Raymond Holsomback and Lilly Marie Armstrong

Raymond Holsomback, son of Moses Holsomback and Frances Bills, was born on 28 Dec 1913 in Blossburg, Jefferson, Alabama. He married Lilly Marie Armstrong on 31 Mar 1934 in Jefferson Co., Alabama. He died on 24 Dec 1967 in Elkhart, Elkhart, Indiana, at the age of 53, and is buried in Olive Cemetery (Wakarusa, Indiana).

Lilly Marie Armstrong, daughter of Walter Edward Armstrong and Pearl Mae Wadrup, was born on 09 Nov 1919 in Kimberly, Jefferson, Alabama. She died on 12 Jun 2014, at the age of 94.

In 1920, Raymond Holsombake (Holsomback) was six (6) years old and lived in Jefferson, Alabama with his father and mother. In 1930, he was 16 years old and lived in Warrior, Alabama with his father and mother and worked as a coal miner. On 1 Apr 1940, he was 26 years old and lived in Winfield, Alabama with his wife, two (2) children, father, and mother; and continue to work in the coal mines.

In 1920, Lillie M. Armstrong was less than a year old and lived in Blount Springs, Alabama with her father and mother. On 1 Apr 1940, she was 20 years old and lived in Winfield, Alabama with her husband, two (2) sons, and her in-laws.

The 2013 Elkhart County Property Tax records indicate that Raymond and Lillie M. Holsomback lived at 57562 Best Ave., Elkhart, Indiana 46517-1048. The Eklhart County Property Report Card states that the house with 0.155 acres of land was worth $18,900 in 2012.

According to family lore, Raymond Holsomback was a rum runner in Alabama during prohibition. There is a story that Lilly Marie (Armstrong) Holsomback took a lead pipe to Raymond in an attempt to keep her children from joining the "family business". The ability to keep her children out of the illicit alcohol trade coupled with the job opportunities in Elkhart, Indiana, is what prompted the family to pack up and head north out of Alabama. This story was provided by Lilly Marie (Armstrong) Holsomback's daughter-in-law and then later confirmed by Lilly (before she passed away).

According to Lilly Marie (Armstrong) Holsomback, she left Alabama because they were starving and she gave Raymond Holsomback an ultimatum; he could either go with her and their children or he could stay and starve with the rest of his family. He decided to accompany his wife and children to Elkhart, Indiana.

Raymond Holsomback and Lilly Marie Armstrong had the following children:

• Carl Holsomback was born on [private] in [private]. He married Julia Ann Smoot on [private] in [private]. She was born on [private] in [private]. 

• Lewis A. Holsomback was born on [private] in [private]. He married (1) Linda S. (--?--) on [private] in [private]. He married (2) Beverly A. Johnson on [private] in [private]. 

• Elsie Holsomback was born on [private] in [private]. She married (--?--) Foster on [private] in [private]. 

• Linda Holsomback was born on [private] in [private]. She married (1) Jerome Yovel Dooley on [private] in [private]. She married (2) Wayne LA Vaughn Frey on [private] in [private]. 

• Rachel May Holsomback was born on [private] in [private]. She married Marvin Yoder on [private] in [private]. 

1920 US Federal Census (Raymond Holsomback)

1930 US Federal Census (Raymond Holsomback)

1920 US Federal Census (Lilly Marie Armstong)

1940 US Federal Census

Raymond Holsomback and Lilly Marie Armstrong Marriage Register

Sources: 

1. Linda K, Find-A-Grave, digital image (http://www.findagrave.com), Olive Cemetery (Wakarusa, Elkhart, Indiana), Raymond Holsomback marker, photograph supplied by Linda K., 07 Oct 2011. (Retrieved on 09 Aug 2014).
2. Lilly Marie Holsomback, (Retrieved on 14 Jun 2014), Elkhart Truth, Elkhart, Indiana, online images (http://www.tributes.com).
3. 1920 US census, population schedule, Alabama, Precinct 38, Jefferson, enumeration district 0157, page 4B, dwelling 103, family 104, line no. 86, Raymond Holsombake [Holsomback]. (Retrieved 08 Aug 2014); NARA microfilm publication T625, roll 21; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com).
4. 1930 US census, population schedule, Alabama, Warrior, Jefferson, enumeration district 0152, page 7B, dwelling 127, family 127, line no. 69, Raymond Holsomback, FHL microfilm 2339766 (Retrieved 08 Aug 2014); NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 31; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com).
5. 1940 U.S. census population schedule Alabama, Winfield, Marion, enumeration district 47-20, page 16A, household 235, line no. 15, Raymond Holsomback (Retrieved 09 Aug 2014); NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 59; digital image, Ancestry.com.
6. 1920 US census, population schedule, Alabama, Blount Springs, Blount, enumeration district 24, page 15B, dwelling 291, family 302, line no. 54, Lilly M. Armstrong (Retrieved 09 Aug 2014); NARA microfilm publication T625, roll 3; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com).
7. 1940 U.S. census population schedule Alabama, Winfield, Marion, enumeration district 47-20, page 16A, household 235, line no. 16, Lillie M. Holsomback (Retrieved 09 Aug 2014); NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 59; digital image, Ancestry.com.
8. Elkhart, Elkhart, Indiana, property tax, Raymond and Lilly Holsomback, tax id: 05-13-401-0066-001, tax year 2012. (Retrieved 01 Mar 2013); digital images, Elkhart Indiana Assessor’s office, Elkhart Tax Office.
9.  Elkhart, Elkhart, Indiana, property assessment detail report, parcel number: 20-05-13-401-006.000-001 39[degrees] North-855.GIS.3939; Raymond and Lilly Holsomback, (Retrieved 01 Mar 2013); digital images, Elkhart County Assessor’s Office.