Kerr County Album Page: 278 of 548

                                
in Computer Science. They have a young son,
Kevin T. Holdsworth.
Bryan Thomas Holdsworth graduated from
Southwest University and majored in Manage-
ment. These grandchildren live in San Antonio,
Texas. Helen Holdsworth is an August 1985 grad-
uate of Texas A&M University who majored in
Agricultural Education. She was a Distinguished
Student in her senior year as was her father.
In 1951 Robert and Lucile bought a small ranch
between Center Point and Comfort 2 miles off of
Highway #27 on Roane Road. They lived there for
about five years then returned to Kerrville and
bought the old Holdsworth homestead from Rob-
ert's sister Dr. Willie Holdsworth. They lived there
for twenty years until they sold the property to Mr.
Victor Lawrence for County Club Plaza. The big
house was cut in three pieces, moved and restored.
Their original home was also moved and restored.
When the last of their Kerrville property was sold
they moved back to the ranch they had bought in
1951 where they raise sheep and enjoy country liv-
ing. They also raise cattle on a ranch they own with
their son Burt and his wife, Jane, near Medina,
Texas.
Both are active members of Trinity Baptist
Church, and are charter members.
All Robert's life he has loved nature. He has had
a hunting lease in West Texas near Van Horn for
seventeen years where he goes each year with his
son and grandsons to hunt mule deer together. He
hopes to take his great-grandson Kevin, who is now
fourteen months old, with him someday.
Robert passed away November 8, 1985. He
was buried in Glen Rest Cemetery, Kerrville.
Lucile Holdsworth
THE TOM HOLDSWORTH
FAMILY
It was early summer of 1912 when Mr. and Mrs.
Tom Holdsworth followed by their five children
descended the steps of the passenger coach and
became citizens of Kerrville. They had been driven
out of Mexico by the revolution and were putting
down new roots. The parents were actually rooted
in Zavala County but Mr. Holdsworth came as an
emigrant when he was fourteen. He was gifted with
his knowledge of the working of machinery; one of
those who could "look at an engine and make it go
better." His wife, Rosa Roos Holdsworth had
grown up in Zavala. They had lived in Mexico after
their marriage where Mr. Holdsworth   was
employed by mining firms. They bought the Kerr-
ville Light and Ice plant.
For several years after 1912 Kerrville had lights
only after dark. (If one had an electric iron one
ironed at night). Even so, the Holdsworth children
were impressed with the "city of Kerrville"
although being accustomed to space afforded by
Mexican mining camps and south Texas ranches
this new life was a bit cramped. The older three
entered the Tivy system the fall of 1912 without
book cards, report cards or health records. Five of
them had measles and whooping cough that first
winter. The baby of the family joined up in March
of 1913.
The town was growing and the ice plant was
sorely tried for summer events. Ice was also
imported from Comfort. The demand for electrici-
ty increased. Mr. Holdsworth built a line to the

Presbyterian Encampment and extended the ser-
vice on Choupotoulas Street (Sidney Baker now)
for some distance.
Mr. Holdsworth sold the plant to Roberts and
Insall and later he and Mr. Sid Peterson bought it
again. They acquired new machinery and ran the
plant twenty-four hours a day. Late in 1915 it was
sold again to Eastland Brothers.
278

The Holdsworths were now living "way out on
Fredericksburg Road" site of a present day Wal-
Mart. Mrs. Holdsworth, who could quote poetry
and was widely read in the classics presided over
a busy household. Her husband enjoyed his labora-
tory and assaying equipment. When conditions
were again safe he helped with restoration of min-
ing camps in Mexico at intervals.
The children of Tom and Rosa Roos Holdsworth
are: Rosita (married Roy Hollar); Kirk (married
Bessie Biehlier); Mary Elizabeth (married Howard
Butt); Willie Miss; Robert (married Lucile Lang-
ford); and Eleanor (married D.W. Wilson). They
grew up and went to Tivy - all six of them - later
three of them were students at Schreiner. All four
girls were teachers. One son "the town philoso-
pher" operated a corner filling station. The youn-
ger son became a successful rancher. After three
and a half years service in the Pacific war zone.
Mr Holdsworth, who had never known an ill-
ness, fell prey to a sudden attack and in spite of
every care died in 1934.
Mrs. Holdsworth, a quiet retiring person living in
the activities of her children, caring for her home,
cooking delicacies for tea, reading or writing let-
ters spent her widowhood in the family home. In
failing health for a number of years she died in
1948.
Both of them are buried in the family plot at Glen
Rest. By Rosita Hollar
THE TURTLE CREEK
HOLEKAMPS
Moritz Holekamp, son of George and Fannie
Roggenbucke Holekamp, married Helene Sch-
midt, daughter of Eduard and Helene Below Sch-
midt. To this union was born Alex Holekamp who
married Grace McBryde and later married Fran-
ces Wilson. After Helen's death, Ida Holekamp
was a mother to Alex until Moritz married Jennie
McBryde, daughter of John and Ida Burney
McBryde. Their children were Ida Margaret, Allet-
ta Lorain (m. Orbrie Reeves, c. Lorain Louise m.
Jim Hamilton, children Shawn Lee, Larry Allen,
Amber Michelle, Amy Sue; Caroline Jean m. Rog-
er Simons children Rebecca Jean, Matthew Thurs-
ton, Stephen Dale; Clinton George; Clarabel m.
Robert L. Ruff, Jr., children Rolinda Louise,
Nathanial Lee), George Allen (m. Mary Virginia
Stevens, c. Jennie Linton m. Moshe Draznin; Lew-
is Moritz m. Jean Marie Ward, c. Leah Victoria;
George Anna; Stefanie Kay m. Robert Lynn
Wotalewicz; Steven Allen).
iii.
The Holekamps of Turtle Creek
Moritz and Jennie loved their ranch home in the
Turtle Creek Community where they raised prize
Delaine sheep in the 1920s and Angora goats,
dairy cattle, chickens. They were active in Soil
Conservation and Home Demonstration. Moritz

built the first terraces in Kerr County in his field on
Fall Creek. Jennie belonged to Garden Club and
Eastern Star and was recognized as outstanding
homemaker. Mary Virginia later received this
same award. George received the American Far-
mer Degree and Alletta was a Gold Star Girl. Dur-
ing World War II Alex served in Italy and Orbrie

Turtle Creek Holekamps

served in the South Pacific and was awarded the
Purple Heart.
The Holekamp home was a very hospitable
place where many birthdays were celebrated. The
house was filled with handmade items and deli-
cious food much of it raised on the place. The yard
grew abundant flowers, fruit trees and vegetables.
Friends and neighbors often visited and nieces and
nephews considered it a treat to visit Uncle Moritz
and Aunt Jinks.
GEORGE HOLEKAMP
George Holekamp was the oldest of seven chil-
dren born to Friedrich George and Bettie Wilhel-
mine Abbethern Holekamp. Friedrich and Bettie
Holekamp came to America November 24, 1844
about eight months after they were married in Ger-
many. George's brothers and sisters were: Julius,
Daniel, Dora (Mrs. Paul Karger), Johanna, (Mrs.
F.J. Hamer), Ernest and Bettie (Mrs. Henry Sch-
melter).
7'                                 2
George Holekamnp Family at 60th Annversary -
Standing: Moritz, Oscar, Elsa, Richard, Fritz, and Kurt.
Seated: Dora, George, Fannie, Ida.
George was born in Sisterdale. He and his father
helped lay out the town of Comfort. They lived in
a tent during the time their house was being built.
Since George's father died during the Civil War in
1862, he helped his mother support the family. At
the age of 9 he carried mail from Sisterdale to
Comfort once a week, using his school bag to carry
the mail. He also took freight to San Antonio.
On May 21, 1871 George married Fannie von
Roggenbucke. After their marriage, they moved to
Cypress Creek where they farmed. Eleven chil-
dren were born: Ida, Dora (Mrs. Oscar Strohack-
er), Fritz George, Anna, Johanna, Moritz, Elsa
(Mrs. Willie Allerkamp), Oscar, Bettie, Kurt
August, Richard George.
Ida, the oldest, who was never married lived to
the age of 105, outliving all her brothers and sis-
ters.
Dora and Oscar Strohacker had four children:
Nellie (Mrs. August Albrecht), Anna (Mrs. J.B. Sol-
berger), Emma (Mrs. Anthony Granes), Louis who
married Betty Sullivan.