My Genealogy Hound

S. H. Holtzclaw, farmer and stockman, Vineyard, Ark. Phillips County is rapidly coming into a position as one of the foremost stock counties in the State, and it is but uttering a plain fact to say, that to a few men in this community is due the credit for advancing stock interests here and establishing a reputation in this department which is bound to stand for years. Mr. Holtzclaw has had not a little to do toward developing this industry, and, if for no other account, he is accorded a worthy place in this volume. He was born in Mississippi in 1849, and his parents, E. and E. (Green) Holtzclaw, were natives of North Carolina and South Carolina, and of German and English origin, respectively. E. Holtzclaw came to Mississippi in 1849, and followed farming on rented land until about 1855, when he came to Phillips County, Ark. He bought 160 acres on Big Creek, and afterward added to this amount, until he was the owner of 320 acres, with 160 acres improved. Canebrake was standing all over the table-lands at that time and game abounded in this section, even up to 1860. From 1855 to 1865 fire was applied plentifully to the cane to drive out the panthers, bears and wild cats, for it was almost impossible to raise calves or pigs while these animals were so numerous. Mr. Holtzclaw owned about twenty-three negroes, old and young, and was one of the leading farmers of this section. He died in 1874, and his wife four years previous. Both were members of the Baptist Church. They were the parents of ten children, seven of whom lived to be grown, and four are now living: Mary J. (wife of William H. McGrew, of Phillips County), S. H. (our subject), Warren (resides in this county), Matheney (wife of William Wooten, resides in this county). S. H. Holtzclaw attained his growth and received a meager education in Phillips County, his school days being cut short by the breaking out of the war. This deficiency he has made up to a great extent since reaching manhood and by his own exertions. At the age of twenty-one years he commenced farming for himself on rented land, and this continued for three years. In 1874, or at the time of the death of his father, he assumed control of the latter’s property, wound up the business, and in 1875 purchased eighty acres of fine land. Since then he has added 120 acres of land, and has 170 acres under cultivation, on which he produces about sixty-five bales of cotton, or about three fourths of a bale per acre. He also raises plenty of corn and hay to keep the stock on his farm, and very rarely fails to have corn to sell. He was married in 1878 to Miss Maggie Chappell, of Phillips County, and the daughter of Christopher and Ann (Green) Chappell, natives of North Carolina. Her parents came to Arkansas about 1834, and settled on what is now known as the Chappell place. The father was a noted hunter in this section, and he and Uncle Bill McGraw and Andy Adams were the hunters in this county in early days, killing as many as five or six bears in one hunt. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Holtzclaw were born five children, three now living: C. J. (deceased), H. G., Charner (deceased), Ervie Ophelia and Sylvestus. Mr. and Mrs. Holtzclaw are both members of the Christian Church.