Our story today begins with the Golladay plot and gravestones located in Maple Grove Cemetery in Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky.  The cemetery is the ending story for a family, but a good start for a genealogist to work their way back.

Jacob Shall (name carved incorrectly on the stone) Golladay was the son of Isaac Golladay and Elizabeth Shall.  His mother’s maiden name was perhaps pronounced ‘shawl’ and thus the incorrect gravestone. 

Let us go to The Biographical Encyclopedia of Kentucky of the Dead and Living Men of the Nineteenth Century by J. M. Armstong and Company, 1878, for an introduction to the family.  I have permission to use this information.

‘Hon. Jacob Shall Golladay, Lawyer, was born in Lebanon, Wilson County, Tennessee, on the 9^th of January, 1825.  His father, Isaac Golladay, was a merchant of that place and of Huguenot descent, the family coming to this country during the persecution, and settling in Virginia.  Maternally, he is of German descent.  His education, received at his native town, comprised a good academic course.  After attaining the age of nineteen years, he commenced business, by entering the wholesale store of Saunders & Martin, where he remained for the space of seven years.  Removing to Logan County, Kentucky, he, for two years, followed the pursuits of merchandising and farming, when, in 1851, he was elected to the Lower House of the Legislature, by the Whig party.  In 1852 he was re-elected, and in 1853 was elected to the State Senate, representing the counties of Logan, Simpson and Butler.  In 1861, he was the Bell and Everett Elector, for the Third Congressional District of Kentucky, and in 1866 and 1868 was elected, by the Democratic party, to Congress.  During his Congressional term, the Tennessee reconstruction measure was one of the greatest questions brought before the House, in discussion of which he took an active part, answering Horace Maynard’s speech, and replying to Blaine, on the results of President Grant’s election.  In 1869, he delivered his famous speech on “Repudiation.”  Rising into prominence, he soon incurred that jealousy and consequent ill-will to which all public men of distinction are subject, which, in his case, assumed shape in the form of a charge of selling cadetships.  The charge was referred to the Military Committee of the House, and, after a thorough investigation, he was formally and honorably acquitted of the charge, by a Republican Committee of a Republican Congress, the prosecution being shown to be and deemed malicious and for political effect.  In 1872, he was again a candidate for Congressional honors, on the ‘Democratic ticket, though opposed to Horace Greeley and the action of his party in that year.  For the first time in history his district went Republican, and he was consequently defeated.  Retiring from political life, he took up the practice of law, which he has since followed.  Mr. Golladay has, for many years, been a member of the Masonic fraternity, and stands high in the order; true to his friends and gentlemanly in his deportment, his personal popularity is very great, as attested by his repeated election to positions of trust and honor.  In 1848, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Cheatham, step-daughter of Prof. W. K. Bowling, of Nashville, Tennessee, now President of the American Medical Association of the United States.  Five children have blessed this marriage, of whom but one survives, and is being educated at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.’

The Tennessean, Nashville, Tennessee

Wednesday, August 3, 1842

Notice of Saunders, Martin and Golladay becoming a co-partnership between George W. Martin and Jacob S. Golladay due to the retirement of John W. Saunders.

Jacob Golladay’s parents were Isaac Golladay, born April 10, 1781, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, died October 5, 1848, Wilson County, Tennessee; and Elizabeth Shall, born July 18, 1786, in Maryland, and died September 8, 1849, in Wilson County, Tennessee.  They raised a family of twelve children.

Elizabeth S. Cheatham, wife of Jacob Golladay, was born January 11, 1826, in Tennessee, and died January 18, 1910.

Children of Jacob Shall and Elizabeth S. Cheatham Golladay:

1. Melissa A. Golladay, 1844-1846
2. John Jacob Golladay, September 5, 1847 – April 20, 1862
3. Archer Golladay, 1850-1853
4. Bowling Golladay, March 24, 1859 – April 23, 1924
5. Elizabeth Golladay, 1866-1867

Notice that three of the children born were not listed in any census records.  The two daughters were born in the middle of the decades of the ‘40s and ‘60s.  Archer was born in 1850, but it must have been after the census was taken that year.  Without gravestones we would have no knowledge of these children.

In the 1870 census Jacob’s brother, Fred W. Golladay, 42, and nephew, Isaac, 12, lived with the family.

Clarksville Weekly Chronicle, Clarksville, Tennessee

Saturday, May 28, 1887

Hon. Jacob S. Golladay died at his home in Logan County, Kentucky, on Monday, 3^rd instant.  He had many friends – the grave covers what few faults were in the life of one whose heart was always kind.

In the 1900 census Elizabeth, 74, is listed as head of household, son Bowling, 40, lives with his mother.  She listed 5 children born, 1 surviving.

The Nashville Banner, Nashville, Tennessee

Wednesday, January 19, 1910

Death of Wife of Ex-Congressman

News has been received here from Allensville, Kentucky, announcing the death, near there yesterday, of Mrs. Elizabeth Golladay, wife of Hon. Jacob S. Golladay, who at one time was a member of Congress from Kentucky.  Mrs. Golladay was a Miss Cheatham and a stepdaughter of the late Dr. W. K. Bowling of this city, where she was well known and greatly admired for her remarkable beauty and many personal charms.  Much of her younger life was spent in Nashville.  Mrs. Golladay received an injury from a fall about eighteen months ago from which she never fully recovered, but the immediate cause of her death was heart failure.  She leaves one son, Bowling Golladay.

Funeral services will be conducted from Mt. Gilead Baptist Church, Allensville, Kentucky, tomorrow at noon, a special train conveying the body and friends to Maple Grove Cemetery, Russellville, Kentucky, where the interment takes place.

The Nashville Banner, Nashville, Tennessee

Thursday, April 24, 1924

Bowling Golladay

Bowling Golladay died Wednesday afternoon at o’clock at a local infirmary and the remains were forwarded to Allensville, Kentucky, this afternoon, where memorial services and burial will take place Friday morning at 10 o’clock.  Mr. Golladay came to Nashville on business several days ago.  He became suddenly ill about noon at his hotel and was sent to an infirmary, where he died at 5 o’clock of uremic poisoning.

Bowling Golladay’s death certificate lists the name of both parents, that he was a retired merchant and was single.

Please say a little prayer for my sister – she is in hospital with COVID.  Many thanks.