Thomas Jefferson HOLDER 1839-1883
Here is a handsome man who worked with his hands. He had his own woodworking shop near Wynn’s (later LeGuin’s) mill on the Tussahaw creek in Henry County GA near Locust Grove. The county was created in 1821 and “. . . began as the land of pioneering people who invested their labor and time in exchange for land” according to The New GA Encyclopedia. Much of the area is now being developed for home construction although woods and farms are still plentiful (see pictures of a current farm development – tempting purchase).
Thomas Jefferson HOLDER married Aletha ‘Letha’ DICKERSON in 1857 and had 9 children together according to current research. Coming from a family of 11 children, his own abundant quiver of children probably felt like home for Thomas. The oldest son was James Solomon HOLDER (see previous post) the father of Eula Mae HOLDER LINN.
Thomas was born on the 2nd of March, 1839 in Forsyth, GA. The move from Monroe, the county of his birth to nearby Henry county occurred before 1880. Below is a page from the HOLDER family bible where births were recorded. T. J. HOLDER is the 11th down on the left side. His parents are listed first.
Thomas died at the age of 44. By word of mouth it is known that he must have anticipated his death because he made his own casket, carving roses on the top.
A further description of living at Wynn’s Mill, Tussahaw Creek can be discovered by reading A Home-Concealed Woman. The diary of Magnolia Wynn LeGuin 1901-1913 published by the University of GA press. Excerpts from the book will be published in a future post about Thomas’ wife Letha DICKERSON as she probably had similar experiences and feelings as Magnolia (don’t you love the name?).
My Kindred Tree 
My GG-grandfather. He actually died Jan 17, 1889, at his woodshop at (then) Wynn’s Mill. His death mention in the Middle Georgia Argus (Jackson, Butts Co.) of Jan 22 1889 reads: “Mr Jeff Holder, formerly of High Falls, died at his home at Wynn’s Mills on Thursday”.
He did indeed build his own casket. He grew up at the “Holder homeplace”, which was about 1/2 mile NW of Hwy 42 and Stokes Store Rd in N Monroe Co (lat 33.165, lon -83.963). He was 1 of 16 children of James Holder and his 1st wife Martha Willingham (James had 1 more child by his 2nd wife, for good measure).