Frank Edward Holly was my paternal Great-grandfather, a World War I veteran. Allegany County is where he grew up with his older sister, Bessie, and, their mother, Lucy on the western side of Maryland that borders West Virginia.
Since it is Memorial Day weekend, I am sharing how I learned about my ancestor’s life through military records and events surrounding the draft. After the United States declared war on Germany, many American men did not volunteer to fight. The Selective Service Act was enacted that required men ages, 21 – 30, to register in the military on May 18, 1917, to meet the military’s need. Frank provided an 1889 birth year on his enlistment in Mineral County, West Virginia on June 5, 1917. He made the cut by two years.
Military records can reveal several pieces of genealogical information for a researcher: name, birthday, birth location, citizenship status, marital status, employer, residence, next of kin, and physical description.
All men in that age range were required to enlist, however, there were a few exceptions. Selective Services had deferments and exemptions to the draft. These are two examples below.
Temporarily deferred, but available for military service.
Married registrants with a dependent spouse or dependent children under 16 with sufficient family income if drafted.
Exempted due to extreme hardship.
Married registrants with a dependent spouse or dependent children with insufficient family income if drafted.
A day before my Great-grandpa’s 28th birthday he applied for a divorce and custody of his children. Frank’s six-year marriage to Lillian Farley produced my two Grand Aunts, Carrie, and Lucille. I did not have the pleasure to meet them, however, their experience and knowledge about Frank Holly gave me a genealogy boost.
Frank began his military training in August. If his goal was not to participate he failed.
His attempts to gain custody and avoid the war were unsuccessful.
Early into my family research, I met my father’s first cousin, Lillian, and Frank’s grandson, Andy online through Ancestry’s site. We made an instant family connection. Our conversations went from email messages to telephone calls. Andy shared that when he was young his Grandmother Lillian drove him through W.VA and Western Maryland. She told him that this was where his grandpa’s family lived. Andy closed our conversation with instructions, “Look up, Lonaconing.”
I didn’t know if Lonaconing was a person, place, or thing. My first thought was glass manufacturing. I discovered a clipped newspaper article titled, “Remembering the Blacks of Lonaconing.” The reporter interviewed an elderly person in the community. She recalled the only Black people living in their town. Lonaconing is one of the five cities/towns in Allegany County. Andy and I were both excited about my discovery. The write-up mentioned Frank’s Grandpa, Thomas “Jefferson” Holly.
Andy remembered Aunt Carrie describing her father. “My dad was an Indian. He wore long braids and buckskin.” I connected with a second cousin on 23andme. Our grandfathers were brothers. Her dad shared the Lonaconing account with his dad. Her Grandpa said, “My dad lived in Lonaconing as a boy.”
I appreciate my Great-grandfather’s service. His military activities left records to trace his actions and learn some insight about him. During this holiday a few sites have free access to view their military record database. You may make a family connection while searching.
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