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where the couple had gone to have theh bridal picture made.Members of the Hollii family were pictured at a reunion in 1950. Left to (now deceased), G. Cleveland and Dr. Jess; seated, Gertrude (Mrs. Roy Ada (Mrs. Curg Williams) and Virginia (Mrs. Hayes Walker),right, standing, are Dr. Edwin, A. D., W. L. Pendergraft), Artie (Mrs. Lynn Garrison),From the day of settlement this family has been a vital part of the growth anddevelopment of the city and county, butafter the death of the father. W. L., as eldest and owner of a full 160 acres of land by right of filing, took the lead. By 1901 the city was launched. By selling half interest in 10 acres of land to J. N Dela-mar who had just arrived and had prior experience of laying out a city in Whitney, Texas, real estate began popping. For the half interest in the acreage DeLamar had traded a wagon and team, the promise to open up a wagon yard and his services in laying out the town in lots, which they did with a 50-foot barbed wire.But it did look like a shame to lay off a town right in the heart of my cotton field where I had made three-fourths of a bale of cotton to the acre in 1900 and 1901, Hollis said. Eight where the county courthose and the highschool raid junior highschool buildings now stand.The deal was made in 1902 with Rufus R. Conneller to promote a townsite. For $1,600 and 75 acres of townsite land a town would be promoted with Conneller to build a two-story hotel, a bank and general merchandise store. This he did. The town was on its way. The plat was not recorded until sold to Conneller.In 1900 Dr. J. E. Jones, first physician, landed in Hollis from Springfield, Mo. Soon his wife, Margaret was the new postmistress of the first postoffice, opened in their home, and the name Hollis was assigned to H. In 1901 W. S. Cross, son-in-law of DeLamar opened the first drygoods and milmery; J. C. Bell, hardware, N. L. Jones, lumber yard; Emmett Winters, gin. wid Dr. Hill Lindley, first drugstore in his home. First school on the townsite came in 1901; first newspaper in 1903 by Claude Wells, long-time publisherof a Memphis, Texas, paper, with Miss Kitty Jones, typesetter.Dr. W. C. Pendergraft arrived from Missouri and with Dr. Jones built the first drugstore building which still stands and where a drugstore is still in operation.The three early doctors took care of practice in a radius of 30 miles, first byhorseback then by horse and buggy untilautomobile days.When statehood came in 1907, W. L.was appointed by Gov. C. N. Haskell asspecial election commissioner representing Hollis for the county seat election Sept. 1, 1909, for purpose of re-locating Hollis for county seat of Harmon county But two other sites contested. The county had been cut from the area known as Old Greer. It had been a part of Greer county, Texas, before the Supreme court officially annexed the area to Oklahoma. Soon Old Greer had been carved into three counties, Harmon, Greer. Jackson and part of Beckham.it was this carving that led to a bitter fight as Greer fought to retain the original size. It was here that the Hollises went into battle with other townsmen and county citizens to win the separate county. Then came the fight for the county seat against the protesting communities who sought the location. Again the Hollises were in the fight, with W. L. one of the leaders in the high strategy.W. L. had been appointed by Governor Haskell as secretary of the special election board and as years followed no onecould feel a closer part of the development of the city. He had served as mayor, school board member, church official, council member, banker, merchant, farmer, president of Rotary and, with his brothers and sisters, had worked toward the civic school and church development of his county and town.At one time when the population was at a peak with more than 17.000 population listed, he looked with pride on 44 school districts and 21 postofiices operating.It was in Hollis that the three younger Hollis sons and four daughters tthe three older sons had completed their education) attended Hollis schools and were graduated. Two sons went on to complete medical school, Dr. Edwm at Bristow and Dr. Jess at Mangum. G. C. Fritz went into service with a gas company and has recently been promoted to a managerial position in Iowa. A. D. is in Hollis and retired but oversees 1.280 acres of irrigated land.The eldest daughter, Gertrude, now Mrs. Roy Pendergraft of Amarillo, married the young son of the Dr. W. C. Pendergrafts,early physician and wife Artie is Mrs. Lynn Garrison, Amarillo, while Ada, Mrs. Curg Williams, and Virgie, Mrs. Walker Hays, live in Lamesa, Texas.There are grandchildren now scattered all over—but at one time there were so many Mrs. Hollises in the city that it was necessary to say, Mrs. Lynn, Mrs. Herman, Mrs. A. D., Mrs. W. L., Mrs. Edwin, etc. or someone would ask Which Mrs. Hollis?Many marks are evident, such as the irrigated fa«fijs nearby, the half block of brick business houses, residences, jj/d and new, and many other advances since that day six decades ago the Hollises started their first campfire and set about buildinga community and a good life for themselves and neighbors.A local resident expressed it briefly, The Hollises have done well by themselves, their town and county.
Newspaper Details
Oklahoma City Daily Oklahoman
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, US
Sun, Dec 07, 1958
Page 327
Full Page
Clipped by
Max B.
USA 13 Sep 2018
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