THOMAS G. HOLLAND. Among the residents of Jefferson County who are spending their declining years in the enjoyment of peace and plenty obtained by industrious efforts and good management is Thomas G. Holland. He moved into the city of Belle Rive in April, 1880, although previous to that time he resided upon a magnificent farm of four hundred and eighty acres, which he has since divided between his two sons.

Our subject was born in South Carolina October 6, 1814, and is a son of Hugh Holland, who was a native of Virginia and a farmer by occupation. The latter served as a soldier in the War of 1812 and fought under General Jackson at the battle of New Orleans. He died when the subject of this sketch was an infant. His good wife, who previous to her marriage was Miss Priscilla Brown, was a native of Scotland and was brought by her parents to America when quite young. They located in Richmond, Va., where she grew to womanhood and met and married Hugh Holland, the result of which union was a family of two children, our subject and Polly; the latter married John H. Hart, who is now deceased.

After the death of her husband Mrs. Hugh Holland was married to James Bawyear, by whom she became the mother of three children, viz.: Parmelia, Nancy and William, The two half-sisters of our subject are deceased, as is also his sister, Mrs. Hart. His mother was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and died while residing in this county, in February, 1846.

Mr. Holland's family moved to Middle Tennessee when he was thirteen years of age, and in 1838 he made the journey to this county on horseback. Four years later, however, he returned to Tennessee and brought his mother back with him, she making her home with his family until her decease.

The lady to whom our subject was married July 23, 1840, was Miss Armilda Goodrich. The young couple began housekeeping five miles south of Mt. Vernon, which 'place they made their home for the succeeding five years when they came to Moore's Prairie and purchased a farm one mile south of Belle Rive. This consisted of one hundred and sixty acres and was devoted to general farming, in which branch of business our subject was so successful that his estate soon included nearly five hundred acres. He resided upon that place until April 14, 1880, when he decided to retire from active life, and after dividing the property between his two sons, moved into the city and arranged to enjoy the fruits of his early years of toil.

To Mr. and Mrs. Holland ten children were born, of whom Laura died when eleven years of age; Callie is now Mrs. George Dixon; Dot married Isaac M. Casey; Priscilla, Thomas and William are deceased; John G. married Hattie Baker; Minnie became Mrs. Dr. Wheeler; Douglas married Nettie Kirkpatrick; and Viola is the widow of Charles Riddle.

Mrs. Holland was the daughter of Samuel and Calander Goodrich, of whom the former was born in North Carolina, whence he moved with his family to Kentucky and from there in later years came to this county, where he was a carpenter by trade. The wife of our subject was born June 20, 1820, and was fourteen years of age when her father died, and the succeeding year she was deprived of the care of her mother. Samuel Goodrich was Coroner of Jefferson County for one term and was a prominent man in public affairs. Of his family of children, Robert died of yellow fever at New Orleans while in the Mexican War; Marinda married Robert Wilkinson; Elgelima became the wife of Isaac Wilson, who died soon after his return from the Mexican War, and whose widow was afterward married to Samuel Skank; Eliza was first married to H. Newby and on his death became the wife of William Hogue. The last-named daughter and Mrs. Holland are the only survivors of the family.

Mr. Holland although receiving but few advantages for an education in his youth, has by careful reading and study made up for the defects in that direction and is to-day a well informed and intelligent citizen. He has represented his township for two terms on the County Board of Supervisors and stands very high in church affairs. With his wife he is a member of the Methodist Church, with which he has been connected since 1849, and with which society nearly nil the members of his family are connected.

Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois"
Chapman Publishing Co, Chicago, 1894
Page 541-542
Submitted by Sandy Bauer