How a World War Changed an Alabama Family, Part 30

by Glenn N. Holliman

News from the Home Front during World War II, Spring 1943

March and April 1943 were months of stress and change for the Irondale, Alabama family of Ulyss (1884-1965) and Pearl Caine Holliman (1888-1955). Their 5th of seven children, Bishop (b 1919), had been in the Navy for 1 1/2 years. 

The youngest son, Ralph (b 1924), and son-in-law, Walter Cornelius (1922-2007), were both drafted into Uncle Sam's growing armies that spring. There was illness in the families of Charles (1907 - 1999) and Loudelle Holliman Ferrell (1914-1998) and Euhal (1912-1989) and Edna Holliman (1916-1992) that March. Melton, the first born son (1908 - 1958), suffered a serious automobile accident.  

Right, a 1920s photograph of three sisters - Vista Caine Grump (1898-1986), Maude Caine Cook (1893- 1940) and Pearl, all daughters of William Lee (1862- 1937) and Lula Caine (1861-1957). The three grew up in Fayette, Alabama and moved with their families to Irondale during World War I.

Let the letters from 1943 'paint a picture' for us.

First a frantic letter from Pearl to son Bishop that March 1943.  Bishop was in Navy radio school in Maine. I copy verbatim from my precious and deeply religious grandmother, who had only an 8th grade education from a rural school in Fayette County, Alabama. In the 1890s, schools often only met for 5 to 6 months a year.

"So many things happening.  I stay in a dose (daze) most all the time.  last week the Ferrells was so bad off, I thought every day, I would have to go up there, and the weather was so cold, I just could not go off and leave Dad by his self, and no one here to keep a fire in the house for him. 

An on top of all that Vena (Holliman Daly) was sick, and will be for nine mo.  don't let it shock you to death, I am trying not to be surprised at anything."  

Left, Melton in the early 1930s in an unwrecked automobile!

"And about 1 o'clock this morning the bottom fell out.  The Telephone woke me up and when I answered Melton answered me.  he had had a reck in Marianna Fla.  got his car torned up.  and he was hurt pretty bad.  A miracle that he is a live.  

Ida (his wife) was in Central Park so I had to get her on the phone she left on the 8 o'clock train this morning.  So I called Mobile while a go and he had been ex-rayed, he had 3 ribs broken, his shoulder knocked out of place said he thought the fumes of Gas knocked him out. and he left the road and turned over. tore the top off his car and some Soldiers found him and got him out. he rode the bus to Mobile be fore he called up or had a Dr. but he thinks he will be all right in a week or so.

I am so thankful that he is ?. Also I had a card from Loudelle and they are all better.  so I do have something to praise the Lord for to nite.  Also had a letter from Edna Sat. She said they had been sick, but was better.  she wanted your add."

A 'translation' for younger generations - Melton was a salesman for a pharmaceutical company, traveling daily from his home and wife, Ida Hughes Holliman, in Mobile, Alabama.  Married since 1932, the couple had no children and were trying to adopt.

Loudelle (b 1915) was married to The Rev. Charles Ferrell, a Methodist pastor in Jacksonville, Alabama at the time.  They had three children - Charles Halford, Carolyn and a new baby son, John Melton Ferrell, named after his uncle.

Edna was the wife of Euhal Holliman who worked in the grocery business in Gadsden, Alabama.  They had three children at the time - twin boys Jerry and Terry (b 1940) and a little girl, Ann (b 1943) pictured on the right.

Vena Holliman Daly (1909-1990)  lived next door to her parents in Irondale with her husband, Robert W. Daly, Sr. and their daughter, Mary Daly Herrin (b 1931).  Vena as expecting a child, Robert W. Daly, Jr., who would be born that October 1943.

Again from Pearl - "Well we pay income tax this week. also $40 for St. improvement, Bunts did not want to pay, because they never complete did their work, and was now they are going to the law and want us to but we are not so, I guess they will be hurt.

My chickens are doing fine.  I just lost 2 so far.  Your grandmas roomers left her last week. but she rented again yesterday. 

Melton and Ida have adopted a daughter!  And are they thrilled. 10 mo. old, and red headed.  We are crazy to see her.  She said she was the pride of Mobile. said people we're coming from ever where to see her.  You know the Holliman family is realy on the increase.  I told some of them, I thought I would join the Waac's or Waves one. as I would soon have a Army at home."

Below - Three cousins playing.   Back is Carolyn Ferrell (Tatum) (b 1938), and center is a very young Patti Holliman (Hairston) and the new Ferrell son, John (b 1942).

"Dad went to the store other yesterday.  Afternoon and they had plenty of meat, something they have not had in Irondale in 2 or 3 weeks, so he thought he would get a good steak.  Went up and ask for it, and did not have the points.  So he did not get any Steak.  Guess we will learn sometime. "

Below, Mary Daly (Herrin) and Walter Cornelius, her brother-in-law, who married Virginia, Mary's aunt in 1942.

And from Mary Daily (Herrin) (1931), the daughter of Robert and Vena Holliman Daly, we have these words from a humorous 12 year old:

"Guess what?  You have a new niece.  'Ida Patricia'.  Uncle Melton and Aunt Ida adopted her Saturday at Montgomery.  She is 10 months old with red hair.  All she has was one dress and 6 diapers.  They bought her 3 aprons in Montgomery but lost them before they got home.  They called us today and told us. So you see there's never a dull moment in the "Holliman" family.

Walter leaves for Kessler Field, Mississippi.  Virginia is going to stay with us.  Mr. Jiles Jones lost his mind.  They carried him to Brices (Bryce) Hospital yesterday.  The 6th of April I sent (free of charge) for three bottles of Jergens Lotions.  April 20th I received them.  They are about 2 inches high. We received the pictures you sent.  They are very good, all except the ones you are in (Ha! Ha!).  Mama H. bought a bond.  Why don't you send me some money and let me buy you some stamps and bonds." 

Translations?  Bryce was the mental hospital in Alabama.  The Bunts were neighbors.  In 1943 miraculously 3rd Avenue in Irondale was paved and sidewalks added, all in the midst of war shortages.  Bonds?  War bonds, of course.

Melton, recovered from his automobile accident, wrote a post card to Bishop on April 5, 1943 filled with good and not so good news. Below Patti sunbathing on a carpet; she the bright sunshine in her parents' lives! 

"I suppose Mother has written you about your new niece.  She is very sweet and we love her very much.  Too bad we got her just before I'm being drafted.  Had to fill out application for reclassification today.  Suppose I will be put in 1A. This letter will be short - we haven't had time to do anything since the baby came.  Love, Ida, Patsy and Melton."

Later in August, Melton, age 35, would be inducted into the U.S. Army and torn away from his wife of 11 years and their long awaited child, Patti.  His war would not end until the spring of 1945. After time in France with the medical corp in 1944, his health would never be the same.

Have questions about Holliman family history? You are invited to join the Hollyman Email List at Hollyman-Subscribe@yahoogroups.com and the Hollyman Family Facebook Page located on Facebook at "Hollyman Family". Post your questions and perhaps one of the dozens Holyman cousins on the list will have an answer. For more information contact Tina Peddie at desabla1@yahoo.com, the list and Facebook manager for Hollyman (and all our various spellings!).

There is also a massive Ancestry.com Holyman and Associated Families Tree available for review.  For an invitation to this collection of over 20,000 individuals, please write glennhistory@gmail.com.  

Also one will find additional Holliman history at http://hollimanfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/ .

I also have a collection of associated family manuscripts and research collected by the late Walt Holliman, Cecil Holliman and Rhodes Holliman.  Happy to send these materials by email and to insure their research is available.  The surnames: Alexander, Baldwin, Barham, Bass, Beall, Blakeney,  Baker, Bond, Bostick, Brewer, Bryan, Bryant, Bullock, Calvert, Carter, Champion, Chew,Cofer, Cole, Crafford, Crockett, Curtis, Dale, Daniel, Davidson, Davies, De Mallpas, Douglas, Duckett, Edwards, Edgerton, Emerson, Fitzhugh, Fowlehurst, Fox, Gains, Garrison, Gonson, Graves, Gray, Guyton, Guins, Hall, Hamby, Hawkins,Hendrix, Hill, Hogg, Holliman, Holt, Howard, Jackson, Jones, Judkins, Love, Lucas, Maget, Mansfield, Manwaring, McBee, McComas, McCurdy, McNewsome, Nicholson, Norsworthy, Noyall, O'dell, Oliver, Pearce, Peerce, Pettigrew, Petway, Pitman, Plow, Plyler, Porten, Prather, Petite, Ridgely, Riggan, Roberts, Smith, Spencer, Sprigg, Standley, Stanyard, Swan, Strother, Thompson, Thornton, Thrope, Trelawney, Turpin, Underhill, Underwood, Wallace, Walters, Weedon, Whitherspoon, Whitten,Williams,Wilmot,Wilson, Whitaker and Yerby.  These are mainly Alabama families and their ancestors from the Carolinas and Virginia. Materials vary from one page to 200. - GNH at glennhistory@gmail.com.