Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Hollingsworth, Henry C. 1852 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 September 14, 2015, 11:25 am

Source: See Below
Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher

HENRY C. HOLLINGSWORTH.
The attractiveness of Wapello county as a place of residence is indicated in the
fact that many of her native sons have remained within her borders and have
found her opportunities equal to those to be secured elsewhere. While Henry C.
Hollingsworth has not at all times throughout his life been a resident of this
county, he has never left Iowa and now makes his home in Ottumwa. His life has
been devoted to educational interests and activities. His birth occurred in
Green township, Wapello county, June 13, 1852. His, father. James W
Hollingsworth, was born near Winchester, Frederick county, Virginia, July 31,
1812, and came of English ancestry. It is believed the first representatives of
the family in the new world came with William Penn and settled in Pennsylvania.
There has been prepared a genealogical record of the Hollingsworth family in
America covering the years between 1682 and 1884.

James W. Hollingswrorth spent his boyhood and youth in Virginia and there
acquired his education. In 1836 he removed to Ohio and it was in that state in
1839 that he was married to Miss Nancy Maholm, who was born near Dayton, Ohio,
in 1820. The young couple took up their abode in her native state and Mr.
Hollingsworth there followed milling for several years. In the autumn of 1844
they came to Iowa, settling first at Rome, Henry county, but in the spring of
1845 they came to Wapello county, where they took up their abode upon a tract of
land in Green township, which he entered from the government. With
characteristic energy he began its development and in course of time broke the
sod and converted the land into rich and productive fields. In addition to
general farming he also carried on the milling business in this county, having
charge of a mill at Agency for a time and also one on Skunk river. Both he and
his wife continued to reside on the old homestead until called to their final
rest, her death occurring April 15, 1803, and his on the 10th of December, 1895.
He was a republican in politics and held some of the township offices in an
early day. He read extensively and was well informed on current events and on
political and religious questions. In all of his dealings he was just, upright
and honorable. He was not demonstrative in his sympathy, but he loved his family
with a deep and abiding affection. For fifty-four years he and his wife traveled
life's journey together, their mutual love and confidence increasing as the
years went on. They had a family of five children: Sarah Elizabeth, who was born
in Ohio and became the wife of Michael Baum but is now deceased; Thomas Wilson,
who was born in Ohio and now lives in Ottumwa; Frances A., of Ottumwa, who is
the widow of David L. Gephart; Henry C.; and James P., who is now living upon a
part of the old homestead in Green township which was entered by his father from
the government in 1845.

Henry C. Hollingsworth resided upon the home farm with his parents until twenty
years of age. He had a common-school education and began teaching in the home
district in 1872, since which time his life has been largely devoted to
educational activities. He taught in several districts of Wapello county and
afterward attended Mrs. Peck's Normal School in Ottumwa and also the Ottumwa
Business College. In the fall of 1875 he entered the Iowa Wesleyan College, in
which he pursued a four years' course and was graduated in 1879, receiving the
Master of Science degree. He studied law with D. H. Emery of Ottumwa and was
admitted to the bar in Judge Burton's court in 1882. He then practiced about a
year, but afterward returned to educational fields as superintendent of the city
schools of Centerville. He was superintendent and principal of the schools at
Morning Sun for two years, at Knoxville for one year, superintendent of the city
schools at Centerville for eight years, from 1883 until 1891, and in the latter
year was elected superintendent of the schools of Albia, where he remained for
fourteen years, making a total of twenty-five years devoted to his duties as
principal or superintendent of city schools in addition to his work in the rural
schools. Mr. Hollingsworth has been an enthusiastic worker in teachers'
institutes and has acted as conductor or instructor in many summer sessions in
southern Iowa. Since leaving Albia in 1905 he has been connected more or less
with the state educational department in Des Moines working with the state board
of examiners. He makes his home at 431 Hamilton street, Ottumwa.

On the 13th of June, 1883, Mr. Hollingsworth was married to Miss Maggie E.
McGuigan, of Mount Pleasant, Iowa. To them were born three children: Ralph G.,
who is with the Harper-McIntire Hardware Company of Ottumwa; and Robert Leigh
and Henry Donal, who were drowned in Village creek in June, 1905. Prior to this
their mother was killed on Thanksgiving day of 1904 in a runaway accident in
Albia, on which occasion Mr. Hollingsworth had both arms broken and was also
badly bruised about the head and face, but in time recovered from his injuries.
In 1908 he married Miss Sophronia Burkett, of Joliet, Illinois, who was formerly
a primary teacher in the Centerville schools, and after their marriage they came
to reside in Ottumwa. In June, 1910, Mrs. Hollingsworth was called to Lincoln,
Nebraska, on account of the serious illness of her brother and soon after her
arrival there was stricken with paralysis. She partially recovered, but on the
20th of December. 1913, sustained a second stroke and passed a wav three days
later.

Mr. Hollingsworth for many years has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church and has long been an ardent supporter of the republican party. His life
work has been one of benefit and value to his fellowmen in that he has aided in
upholding the standards of education and advancing the interest of the school
system of Iowa. He was president of the Southeastern Iowa Teachers' Association
at one time and was a member of the board of trustees of the Iowa Wesleyan
College for three years. While at Albia and Centerville twenty-two classes were
graduated from the high school. Many of these young people have since filled
exceptionally fine positions in the business world. His training was ever
thorough, qualifying his pupils for later responsibilities. Mr. Hollingsworth's
influence for the higher values of life has been felt by a large number of
pupils and teachers, and his name is inscribed high upon the roll of Iowa's able
educators.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914


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