Robert Irvine
b. 1/31/1812 in Knox County - d. 5/7/1887 in Pleasant Hill, Mo.
m. Magdalena Thompson in 1840
b. 8/8/1811 in co. Fermanagh, Ireland - d. ??

ROBERT IRVINE, the 5^th child and 4^th son of Thommas and Tabitha, was the 1^st of the 11 children to be born in Knox County – 1/31/1812 on the farm settled in 1811 by his father some 4 miles SE of Mt. Vernon. From his grandson (only son of his 3^rd child – Ida Elizabeth) Irvine Thompson Holloway we learn that Robert was rather a sickly boy, in fact, even in manhood was never too strong in physique. In spite of this handicap he successfully operated a grocery store in Mt. Vernon – dealing in furs as a sideline. Ida also confided to her son that her father "never did a days work in his life – he was too busy telling others what to do".

In 1840 Robert was married to Magdalena Thompson, that first of 9 children born in Ireland to Irvine Thompson, nephew to Robert’s father, and Elizabeth Dunlap – the same who came to America and Mt. Vernon in 1831 with 8 of his 9 children. This relationship made Magdalena, Thommas’ grand niece, and she was a one-generation-removed cousin to the man she married. (Due to the 19 years difference in ages of Magdalena’s grandmother Martha and her granduncle Thommas.) Magdalena was born on 8^th Aug., 1811, on her father’s farm 17 miles east of Enniskillen, co. Fermanagh, Ulster Province Ireland.

After a half century in Mt. Vernon Robert left for Pleasant Hill, Mo., with his grown family of four. Here another grocery business was established, and was to be in continuous operation until shortly before his death. Several weeks before the end he suffered a paralytic stroke, lingering until 7^th May 1887.

I.T.H. added that the marriage of Robert to Magdalena was a double ceremony – his younger sister Sarah Meredith Irvine being coupled with Joseph A. Kerr.

"Died – May 7, 1887, of paralysis, at his residence on the corner of Cedar and Campbell Streets, Pleasant Hill, Mo., Mr. Robert Irvine, aged 75 years, 3 months and 7 days.

The object of this brief memoir was born in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, Knox Co., on Jan 31, 1812, where he resided for more than half a century, and was the survivor of a family of 11 children, all born in the same county, he being the youngest. He was married to Magdalena Thompson in 1840, and at his demise was the father of four children, formerly residents of this city, who, together with an aged companion, are now left to mourn an irreparable loss. He came to Pleasant Hill on May 7, 1866, just 21 years ago, where he has resided ever since. "Uncle Robert", as he was familiarly called, was favorably known throughout Case County, and his warm and sympathetic nature had won his scores of staunch friends; endowed with strongest impulses, his friendships were of a character that always demanded open-hearted and positive action in the performance of his duties as a citizen. Always kind and affectionate as a husband, and indulgent father, and a generous neighbor, his memory will be cherished in after years, as the Silent Finger of Time marks with decay his last resting place. For 20 long weeks he suffered the agonies of disease without a murmur, but retained his faculties to the moment of his departure, and now that the tired spirit has been called to rest from the cares and toils of this transitory life, let us hope that a blessed immortality awaits it in the home beyond. –

"On that peaceful shore where passion dies away,

Like a last wave that ripples on the bay".

Magdalena had preceded Robert in death by several years. Both are interred in local cemetery.

*

MATHEW IRVINE, 1^st child of the above (all information on the children and grandchildren of Robert and Magdalena was furnished by Irvine Thompson Holloway – grandson of their 3^rd child) was born in Mt. Vernon circa 1841-2. Grade and high school education then went to work in his father’s grocery store.

As a child Mathew was one of the grandchildren of Irvine Thompson who were subjected to such rigorous treatment on their Sunday visits to their Grandfather’s farm. According to Lizzie (Thompson) Rowe this was the Mathew who received the brunt of the punishment, for his was phrase anent the expected meal "Grandpa’s damned old come to pass, and it was he who was went to improvise when it came his turn to read a passage from the Bible. Grandpa would rouse with a start and a roar from his "possum snooze" and whale poor Mathew ‘til the air was filled with cries. It was then his Grandmother Elizabeth would try to feel her way to best warm his heart with goodies – giving his seat a chance to cool. In later life Mathew declared this inhumane treatment and made him an infidel.

After moving with the family to Pleasant Hill, Mo., 7^th May, 1866, Mathew assisted for a while with his father’s new grocery venture then became engaged in show business. –

IRVINE’S OPERA HOUSE

Lee’s Summit, Mo.

Mat Irvine, Mgr.

Unmarried – Mathew died "several years ago". (This latter statement of 1947 was unaccompanied with references of extreme age. ‘Several’ can be as enigmatic as ‘about’ or ‘some’. Surely some comment would have been forthcoming if Mat had been approaching 100.)

JULIA ANN IRVINE, 2^nd child of Robert Irvine and Magdalena Thompson, born in Mt. Vernon – perhaps in 1846. Was a young lady of 22-3 by the post-Civil War move of her parents to Pleasant Hill, Mo. There she was married to George Holloway, young and prospering baker-grocery store manager and owner. For a time their home and business was in Warrensville, Mo., then came a sell-out of a thriving business and removal to Dallas, Texas. For several years George engaged in the seed business, and became progressively involved in downtown Dallas real estate – to retire a very wealthy man. Despite this progressive prosperity the 3 children were regarded as having had a ‘normal’ upbringing.

After retirement George and Julia occupied their time and energies in travel – several times going to England and continental Europe, and traversed the United States as can be done only by those of ample means. Among other places they visited Sacramento, Calif. Where lived the "left behind in Ireland" 9^th child of Irvine Thompson and Elizabeth Dunlap – known is them as Uncle William Thompson. Both had passed away by 1938-40. (With still no comment by I.T.H. or extreme age.)

Issue of above - Elizabeth Ponting Holloway.

John George Holloway.

Ida Magdalena Holloway.

ELIZABETH PONTING HOLLOWAY, 1^st child of above, was born circa 1866-7 in Warrensville, Mo. Married William (Will) Elmore Shuttle, bearing 2 sons –

GEORGE ELMORE SHUTTLE – died in early manhood.

Col. WILLIAM ELBERT SHUTTLE married Martha R. Smith; issue 2 children –

WILLIAM SHUTTLE

RUTH SHUTTLE,

JOHN GEORGE HOLLOWAY, 2^nd child of Julia Ann Irvine and George Holloway, was born circa 1868-9 in Warrensville, Mo. The family was to move to Dallas in the early ‘90s where he obtained his grade and high school education. Engaged in farming and married Geraldine de Farrar – who bore him 10 children. His extensive acreage was a few miles north of Dallas.

JOHN J HOLLOWAY,

JOHN GEORGE HOLLOWAY JR, (In 1948 the Dallas telephone directory listed 63 Holloway's.)

ROBERT J HOLLOWAY,

JULIA C HOLLOWAY,

ROSE F HOLLOWAY,

ADELINE F HOLLOWAY,

JOSEPHINE HOLLOWAY,

WILLIAM IRVINE HOLLOWAY,

FLORENCE M HOLLOWAY,

FREDERICK PAUL HOLLOWAY.

*

IDA MAGDALENA HOLLOWAY, 3^rd and last child of Julia Ann Irvine and George Holloway, also was born in Warrensville, Mo., circa 1869-70. After the family removed to Dallas in the early ‘90s she was married to William J. Kinsella, bearing 5 children. Both Ida and George have been deceased some 10-15 years (as of 1947). Issue –

JULIA MARIE KINSELLA,

SARAH ELIZABETH KINSELLA,

WILLIAM JAMES KINSELLA,

CHARLES BERG KINSELLA,

ROBERT IRVINE KINSELLA.

* * *

Ida Elizabeth Irvine, 3^rd child, 2^nd daughter of Robert Irvine and Magdalena Thompson, was born in Mt. Vernon between 1847-8. With her parents she arrived in Pleasant Hill, Mo. 7^th of May, 1866. There she soon met and married John Holloway, younger brother of George above.

Ida was of very small stature – able to pass unstopped under the outstretched arm of her grown son, and he was but 5’9". But she was possessed of a highly compensatory beauty and much charm, being universally loved by family and friends. At her death in old age her son recounts the entire town ceased its business on the day of her funeral.

Ida displayed a great flare for pleasing people. She found the greatest of pleasure in one of her hobbies – with rather phenomenal accuracy she told fortunes with playing cards. In and out of the family, from far and near, people swore by her pronouncement. A story recited of a countrywoman walking miles to seek her advice and arrived just as Ida was leaving for an appointment. Ida greeted her with "If you have come such a way to learn your fortune I can take time to see that you get it". Her son said "The poor woman departed as pleased as though she had been blessed by the Virgin".

Ida performed these tricks for fun – she had no faith in what the cards revealed. She amused her Mt. Vernon cousins, Martha E. (Aunt Matt) and Mrs. Rebecca Baldwin (Aunt Becky) in their stop over visits either coming or going from Oregon, Mo.

In the rear of the yard of the Pleasant Hill home were several outbuildings where the darkies were housed. One of these was known as "Ohio" – for its second story was filled with many things the family had brought with them. When the darkies planned a party Ida would spend hours rigging then out in these leftovers.

Ida was a great worker for the Episcopal Church and for the young folk of the community – always in demand, even to their dances. A very active worker for the Eastern Star Society.

Ida Elizabeth’s death in 1909 was attributed to a "fallen stomach". No vomiting or wasting away but for all of 33 months she was progressively weaker and carried a high temperature. She would ask to be "wrapped in the cool linen sheets brought from Ireland" by her mother. The day of the end, a hot August day when her fever seemed at its highest, she stated she believed she could be relieved if her sister said a prayer. The cot was moved to a cooler room and Julia – not too accustomed to prayer – knelt and voiced a fervent prayer. Ida is said to have been relieved within half an hour and quietly composed – then she died.

In early married life a daughter Mary and a son Robert were born, both dying in infancy. Much later came the one surviving child – Irvine Thompson Holloway.

Her husband, John, remarried in 1912-3 to Jeanette Burres – who bore him 2 daughters (outside the Irvine lineage) –

Frances Holloway, married Carl Colville and lives in Kansas City, Mo.

Ruth Holloway, married James Hamilton of Minneapolis, Minn., and there resides.

John Holloway was born in 1852; died in Dallas in 1946, at the ripe old age of 94. His 2^nd wife resides in Kansas City.

*

IRVINE THOMPSON HOLLOWAY, 3^rd and lone surviving child of above was born in Pleasant Hill, Mo. on 27^th April, 1897. Attended Westminster College. Fulton, Mo., leaving school a year short of obtaining his doctorate – a circumstance he regretted the balance of his life. After leaving school he came with his parents to Dallas, and in various capacities was associated with the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas – 1917-18 until his death in 1951. For 17 years, under Bishop Moran, he was Treasurer of the Diocese and continued this position under the succeeding Bishop Mason for 3 years. In the summer of 1948 he was relieved of these duties and assumed the Sevretaryship of the Standing Committee of the Dallas Diocese, and also was Secretary to Bishop C. Avery Mason.

Irvine had traveled extensively in the United States and Canada and visited England and Ireland three times, contemplating a 4^th visit in ’49. Had hopes of so arranging his affairs that he could re-visit North Ireland to renew old acquaintanceships made during former visits to the locale of his mother’s family origin. When contacted in ’48 he was living in a large one-room apartment – personally redecorated and furnished with heirlooms – in a communal type barracks on the Cathedral ground at 5100 Ross Ave., Dallas. He seemed thoroughly comfortable and completely happy in his associations and work in the Church organization.

The old family home in Pleasant Hill is still in his possession. Among interesting mementoes of his forebears was a pair of Irish cuff links, a pair of stocking of the early 18^th century – worn by a friend of the family and showing neat drawings – the heel area being completely reinforced by extra threads, and his Grandfather Robert’s snuff box – a polished and worn smooth affair of circassian walnut.

England was the original stomping ground of his Holloway forebears, some members of the family having migrated to North Ireland. Frances Holloway, his father’s Irish cousin, visited Dallas and after of his great cousin Elizabeth Thompson’s demise – for whom she had been housekeeper during the last illness – was to marry the widower, John Ponting, in Mt. Vernon. This Elizabeth, born 1822, in Ireland, was the 7^th child of Irvine Thompson and Elizabeth Dunlap – and much younger sister to the Magdalena Thompson (b. 1811) who had come to Mt. Vernon in 1831 with her parents and in 1840 had married Irvine’s Grandfather.

When contacted in ’48 Irvine was much interested in my plans for this ‘memorabilia’ of predecessors and promised to search out a number of letter from 1^st and 2^nd generation descendents of our common emigree ancestor, and would gladly send them to me. But – unfortunately for our record – word arrived 19^th Oct. from my son Tom in Dallas that Irvine had died 5^th Oct. 1951. Enclosed was this –

"SECRETARY OF EPISCOPAL DIOCESE DIES.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday in All Saint’s Episcopal Church, 3617 Abrams Road, for Irvine Thompson Holloway, secretary to the Bishops of the Dallas Diocese for the last thirty years.

Bishop C. Avery Mason and Rev. L. W. Thaxton will officiate at the services. Cremation will follow with entombment in Hillcrest Mausoleum.

Holloway died of a heart attack in his apartment on the grounds of St. Mathew’s Episcopal Cathedral Wednesday morning. He had worked a full day Tues day and had not complained of being ill, said Bishop Mason.

Holloway had been Bishop Mason’s secretary since Mason took charge of the Dallas Diocese 6 years ago. Prior to that time he had been Bishop Harry T. Moore’s secretary until Bishop Moore retired.

The secretary was born in Pleasant Hill, Mo. He was graduated from Westminster College of Fulton, Mo. He had helped in the establishment of All Saints Church, where he was a member.

Survivors include two sisters, Mrs. Carl Colville, Kansas City, Mo., and Mrs. James Hamilton, Minneapolis, Minn.

(Half-sisters – and ‘Tittle’ is scribes error.)

JOHN D'ARCY IRVINE, 4^th and last child of Robert Irvine and Magdalena Thompson, was born about 1850 in Mt. Vernon. The spelling of the middle name is I.T.H.’s suspicion that the proper spelling was unknown – for the old Scotch name of ‘D’Arcy’ was associated with the Irvings of Bonshaw long before the Brittish Crown began aiding the Covenanters by giving them land grants in North Ireland. John was 16 when the family removed to Pleasant Hill, Mo. He studied law, worked in association for several years with T. R. McCloud in Kansas City before venturing on his own in 1880. Unfortunately as his reputation grew he was acquiring as notorious a reputation for pursuing hard liquor. He died in Kansas City – reportedly having drunk himself to death.

Late in life John D'Arcy married a lady of undiscovered name, and as far as the family was concerned of a somewhat unsavory reputation. Both the wife and the son she bore were never acknowledged by the family.

(Appended at the end of this Section a dissertation on this circumstance – for the possible benefit of lending insight where it might be needed – to some groping soul.)