Strahan Cemetery, Washington Parish, Louisiana Headstone

Viola Seal Strahan - 1879 - 1939

Note: Jesse died at age 52 when the baby, Elisha Tompkins Hollis, was two years old, so Phoebe was left with the rearing of the younger ones, with the aid of the older ones, of course. Eliza, the oldest, was 26 years old and had been married 7 years; James Ervin Hollis then 24, had been married one month and one week; Matilda, marrying at age 17 1/2, had been married nearly 5 years.

WILL: I, Jesse Hollis of the County of Sumner and State of Tennessee, do make and publish this my last Will and Testament. I do give and bequeath unto my beloved wife all my estate both real and personal, after paying all my just debts, during her natural life. My will and desire is that my daughter, Polly, have a horse worth $50.00, bed and furniture and cow and calf.

At the death of my wife, the remainder of my property to be divided among all my children: Jesse G. Hollis, William Leighton Hollis, Nancy Anne Hollis, John M. Hollis, Sidney Jane Hollis, Thomas Hollis, Charles W. Hollis, Sarah Margaret Hollis, Eliza Drumheller, James Ervin Hollis, Matilda Brigance, Harmon Hollis, Malissa Hollis & Elisha T. Hollis. I do hereby make, ordain and appoint Jesse Gamblin and Josiah Walton my Executors. Whereof I hereunto set my hand seal this August 2, 1834, A. D. Signed, sealed and published in the presence of the Testator and each other. Arthur Cotton and James M. Hollis. This will was probated in November Term of Court 1834.

Although some were married, there was still a house-full at home. They had a large cotton plantation, said by a grandson to have had 100 slaves. They had a cotton gin of their own which was built by the son-in-law, Nicholas Drumheller. They were considered a wealthy family and were well educated for their time.

Note: Peggy went to live with her Uncle Virnus and Aunt Grace Lindsey when she was three years old. Her brother, Gene, broke his leg when Peggy was six and her mother, Dorothy, insisted that she return to live with the family.

Note: William Leighton (9th child of Jesse and Phoebe) was 11 years old when his father died. He left home as a boy, getting work where he could; he was a cabin-boy on a Mississippi steam-boat for three years, at the end of which time he had saved $400, with which he started to educate himself. After two years in school, he tried to work on a farm by the month until he married in 1843. He engaged in farming and school teaching and finally became a doctor of medicine.

He taught in Sumner County for five years and was there at the time of the 1850 census recording, which lists him and his family: "William L. Hollis, school teacher, 26; wife Mary A., 24; Jane, 5; Harriet, 3 and Mary, 1."