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James William "Jim" Holden was born June 4, 1869, in Arkansas. He was the son of Richard James D. Holden and Martha Caroline George.
Jim's mother died when he was about four years old. Jim's father soon remarried. The family appears on the 1880 Marion County, Arkansas, census in Buffalo Township. James is listed as 11 years old on the census.
Jim married Sarah A. Pierce on November 4, 1895, in Sylamore Township of Stone County, Arkansas. Sarah Pierce was born July 12, 1877, in Arkansas, the daughter of James Payton Pierce and Lucinda Thompson.
James Payton Pierce, born April 1844, in Mississippi, died May 20, 1925, at Big Spring, Stone County, Arkansas, was the son of Lewis B. Pierce and Elizabeth "Betsy" Ann Stanfield. Lucinda Thompson, born March 5, 1844, in Tennessee, died June 27, 1914, at Big Spring in Stone County, was the daughter of Tidings Thompson and Elender King. Lucinda and James are buried in Big Spring Cemetery, near Timbo, in Stone County.
The 1900 Stone County census, Sylamore Township, shows John W. Holden, 29, born June 1870, in Arkansas, married 5 years, a farmer; Sarah, wife, 24, born January 1876, in Arkansas, married 5 years, given birth to 2 children, 2 children still living; Fannie, daughter, 3, born August 1896 and Leitha, daughter, 1, born July 1898.
The 1910 Stone County census shows the family still living in Sylamore Township. The census shows James W. Holden, 40, married 15 yrs, a farmer who owned his farm; Sarah, wife, 36, married 15 yrs, had given birth to 6 children, 6 children still living; Fanny, daughter, 14, farm laborer on home farm; Letha M., daughter, 10, farm laborer on home farm; Myrtle M., daughter, 7; Sanford W., son, 6; Mamie E., daughter, 3 and Linda F., daughter, 4 months old. The family lived very near Jim's sister and brother-in-law, Thomas and Frances Adeline (Holden) Bridgman and their family.
Sarah died March 1, 1911, in Stone County. She is buried in Big Spring Cemetery, near Timbo. A home-made stone marks her grave.
Jim never remarried after Sarah died. He raised his family alone. His two oldest daughters helped with the younger children.
The 1920 Stone County census, Sylamore Township, shows James Holden, 49, widowed, a farmer; Sanford, son, 15; Mammie, daughter, 12 and Lutie, daughter, 10 years old.
The 1930 Jackson County, Arkansas census, Cow Lake Township, shows Jim living with his daughter, Myrtle and her family. The census shows Robert L. Blevins, 30, a farmer; Myrtle, wife, 28; R. L., son, 9; Lavelle, daughter, 2 and James W. Holden, father-in-law, 60, widowed, a farm laborer.
Jim died April 28, 1938, at Beedeville, in Jackson County. He is buried in Eight Mile Cemetery at Beedeville.
Children of Jim Holden and Sarah Pierce
1. Fannie H. Lucinda Holden, b. Aug 18, 1896, Stone Co, AR; d. Oct 1985, Newport, Jackson Co, AR; bur. Eight Mile Cem, Beedeville, Jackson Co, AR; m. James Ambrose "Jim" Blevins on June 13, 1915, White Co, AR. Jim Blevins, b. Aug 8, 1892, AR; d. July 30, 1934, Newport, Jackson Co, AR; bur. Eight Mile Cem, was the son of Harrison Blevins (b. 1862, AR; d. 1946, AR; bur Eight Mile Cem) and Levada Williams (b. 1866, IN; d. 1934, Jackson Co, AR; bur Eight Mile Cem). Children included: (1) Pauline Blevins, (2) Noel Blevins, (3) Dewey Blevins, (4) Melba Blevins, (5) Flossie Geraldine Blevins, (6) J. W. Blevins and (7) Travis Blevins
2. Letha Mae Holden, b. July 7, 1898, Stone Co, AR; d. Dec 20, 1973, Timbo, Stone Co, AR; bur. Timbo Cem, Stone Co, AR; m. Henry Clay Diffey on Sept 23, 1917, in Stone Co. Clay Diffey, b. Feb 25, 1895; d. Sept 3, 1987, Anderson, IN; bur. Timbo Cem, was the son of William Wesley Diffey (b. 1844, AL) and his third wife, Mary Elizabeth Lawrence (b. 1860, Searcy Co, AR; d. 1942, Timbo, bur. Timbo Cem). Clay served in the Army in World War I. After the war he was a farmer, a blacksmith and a Justice of the Peace in Stone Co. Children: (1) Jewell Bessie Diffey, (2) David Marion Diffey, (3) Manord Carbin Diffey, (4) Julliar Diffey, (5) Audra Jenevra Diffey, (6) Thelma Diffey, (7) Owsley Diffey and (8) Euin Arbry Diffey
3. Myrtle M. Holden, b. Nov 3, 1901, Stone Co, AR; d. Oct 1, 1979, Newport, Jackson Co, AR; bur. Eight Mile Cem, Beedeville, Jackson Co, AR; m. Robert Lee "Bob" Blevins on Dec 16, 1917, Jackson Co, AR. Bob Blevins, b. Sept 21, 1899, AR; d. Oct 1, 1979, Newport, Jackson Co, AR; bur. Eight Mile Cem, was the son of Harrison Blevins (b. 1862, AR; d. 1946, AR; bur Eight Mile Cem) and Levada Williams (b. 1866, IN; d. 1934, Jackson Co, AR; bur Eight Mile Cem). Children included: (1) Herman Blevins, (2) Robert Lee Blevins, Jr. and (3) Lavelle Blevins
4. Sanford William Holden, b. Mar 3, 1904, Stone Co, AR; d. Feb 1984, Newport, Jackson Co, AR; bur Eight Mile Cem, Beedeville, Jackson Co, AR; m. Hazel M. Thomas on May 28, 1927. Hazel Thomas, b. Sept 1, 1907, AR; d. May 27, 1988, Newport, Jackson Co, AR, bur Eight Mile Cem, was the daughter of James Monroe Thomas (b. 1878, Jackson Co, AR; d. 1957, Jackson Co, AR; bur Eight Mile Cem) and Emma Ellen Cole (b. 1880, Craighead Co, AR; d. 1969, Woodruff Co, AR; bur Eight Mile Cem). Children included: Stattie Oleta Holden
5. Mamye Elizabeth Holden, b. Apr 16, 1907, Stone Co, AR; d. May 9, 1982, Benton Harbor, MI; m. Clarence Newton Blevins on Nov 5, 1924, Stone Co, AR. Clarence Blevins, b. Apr 1, 1903, AR; d. June 15, 1983, Battle Creek, MI, was the son of Harrison Blevins (b. 1862, AR; d. 1946, AR; bur Eight Mile Cem) and Levada Williams (b. 1866, IN; d. 1934, Jackson Co, AR; bur Eight Mile Cem). Children included: (1) Marie Blevins and (2) Mary L. Blevins
6. Ludia F. Holden, b. Nov 21, 1909, Stone Co, AR; m. William Henry Blevins on Nov 25, 1931, Jackson Co, AR. Henry Blevins, b. Feb 7, 1908, AR; d. Dec 14, 1973; bur Eight Mile Cem, Beedeville, Jackson Co, AR, was the son of Harrison Blevins (b. 1862, AR; d. 1946, AR; bur Eight Mile Cem) and Levada Williams (b. 1866, IN; d. 1934, Jackson Co, AR; bur Eight Mile Cem). Children included: (1) Modine Holden