Eliza Ann Stroud is the oldest child of Peter E. Stroud and Mary Pollie Gibbs of McDowell County, NC. Eliza was born the same year that McDowell County was formed from Burke County. The family lived on the south side of the Catawba River and west of the North Fork. This is somewhere just north of the current Marion, NC, which was also founded when Eliza was 2 years old. Also in the area is Lake James, a backdrop for movies such as The Last of the Mohicans and The Hunt for Red October.
According to the 1850 census, Eliza’s father, Peter, was a farmer in McDowell County North Carolina. She had two younger brothers (William and D.E.) and a younger sister M.E.
By 1860, the family was located in Silaquoy in Gordon County, GA. (the post office was Calhoun). Eliza’s father, Peter, and her brother William are now listed as day laborer’s. Eliza and her mother, Mary, are domestic’s, with the younger brothers (James and John) and sisters (Mary A., Elizabeth and Emily) too young to have occupations. Since the three younger children were all born in Georgia, the family probably moved to Georgia from North Carolina between 1850-1852.
During the Civil War years of 1861-1865, Eliza was in her early 20’s. Her father, Peter is more than 45 years old when the war started, that was considered too old to serve. There are a couple of Peter Stroud’s recorded as being part of the Georgia militias, however, neither one is a good match for Eliza’s father.
In 1870, the family was located in the 825th District, Murray County, Georgia (post office is Spring Place). Eliza, her father, sister Elizabeth and brothers James and John are all listed as farm laborer’s. Mother Mary is keeping house. There is also a 7 month old baby boy named Japhet. In a later census, Japhet is listed as Peter and Mary’s grandson. Holt family history states that Japhet is Eliza’s son, but he is not related to the Holt’s. At this point, Eliza’s brother William doesn’t show up on any 1870 census, however, he reappears in 1880. Eliza’s sister Emily don’t appear in any records after the 1860 census.
According to the 1900 census Eliza and James Crawford Holt are married in 1874. Eliza would be 27 and James Crawford Holt would have been 20. Eliza’s son Japhet/Joe would have been 5 years old.
In the 1880 census, James is working on the farm and Eliza is keeping house. They have 3 children, Murphy is 4, Lillie is 2 and William is 10 months old. It says that everyone was born in Georgia, including their parents. They are living in Oostanaula, Gordon County, Georgia Militia District 1064, 109th Enumeration District. Back in Floyd Springs, Eliza’s father, Peter, her mother, Mary, and brother James appear on their last census documents. Her father Peter was sick with the fever when the census taker was at the house in June 1880.
According to the 1900 census, James C (born in Feb 1855 in North Carolina) is in Gordon County, Georgia, Militia District 1054, Sugar Valley, enumeration District 0056. It states that he and Eliza (born in May 1842 in North Carolina) have been married 25 years (in 1875). She had 9 children and 6 are still living (Joe, John, Lillie, William, Mary, James). It also states that Eliza can read and write. All four of their parents were born in North Carolina. Also in the household are Mary C (June 1881, born in Georgia) and James D (April 1885, born in Georgia). James C is listed as a farmer, renting his home and James D is listed as a farm laborer.
In 1910, James C (55) and Eliza (67) are living on Rock Creek Rd, Oostanaula District 1064, Gordon County, Georgia where he is listed as a general farmer.
According to her death certificate, Eliza dies on Nov 22, 1919 of old age with no complications. She was 77 years old. She died in Sugar Valley and was buried in the Methodist Cemetery on Nov 23.
Eliza’s son Joe, married Alpha Cornilla Akins (Aunt Effie to Vergil Henry, the younger). They had several children; the youngest daughter was Annie Josephine Stroud. She married William Arthur Bartlett. Their youngest daughter Helen Inez Bartlett married James Crawford Holt (one of Eliza’s grandsons).
According to Vergil Henry, Joe Stroud was mean to Vergil’s father, John Murphy Holt. Vergil’s grandfather (James Crawford Holt: Eliza’s husband) finally made him move out because of John Murphy’s complaints of him. Joe tried to take the last name of Holt, but Vergil’s grandfather (James Crawford) would not allow this either. After Joe died, Aunt Effie visited Vergil Henry’s parents frequently.
Chance Objects 