Author talk:Ruliff Stephen Holway

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Find a Grave
Birth: 	May 4, 1857 Hesper Winneshiek County Iowa, USA Death: 	Dec. 2, 1927 Oakland Alameda County California, USA
 * http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=96149479

Ruliff Stephen Holway was born May 4, 1857, at Hesper, Winn, Iowa, and died at the age of 70 on December 2, 1927. He was married to Florence L. Conger on June 24, 1877, a very sort and unsuccessful marriage. Later he married Mary Gordon. Upon her death in 1922, he married Etta Ogden, a close friend for many years, and moved to Oakland, dying there in 1927. Etta died in 1955.

Ruliff's father was George Newell Holway, born September 29, 1826, at Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, and died February 27, 1899, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, and was buried March 1, 1899, at Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles. George's parents were Stephen Holway Jr. and Abigail Wing Hoxie. Ruliff's mother was Amy Marie Ellison, born October 20, 1812, at Nine Partners, Dutchess, New York, and died July 12, 1902, Los Angeles. Her parents were James A. Ellison and Elizabeth Moore. George and Amy were married September 20, 1851, a marriage of 48 years.

Ruliff's parents had three boys: 1. Edward Willet Dorland Holway, born 1853 in Michigan and died March 31, 1923, at Phoenix, Arizona. 2. William Newell Holway, born January 2, 1855, Hesper, Winn, Iowa, died April 27, 1918, at Los Angeles. buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Los Angeles. William was married in Decorah, Winn, Iowa, to Charlotte Amelia Leonard on June 21, 1877. 3. Ruliff Stephen Holway as mentioned above.

Ruliff was a teacher for many years in the San Jose, California, State Normal School. Like his brother Edward, Ruliff was deeply interested in the out-of-doors, not its plants but earth itself. He was appointed instructor in the Geography Department at the University of California at Berkeley and was soon made an associate professor, then professor and head of the department which position he held until death. One of his duties was to visit high schools of the State of California and accredit them to the University. Christmas time found him at his brother William's home, much to the delight of the family, especially his niece. She cherished the memory of two summers living in her uncle's home in a hillside home in Oakland..

On the many field trips of the geography courses, his wife Mary Holway always accompanied him as chaperon of the student groups. At the time of the San Francisco earthquake she took over the management of the laundry at the University which was instituted for the earthquake refugees. She was deeply interested in the arts and wrote a book The Missions of California. She died in 1922 just before the publishing of this book which our family has today. They had no children.

Ruliff was the author of numerous publications in the field of geography: Volcanic Action of Mt. Lassen, The Russian River, The Rainfall of California, Report of the Meteorological Station at Berkeley, and others.

All family members and friends that knew Ruliff treasured their relationships with him. He was an outstanding instructor and added greatly to the knowledge of geography in California. (Written by Leonard Hancock, grandnephew, August 2012.) Family links: Parents: George Newell Holway (1826 - 1899) Amy Marie Ellison Holway (1812 - 1902) Spouses: Etta Ogden Holway (1871 - 1955) Mary Gordon Holway (1857 - 1922) Siblings: William Newell Holway (1855 - 1918) Ruliff Stephen Holway (1857 - 1927) Edward Willet Dorland Holway (1877 - 1923) Burial: Chapel of the Chimes Columbarium and Mausoleum Oakland Alameda County California, USA Plot: Wilcox Room South Wall, Tier Four, #7