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HOLLIGAN CHAPEL COMMUNITY
from “Stories of Long Ago” compiled by Bill Page
This community was located east of Bryan, near Steep Hollow, in the
Richardson Perry league. It contained a school and a Baptist Church.
J.J. Holligan and his wife A.E. Holligan sold D.E. Thompson, Thomas
Hall, and W.P. Bulloch, trustees of Holligan school district no.8, two
acres of land in the Richardson Perry league for $1; to have one house
erected on the land for use as a school house and another building to be
used as a Primitive Baptist Church; dated 9 August 1898. Brazos County
Deed Records, Book 17, pages 379-380.
*Mrs. Mattie Thompson died, aged 31; wife of I.F. Thompson of Holligan;
buried at Steep Hollow; left husband & 5 children; left sister Mrs. Mary
Graves of Center and brother Rev. W.N. Crenshaw of Iola; Mr. G.B.
Risinger of Village Mills was ½ brother. (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 12
Apr.1900, p.6, col.4
Miss Ida Holligan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. I.J. Holligan, died
Wednesday night at the family home in the Holligan community from the
effects of an attack of pneumonia. Her death was a great shock to the
family, and friends who have known and loved her from childhood. She
was reared in that community and was a young lady of a most lovable
character and a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. In her death
the devoted family circle is deprived of the association and sweet
influence of her Christian character. The funeral was held yesterday
afternoon at Steep Hollow, Rev. J.M. Bulloch conducting the service in
the presence of many sorrowing friends. Pretty floral tributes were
laid upon the grave by loving hands in testimony of the tender affection
in which she was held. Miss Holligan leaves her parents, two brothers
and three sisters, Messrs. Will and Luther Holligan, Mrs. W.F. Terry,
Mrs. Leonard Moorehead and Miss Leila Holligan. (weekly) Bryan Eagle,
13 Feb. 1908, p.5, col.6
An important school meeting was held at Steep Hollow yesterday
afternoon which resulted in the consolidation of the Steep Hollow and
Holligan Chapel school districts. The meeting was attended by County
Superintendent T.W. Parker, the trustees and patrons of the two schools.
Superintendent Parker addressed the meeting, explaining the new law
relative to rural high schools. A great many questions were asked and
talks were made by others, after which a resolution was adopted uniting
the two districts for the purpose of building up a rural high school,
and they will ask the county school board to so classify them. The
patrons of the two schools at the meeting subscribed about $600 to build
up and equip the school, and under a provision in the new law, will ask
the state to donate a like amount. The building will be added to and
new equipment of different kids purchased. It is likely that a course
in agriculture will be added. Bryan Daily Eagle, 8 July 1911, p.2,
col.2
Mr. John Neal of Tyler County and Miss Lillie Holligan were united in
marriage at 8 o’clock last night at the home of the bride’s parents,
Mr. and Mrs. I.J. Holligan, in the Holligan Chapel community. Rev. J.W.
Baker of Lockhart, a Primitive Baptist minister, officiated. It was a
very quiet home wedding, only relatives and a few special friends of the
contracting parties being present. The bride is the youngest daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. I.J. Holligan, and was reared in the Holligan Chapel
community. She is a gentle, sweet-spirited, Christian young lady,
polished and refined, and dearly beloved by all who know her. The groom
is a comparative stranger here, but is said by those who know him to be
an excellent citizen of Tyler County, a thorough gentleman, and an
active, industrious young man. Mr. and Mrs. Neal will leave tonight for
the home of the groom in East Texas, and The Eagle joins their many
friends in best wishes for a long and useful life. (weekly) Bryan
Eagle, 14 Dec. 1911, p.1
Tobe Greer, an aged Negro of Holligan Chapel, dropped dead while
planting corn yesterday afternoon. The old man was about sixty-five,
and worked on the C.M. Risinger place. When found he had been dead for
several hours, and his mule was patiently standing, the Negro having a
plow line wrapped around his wrist. Justice Albert Keith of Harvey held
an inquest this morning and pronounced a verdict of death due to natural
causes. (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 6 March 1913, p.7, col.5
Mrs. M. Mims, an old and highly respected lady of the county, residing
at Holligan Chapel, died this morning after a brief illness. She was
stricken with paralysis yesterday and never rallied, expiring during the
night. She was laid to rest at Steep Hollow this afternoon at 5
o’clock, Rev. J.M. Bulloch conducting the funeral services. She is
survived by her husband and several children. The death of Mrs. Mims is
a great loss to the community in which she lived. She was a daughter of
the late Mr. Frank Jones of Harvey. Bryan Weekly Eagle, 5 March 1914,
page 8
C.M. Risinger and son, Billy, were in the city today from Holligan
Chapel. Bryan Weekly Eagle, 25 June 1914, page 5
C.M. Risinger of Holligan Chapel was in the city today. Bryan Weekly
Eagle, 23 July 1914, page 5.
Pink Mims was in today from Holligan Chapel. Bryan Weekly Eagle, 30
July 1914, page 5.
C.M. Risinger, a leading farmer of the Holligan Chapel community, was
in the city today. Bryan Weekly Eagle, 27 August 1914, page 5.
I.F. Thompson of Holligan Chapel was in the city today. Bryan Weekly
Eagle, 10 September 1914, page 5
C.M. Risinger was in the city today from Holligan Chapel. Bryan Weekly
Eagle, 24 September 1914, page 5
C.M. Risinger and daughter, Misses Buna and Birde, were visitors to the
city today from Holligan Chapel. Bryan Weekly Eagle, 3 December 1914,
page 5
I.F. Thompson was in the city today from his home at Holligan Chapel.
Bryan Weekly Eagle, 17 December 1914, page 5
T.A. Hensarling was in the city today from Holligan Chapel. Bryan
Weekly Eagle, 24 December 1914, page 5
***
Lila Belle Holligan married Leonard E. Morehead (later Brazos County
sheriff) after his first wife died. Lila B. Holligan Morehead achieved
prominence as Brazos County’s first female sheriff. After her
husband’s death, Lila married Mr. W.A. Withers. She died on 16 March
1975.
"Mrs. L.E. Morehead Appointed Sheriff," Bryan Weekly Eagle, 3 April
1924, p.1
"First Arrest Ever Made by Texas' Only Woman Sheriff Made Mrs.
Morehead," Bryan Weekly Eagle, 3 July 1924, p.3, col.3
"Mrs. Morehead Fell and Hurt Self in Houston," Bryan Weekly Eagle, 21
Jan. 1926, p.2, col.8
"Mrs. L.E. Morehead Hurt," Bryan Weekly Eagle, 4 Mar. 1930, p.5, col.2
Syptak, Virginia, "`That Lady Sheriff' Remembers the Past," Bryan Daily
Eagle, 8 Feb. 1959, section 1, p.6, col.1