HOLLAND, John D. - Putnam

A well known merchant and business man of Waveland, Montgomery County, is John D. HOLLAND. His earnestness of purpose and intense desire to live in accord with his highest ideals of right, has had no little influence in moulding the lives and character of those with whom he was associated in his career as a busy and successful man of affairs is absolutely blameless in the community where he has so long lived and acted his part. As a citizen he commands great esteem, and it is a tribute well deserved to class him with the representative men of this section of the county. Being at the very meridian of life, with vigorous physical powers and mental attributes of no mean order, he bids fair to reach the advanced age of his father and continue to be in the future as he has been in the past - a power for good in the community. Mr. Holland was born in Brown Township, Montgomery County, April 19, 1879. He is a son of Joseph O. and Nancy Elizabeth SMITH Holland. The father was born in New York City and the mother a native of Indiana. The father came to Indiana in 1864 and settled near Parkersburg. Our subject's grandfather, John Holland came to the United States from England as a stowaway, at the age of 12. He was a sailor by profession. He established his home in New York City and followed the sea until a bale of cotton fell on him in 1860 His death occurred in 1861. Joseph O. Holland's family consisted of four children: John D of this sketch; William Allen lives in Oregon; Ira J. lives in Roachdale, Indiana; Ida May married William SHURE of Roachdale, in and they have two children. John D. Holland grew to manhood on the home farm in Brown Township and received a common school education. In 1900 he married Bertha May PURCELL daughter of James R. Purcell and wife. Mr. Holland's death occurred in 1905 at the age of 28 years, leaving 3 children: George M, born Dec 18, 1901; Joseph E born April 1904; and john Bert April 1905. Mr. Holland first took up farming, later following blacksmithing then began huckstering, then clerked in a store. When he first came to Waveland he entered the poultry business in 1895 and in 1897 opened ag rocery and notion store, later taking up the general mercantile business, in which he is still active, carrying a large stock of goods usually found in such stores and enjoying an extensive trade with the surrounding country. Politically, he is a Democrat. He belongs to the Free & Accepted Masons No 300 at Waveland and Modern Woodmen of American No. 9589, at Waveland. He is a member of the Baptist Church.

Source: Waveland Independent Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana Friday, Aug 1, 1924

John D. Holland died in the Masonic Home at Franklin on Tuesday evening. He has been there a little over a year. Death resulted from creeping paralysis from which he has suffered for a number of years. M.A. West and Frank Ginn drove over on Wed. and brought the body to the home of Ira Sharp. Funeral services in charge of the local Masonic Lodge at the M.E. Church were conducted by Emerson Ballard of Crawfordsville at half past two yesterday afternoon. Burial at the Maple Ridge Cemetery.

That visitor which we call death has visited us and taken from our midst a father, neighbor, citizen and brother. To some this visitor comes as a foe to ruthlessly rob of life and its enjoyment. To others he comes as a friend to direct a sufferer a tired laborer into the land of rest where "there is no sorrow nor crying neither any more pain." As a friend he came to John D. Holland on Tuesday evening, July 29. John Holland, the son of Joseph O. and Mary Elizabeth Holland was born in Brown Township, Montgomery County, April 10, 1870. He was one of four children, the rest of whom survive him. As a young man he was industrious and energetic, in demand by those who wanted a trustworthy employee. He spent several years of his young manhood in employ of Havens Bros. Produce Co. and was held in highest esteem by his employers.

In 1895 Mr. Holland came to Waveland establishing a Produce business here with Havens Bros. Since that time he had been in business in Waveland until the loss of his health necessitated his retiring. He was the Postmaster of Waveland from 1917 until 1922. Mr. Holland was married in 1900 to Miss Bertha Purcell who died in 1905 leaving 3 sons, George W. Joseph Eldred and John Bert. Mr. Holland was member of the Free and Accepted Masons No. 300 at Waveland and the Modern Woodmen of America and in these orders was a highly respected member. Possibly the thing that appealed to one as he came in touch with this man was his devotion to his Church. He was a member of the Baptist Church uniting with the local Church when he came to Waveland and Carrying his letter with him when last year he was taken to the Masonic Home at Franklin. In the Church here he was ever active as Sunday School Superintendent and teacher. He was elected deacon in 1918.

A few years ago Mr. Holland's health began to fail and for many long months he was an invalid. Here it was that his Christian character manifested itself in its strength. Through the long days that grew into months he was patient and uncomplaining and his life centered about religious things. After long suffering he gradually weakened until he passed away. He leaves his aged father who now lives in Waveland, two brothers, William Allen and Ira J, one sister, Ida May Shure the latter two of Roachdale, and 3 sons mentioned before. One cannot picture his life nor measure his worth to this community in words. A recent "History of Montgomery County" in its account of Mr. Holland speaks as follows: "His earnestness of purpose and intense desire to live in accord with his highest ideals of right has had no little influence in molding the lives and character of those with whom he was associated. His career as a busy and successful man of affairs in absolutely blameless in the community. As a citizen he commanded great esteem and it is a tribute well deserved to class him with the representative men of this section of the County - he is a power for good in his community." The sympathy of a great host of his friends goes out to the relatives and especially to the sons of this good man in the hour of their great sorrow. Cards of thanks - we wish to express our sincere thanks to friends and neighbors and to the Masonic Lodge for their kindness and assistance during the illness and death of our father. Also to thank those sending flowers.