(This page is a work in progress)
Here are some early Hollis records that I have found through my research.
1. In Catahoula Parish, an Isaac H or E Hollis married Keturah Bryan in 1839. The researcher indicates that Keturah was married at least 4 times: Wilson Squires, Thomas Bryan, Isaac Hollis and Rezin Creswell. It would appear that Isaac either died or they separated. This is a bizarre record because Keturah was married 4 times in 5 years! Apparently the blood heirs of Resin Creswell objected to Keturah inheriting any of Rezin's assets and filed with the court to stop her. This was found from internet sources so the original documents would be helpful.
I found no other records for an Isaac H or E Hollis. Isaac is a common name with the Fairfield District, South Carolina Hollises.
2. On the 1840 census, also in Catahoula Parish (town of Harrisonburg), there is a Mrs. Hollis listed with one male 20-26. She cannot be found on the 1830 or 1850 census.
3. Samuel Hollis and John Gideon Hollis moved from Autauga County, Alabama and arrived in Union Parish, LA about the same time as Rufus Hollis (early to mid 1840s). In fact, John Gideon and Rufus may have lived fairly close to one another near the town of Marion. Samuel lived in the Spearsville area. I traveled to Union Parish several times and visited the courthouse as well as walking several cemeteries and speaking to several families with Hollis family histories. In the courthouse I found no records between Rufus Hollis and Samuel, John Gideon or any of their descendants. John Gideon owned quite a bit of land as evidenced by the number of records I found in the courthouse but I found no land records for Rufus. However, like a lot of old courthouses, they had fires over the years and not all records are intact. I also did not find the grave of Rufus or his wives Nancy Pool, Martha Powell and Catherine Whitehead. The graves of Rufus' son Reuben was located as was the grave of his daughter Mary Francis - both are buried in the Downsville community. The grave of John Gideon Hollis was also found near Marion (on private property - hunting land). Samuel is likely buried in the Spearsville city cemetery although there is no marker or proof.
As I noted elsewhere, Samuel and John Gideon Hollis are the descendants of the Revolutionary War soldier William Hollis. They are most likely cousins of Rufus and they probably knew one another or their families knew one another while in Fairfield District South Carolina but I cannot find where they are close enough to have lived together. They may have traveled together from Autauga Alabama to Union Parish Louisiana but I have not found the proof of this because I do not know the whereabouts of Rufus prior to his marriage in 1843 in Union County, Arkansas (adjacent county to Union Parish, Louisiana).
(This page was updated on 12/11/2022)