The R. H. Holland Family

Information by Family Members

Richard Humbolt Holland and his wife, Annie Frances Holland, moved from Arkansas to Jacksonville in 1889. The family included five children.

They settled in what was known as the Grimes place on Ardis Street until 1896. That year, R. H. Holland purchased property on South Jackson Street from Canada Bolton. The family home was built and maintained as a residence until recent years, when it was demolished for the building of the Trade Winds Motel which occupies the site. Four children were born in Jacksonville.

R. H. Holland was in the grocery and general merchandising business. He was also a wholesale meat distributor with R. H. Holland Meat & Produce Company, located where the City Jail now stands, adjacent to the Cotton Belt Railroad. He was active in local affairs and served on the Jacksonville School Board. In the early days of residence here, he was affiliated with the Cumberland Presbyterian church, later attending the Baptist and Methodist churches.

The Holland children included Miller Leon, who died at age one, Monroe, who died at nine, buried in Arkansas, and Idella, a talented artist at the time of her death at age 16. The other children grew to adulthood and marriage.

James Richard Holland was a railroad conductor and professional baseball player. He married Bertha Gillespie and they had five children: Kathleen (Mrs. Earl Gammage) of Houston and Mexico City, James R., Jr., druggist, John Gillespie, a construction engineer, and Willard Park, in the construction business, all Houston residents, and Harry C., who is in the oil business in Norman, Oklahoma.

Arthur, a professional baseball player, married Janie Harmon of Alto. They had a daughter, Helen Esther, who is married to Colonel J. D. Kel-say, U. S. Army (Retired), and they live in Jacksonville. She is co-librarian of the Central Baptist Church and active in DAR.

Lorena was married to Clifford Wiggins and they were parents of Jack Holland Wiggins, a local lumberman, and Mary Ethel (Mrs. T. T. Moore) of Tomball. Lorena taught school and was active in the First Methodist Church.

Minnie married Obie W. Childs, pioneer grocer and businessman. Their children are Oakley Childs and Myriam Childs Sage of Jacksonville.

Lillian married Reverend Aimer Kelly, now pastor of Tyler Street Baptist Church, where she is pianist.

Bess married Henry H. Holcomb, an automobile dealer and salesman. She is a retired bookkeeper, an artist and active in Central Baptist Church.

Kate married Lonnie Collins Tucker, for many years in business here. They had one son, L. C, Jr., who was the first U. S. Air Force casualty from Jacksonville during World War II. A florist in L. C. Tucker Flower Shop for many years, Kate is active in Tyler Street Baptist Church.

The four surviving Holland "girls," Minnie Childs, Lillian Kelly, Bess Holcomb and Kate Tucker, meet each Thursday for "Sister Day," alternating as hostess. They have continued contributing to the growth and history of Jacksonville as did their parents, Richard H. and Annie Frances Holland.

Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Holland in a photograph taken about the time they arrived in Jacksonville from Arkansas in 1889.

The R. H. Holland family poses in front of their home which was on South Jackson Street, where Trade Winds Motel now stands.

Two horses and buggy constituted delivery vehicle R. H. Holland used when in the wholesale meat business here.

Mrs. R. H. Holland with five daughters and grandchildren.