Miss Ella Holroyd

Ella Lively Holroyd (1885-1981) was the daughter of James French Holroyd and Bettie Lively. She was the granddaughter of the Rev. William Holroyd and Sarah Caulkin, emigrants from England who settled in the area of Athens (then Concord Church) about 1850.  Her uncle Fred Lively was a Judge of the Supreme Court of West Virginia.

Ella Holroyd graduated from Concord College in 1904 after attending the first free school in Athens. After college she went on to teach in the public schools for over 23 years, 18 of them in Mercer County schools.

After one year of teaching at her first school her family sent her to the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. She dropped out after two years to return to teaching to help her younger sister attend college. 

When her family no longer needed her help she returned to the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music earning her degree in 1914.  She went on to continue her education in music both here and abroad.

In 1932 she was asked to start a Music Department at Concord College. The Music Department became one of the strongest departments at the college.

Ella Holroyd was active in the Concord Methodist Church that her grandfather helped establish. She taught Sunday school and directed the choir. She played an active role in the administration of the Town of Athens.

Miss Ella’s memories recorded in the 1987 Mercer County History ppublished by the Mercer County Historical Society have been used extensively on this site to give insight into the articles on the people, stores and other businesses. Without the information provided by Miss Ella and others who lived in Athens we would not have fully understood what it was like to live in the community during her era.

The information in this Spotlight was drawn largely from Ella Holroyd’s obituary posted on findagrave.com. The full obituary appears below.

Dr. Ella Lively Holroyd

Birth: 17 Oct 1885 Athens, Mercer County, West Virginia, USA

Death: 3 Apr 1981 (aged 95) Princeton, Mercer County, West Virginia, USA

Burial: Athens Cemetery, Athens, Mercer County, West Virginia, USA

Memorial #: 53102283

Biography

Ella Holroyd was born in Athens, West Virginia where her grandparents settled after emigrating from England. She was the second child and eldest daughter of James French Holroyd, son of William Holroyd and Sarah Caulkin and Bettie Lively, daughter of Col. Wilson Lively and Elizabeth Gwinn.  Her uncle, Frank Lively was Judge of the Supreme Court of WV.  She attended the first free school in Athens and graduated from Concord College in 1904 at the age of nineteen.  Ella then initiated a career in teaching that surpassed 75 years.  Her first teaching assignment was at Turkey Knob, Fayette County, West Virginia. 

After spending one year there (1904-05), her family sent her to the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.  After two years (1905-07), she dropped out to return to teaching so her sister Mary could attend college.  This teaching position was at the Russell Creek Academy in Campbellsville, Kentucky, where she taught for four and one-half years (1907-1912).  Since her family no longer required her support, she returned to the Cincinnati Conservatory, where she graduated in 1914 with honors.  She then returned to Mercer County and worked as a public school teacher for the next 18 years.

Ella continued her education in music with post-graduate study at Juilliard in New York City; the Royal Conservatory in Milan, Italy; Chicago Musical College; Cornell; and finally, Columbia University in New York City, where she received her degree from then Columbia President, Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Then, in 1932, the president of Concord College requested that she return to Athens and start the Music Department. Under her leadership, the Music Department became one of the strongest departments in the college and a leader in music education in the state.  It was said of her in 1951, "Miss Ella is known for her willingness to assist as a teacher, advisor and friend.  Her friendly smiles and cooperative attitude have helped keep alive the spirit of the "Friendly College."  She started teaching piano and vocal lessons when she was 18 years old.  She estimated she taught over 1000 people, some of whom became famous in the musical world.  Two such students are Cecil Johnson, formerly of Princeton, who became an operatic Tenor, and Charlie Spenser, formerly of Bluefield, who had a lead singing part in such famous Broadway stage productions as "Show Boat."  He also performed in Earl Carroll's Vanities and sang in Italian opera after graduating from Columbia University.  Even after her retirement in 1951, Ella continued to support the Music Department at Concord.  For her endeavors, she received an honorary "Doctor of Music" from Concord College by her former student and then president, Joe Marsh, Junior.

Ella was also a well-appreciated member of her community.  Having been trained in the finest music schools in the world, she used this talent for the enjoyment of the people of Athens and the education of her students at Concord College, the college her grandfather founded and her father administered.  In the church that her grandfather built, she taught a Sunday school class she inherited from her mother.  She directed the choir and impressed ministers with her knowledge of the Bible.  She was a volunteer in all things good and earned the town's 1976 "Outstanding Student Award" granted by the Athens Woman's Club.

Ella was loved by all who knew her.  She exemplified the virtues of a gentlewoman to generations of little girls and boys who grew to adulthood admiring her.  She was witty, articulate, and, on occasion, tart, and was patient but persistent with her students.  To the family, she was the thread that helped bind the constantly spreading Holroyd descendants together.  To her students, she was "the best teacher I ever had."  To her colleagues, she was "a sprightly little woman," flitting across the campus of the college or the courtyards of the world, on her way to new projects and adventures.  To West Virginians, she was one of a few women in the state to be included in a historical review of "Famous Women of West Virginia." 

Parents

James French Holroyd, 1852-1920

Bettie Lively Holroyd, 1860-1954

Siblings

Mason Holroyd, 1883-1889

Mary Manning Holroyd Strider, 1887-1917

James French Holroyd, 1889-1941

Frank Holroyd, 1892-1897

Sally Holroyd Hays, 1894-1979

Grace Louise Holroyd Linnell, 1897-1974

William McKinley Holroyd, 1899-1952

Ramona Holroyd Bresnahan, 1903-2000

Maintained by: Bill (47419751)

Sources

Originally Created by: kenneth bowen (46601423)

Added: 1 Jun 2010

URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53102283/ella-holroyd

Citation: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53102283/ella-holroyd: accessed 28 June 2023), memorial page for Dr Ella Lively Holroyd (17 Oct 1885–3 Apr 1981), Find a Grave Memorial ID 53102283, citing Athens Cemetery, Athens, Mercer County, West Virginia, USA; Maintained by Bill (contributor 47419751).