by two main factors, his mother and southern society. Like most children John had a special bond with his mother, but coupled with his need of constant attention due to his speech therapy and the routine absence of his father due to business and political affairs, that bond became much stronger than typical. Alice home schooled John until his therapy ended, doing such a good job that when he started school he was way ahead of his classmates. Conversely after years of practical solitude, except for the occasional recess with Robert, John was behind socially and was therefore quite shy and reserved with the other students at the academy. The shy and quiet boy was about to get a crash course on social behavior, when the passing of John's grandfather brought four of his young aunts and uncle into his household. Although spoiled by them, the quiet times of being at home with just him and his mother were over.
             The Holliday's were true Southerners in both philosophical attitudes and genetic lineage. From birth John was surrounded by the virtues and attitude that exemplified a true southern gentleman, in the form of his father Henry Holliday. In true form to this code of southern males of the time, Henry Holliday accepted a presidential appointment into the Confederate Army from Jefferson Davis to serve in the Georgia Volunteer Infantry. Henry prior to the Civil War had taught his son to handle revolvers, rifles, and shotguns. Although only ten years old John became the "man of the house" and with weapons ready at all times was well prepared to defend it. This was not necessary for long however, as Henry Holliday resigned his commission after a little more than a year due to chronic diarrhea. In that year Henry Holliday spent with the Confederate army, he realized that in fact the Yankees were coming, and therefore sold what he had in Griffin, Georgia and moved south to just outside Valdosta, a small town na...