The name Holtzclaw is German in orgin. The word Holtzclaw translaed means forrest (Holz) in the small valley (kla-clae-Klau-or-clau) where the creek runs through. The first Hotlzclaw in America was "JACOB", who came from Oberholzklau, Germany. A small farming village located near (45 miles east) of Bonn, the former capital of West Germany. Oberholzklau and Niederholzklau are now considered suburb of Freudenberg. This area was considered the heart of the iron industry in those days.
Jacob settled in Virginia befor the Revolutionary War and worked as a Teacher. He was highly educated in Germany in many areas and was from one of the upper Crust Families of this area of Iron Workers. He came to America with other members of the Protestant Reformed Church to escape religious prosecution that was practiced in Germany at the time he migrated. Jacob prospered and had ten children. He had seven by Margaret and three by Catherine.
One son named John Henry, married Nancy and they had seven children, Timothy, John son migrated to Wilkes County, Georgia and married Rhonda Graham and they had eleven children. Elijah, Timothy son moved to Herny County, Georgia then moved to Chambers County, Alabama, and finally to Coosa County, Alabama. He married Elizabeth Bledsoe and they had eight children. James Thadeus Holtzclaw, Timothy son was born in Henry County, Georgia.
Jacob settled in Virginia befor the Revolutionary War and worked as a Teacher. He was highly educated in Germany in many areas and was from one of the upper Crust Families of this area of Iron Workers. He came to America with other members of the Protestant Reformed Church to escape religious prosecution that was practiced in Germany at the time he migrated. Jacob prospered and had ten children. He had seven by Margaret and three by Catherine.
One son named John Henry, married Nancy and they had seven children, Timothy, John son migrated to Wilkes County, Georgia and married Rhonda Graham and they had eleven children. Elijah, Timothy son moved to Herny County, Georgia then moved to Chambers County, Alabama, and finally to Coosa County, Alabama. He married Elizabeth Bledsoe and they had eight children. James Thadeus Holtzclaw, Timothy son was born in Henry County, Georgia.
Like one of his ancestors, James received an appointment to West Point, but did not enter. Instead he studied law in Montgomery, Alabama, and practied there until his death. (12-17-1833 to 07-19-1893) James was a Brigadier General in the Confederate Army. His picture hangs in the Capital Rotunda in Montgomery, Alabama still today.
It was previously thought that Peter Holtzclaw was the first Holtzclaw in America, however B.C. Holtzclaw's reseach shows that Peter was a descendent of Archibald, Joseph, John and Jacob. There are indicaitions that another Peter may have come from one of the South Carolina lines and then moved to Georgia and later to Alabama to be with his relatives. This may be where the misconception came about.
Beside being a lawyer, James also owend a plantation in Georgia and was a slave owner. Among his many assets was a slave named MAHALIA part (Afican-American and part cherokee-Indian) with whom he began an intimate relationship. By the time slavery ended, James and Mahalia had produced eleven children. At the present, only four are known. Jules, Jerry, Caleb, and Charley. All eleven children took the Holtzclaw name when they were freed after the war. This is the beginning of our Family History.
Jerry at the age fo 16, swam acroos the Chattahoochee River to Alabama. He settled in Roanoke, Alabama. He married a widow named Addie Greer, who had 5 Children. During their 20 year marriage they had ten children. Addie's Mother was Afican-American, her Father and Grandfather was Caucasian. Jerry died in 1896 and Addie in 1943 at the age of 97. Addie out lived twelve fo her children. Jerry never returned to Georgia, loosing all contact with his relatives.
Jules stay in or around Omaha, Georgia area. He became a farmer after the Civil War and begun his own family. Little is known of his life except that he married Caroline Barron and had one son and four daughters. Alexander Juluis Holtzclaw, Susie Holtzclaw, Salonia Holtzclaw, Ella Holtzclaw, and Stella Holtzclaw.
It was previously thought that Peter Holtzclaw was the first Holtzclaw in America, however B.C. Holtzclaw's reseach shows that Peter was a descendent of Archibald, Joseph, John and Jacob. There are indicaitions that another Peter may have come from one of the South Carolina lines and then moved to Georgia and later to Alabama to be with his relatives. This may be where the misconception came about.
Beside being a lawyer, James also owend a plantation in Georgia and was a slave owner. Among his many assets was a slave named MAHALIA part (Afican-American and part cherokee-Indian) with whom he began an intimate relationship. By the time slavery ended, James and Mahalia had produced eleven children. At the present, only four are known. Jules, Jerry, Caleb, and Charley. All eleven children took the Holtzclaw name when they were freed after the war. This is the beginning of our Family History.
Jerry at the age fo 16, swam acroos the Chattahoochee River to Alabama. He settled in Roanoke, Alabama. He married a widow named Addie Greer, who had 5 Children. During their 20 year marriage they had ten children. Addie's Mother was Afican-American, her Father and Grandfather was Caucasian. Jerry died in 1896 and Addie in 1943 at the age of 97. Addie out lived twelve fo her children. Jerry never returned to Georgia, loosing all contact with his relatives.
Jules stay in or around Omaha, Georgia area. He became a farmer after the Civil War and begun his own family. Little is known of his life except that he married Caroline Barron and had one son and four daughters. Alexander Juluis Holtzclaw, Susie Holtzclaw, Salonia Holtzclaw, Ella Holtzclaw, and Stella Holtzclaw.