It isn’t often you run across an individual who actually fought in the Civil War on both sides, but this appears to be one of them. Although there some disparities in dates and locations, that exist between his obituary and actual records, this man lead an interesting life.

Brice Holland was born on January 29, 1842, in Monongalia County, Palestine, W. Virginia, the son of Jacob Holland and Emily J. Tarleton, natives respectively of Virginia and Pennsylvania. His mother passed away in 1857.

According to his obituary found in the Marion Daily Republican dated January 23, 1922,”When the civil war broke out, his sympathies were with the north and he left his home, then at Parkersburg, W. Virginia to join the northern army, but was caught and impressed into the Confederate army where he took part in the Battle of Shiloh with the confederate forces, where he was shot thru the hips and shoulder.” It also stated,”He was later captured by Union forces and imprisoned.”

I seriously doubt the timing and location of this accounting, since the family was already living in Marion when the federal census of 1860 was taken.  The family appears to have arrived in Southern Illinois not long after the death of his mother in 1857. Part of his obit said the family first settled in Carbondale, then Harrisburg and then Marion in 1859. Goodspeed’s History of Williamson County’s accounting of Brice states,” Our subject came to Illinois with his parents in 1859, and in 1861 came to Marion, which I am sure is also incorrect.

Nevertheless, the 1860 census clearly places Brice, age 17, living in the city of Marion with his parents. His father Jacob, age 44, has remarried to a female named Safrona P., aged 23, and was listed as a brick maker. Brice’s siblings present were Caleb T. Holland 14, Romulus B. Holland 12 and Europa Holland aged 7.

Existing records indicate that, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, Brice ended up in the Confederate Army as a Private in Ashby’s 2^nd Tennessee Calvary, Company B. Keep in mind that he was a southerner at heart and there was a lot of southern sympathy generating heat in Marion during this time period. Records also indicate that he was definitely captured by the Union Army on May 30, 1863, at Mill Springs, Kentucky and imprisoned. He was released on January 23, 1864.

What else is known for sure is that he enlisted only six days later on January 29, 1864 into the Union Navy at Point Lookout, Maryland. It is highly likely that this is also where he was imprisoned as a Confederate soldier since the installation consisted of a Union Hospital, a Union Army garrison and a Union POW camp for confederate soldiers.

His first assignment appears to have been the “U.S.S. Brandywine”, formerly named  Susquehanna, a wooden-hulled, three-masted frigate of the United States Navy bearing 44 guns. Muster Rolls of the crew of the U.S. Gunboat “Commodore Morris” on the thirty first day of March, 1864 however indicate that he was transferred to this ship. The USS Commodore Morris was an armed, side-wheel ferryboat, and was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, and spent the majority of her naval career cruising the rivers and creeks of eastern Virginia.

According to the muster rolls, as a crewmember of the Commodore Morris, Brice’s rank was a landsman rating, the lowest rank of the United States given to new recruits with little or no experience at sea. His enlistment term was a 2 year enlistment. His state of birth was given as Virginia and his occupation mason. He was described as having hazel eyes, brown hair and a light complexion.

Records indicate that he later served on board the ship “Powhatan.”  The USS Powhatan was a side-wheel steam frigate in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. She was named for Powhatan, a Native American chief of eastern Virginia. She was one of the last, and largest, of the United States Navy’s paddle frigates. The ship deployed to the West Indies from November 1863 to September 1864 as flagship of Rear Admiral James L. Lardner. She participated in the successful reduction of Fort Fisher, December 24-25, 1864 and in its capture on January 13–15, 1865.

Brice was discharged from the Union Navy on June 26, 1865 off the frigate “Minnesota,” as first class petty officer, coxswain of the gig. The USS Minnesota was a wooden steam frigate in the United States Navy. On 24 and 25 December, 1864, the Minnesota took part in amphibious operations at Fort Fisher which guarded Wilmington, North Carolina (the First Battle of Fort Fisher). During the landings she took a position about a mile from the fort and laid down a devastating barrage on the Confederate stronghold. However, General Benjamin F. Butler withdrew his troops nullifying the gains won by the joint Army-Navy effort. Three weeks later the Union Navy returned Federal Troops, now commanded by the more vigorous General Alfred Terry, to Fort Fisher (the Second Battle of Fort Fisher). A landing force of 240 men from Minnesota, covered by a barrage from their own ship, participated in the successful assault. This operation closed Wilmington, denying the Confederacy the use of this invaluable port. According to his son, Brice, while in the Navy, took part in the famed Merrimac-Monitor battle.

It was mentioned in his obit that,” As a boy, he followed the sea and had been around the world, visiting several times in the Holy Land and seeing Jerusalem.” A family member reported that he was known to disappear for a month or more at a time often.

Goodspeed’s history says that after the war, “He returned to Marion and conducted a mercantile business for a year or so, and then followed railroading on the Illinois Central and others as fireman and engineer, leaving the latter position on the Marion division of the Cairo Short Line in 1883.”

On January 3, 1869, Brice married Harriet A. Aikman. This was followed by the birth of their first son, Willis T. Holland in January 1870

When the federal census of 1870 was taken on July 7^th, Brice and Harriet were located in Township 9, Range 2 and were farming for a living. This township was then called Bainbridge and more than likely places them on a farm in an area just west of Marion. Brice was then 26 and Harriet was 18 years old. They had one child, Willis T. aged six months. Also living with them, was Minty Spiller, an 18 year old female domestic servant.

 On September 27, 1871, their second son, Thomas Alfred Holland was born.

“Captain” Holland wasn’t the son of officers in either the confederate or union army, but his friends gave him the brevet honor, although he actually held the commission of Major in the old 8th infantry, Illinois National Guard. The Marion Guards were mustered as Company M, Eighth Regiment, Second Brigade, Illinois National Guard in October, 1875, with fifty men. Brice was commissioned as a Captain of the Brigade. They met at the State Camping Ground (Camp Lincoln) every year in August for the purpose of receiving instruction.

The company was reorganized under the present militia laws of the State in August, 1877, by then Governor Richard Oglesby. They were called in the spring of 1886 to guard property in East St. Louis during the strike of that period, a time period wrought with labor disputes, and were there in service fifteen days with no troubles. Capt. Holland was promoted in July, 1886, to the office of Major of the regiment.

According to an article printed by the Marion Monitor in November of 1874, “Brice Holland is setting up a billiard table in Robertson’s basement. This is the first billiard table Marion has ever had.”

In 1875, while also serving in the National Guard, Brice was serving as assistant Deputy Sheriff for Williamson County when the county jail was located in the 100 block of S. Madison just off the square. Brice is mentioned in Milo Erwin’s historical record as being the deputy who activated the trigger at the hanging of Marshall Crain for murder by stating,” At 12:56 the Deputy said, “Time up,” and Brice Holland severed the rope which held the trap-door, and Marshall Crain swung between Heaven and earth.”  This event was the closing chapter of the “Bloody Vendetta” era of the county.

Thanks to the wife of one of Brice’s descendants, I now have a copy of a trip diary written by Brice in 1877 when he and a handful of other Marion residents tried following a dream of riches by making an excursion to the Black Hills in search of gold. Accompanying him were experienced gold miner Chesley McCoy, W.J. Aikman and Amzi F. White, all old friends. They started out by leaving Marion on April 4, 1877 and returned separately, broke and empty handed. Brice arrived back in Marion on June 8, 1877 and ended his trip diary by writing, “Signed by the biggest “fool” in Southern Illinois.”

The Holland’s lost an infant child between 1872 and 1878, but gave birth to their fourth child, who survived, a daughter named Mary Edna Holland, born January 17, 1879.

When the federal census was taken in 1880, Brice was a 36 year old Justice of the Peace. Children present in the home were, Willie T. 11, Thomas A. 8, and Mary E. aged 3.

One of the functions performed while Brice was serving as Justice of the Peace is as follows. When the city of Carterville was forming up, a petition was formed and approved on April 10, 1872. The election was held on January 22, 1881 at Crain City. Thirty eight votes were cast 29 in favor and 9 against. A certificate was sworn to on June 25, 1881 before Justice of the Peace Brice Holland and John H. Reynolds and the papers filed by W.H. Eubank, Attorney, June 29^th, 1881.

Brice served as Mayor of Marion in 1887 and 1888, then again in 1897 and 1898. While he was in the latter service as Mayor, Goodspeed’s History of Williamson County had just been published and reported him as being a livery owner and states,” He then engaged in his present livery business, keeping a full and select line of first class turnouts (meaning coaches or carriages), and controlling the leading trade with the traveling public in the county”. The location of his livery business in Marion is as yet unknown. When the history was published around 1895, Marion had a population between 1200 and 1500 people.

The Marion Fruit and Produce Company opened business in the spring of 1904, with Brice Holland as head of the business and his two sons, W.T. Holland and T.A. Holland, junior partners. Their first year’s business reached a total of $30,000. They dealt in all kinds of foreign and domestic fruits and produce, shipping a car load of bananas about every ten days. When we remember that a car load contained about 400 bunches of fruit and weighs 20,000 pounds, we get a good idea of the amount of this excellent fruit consumed in the area supplied from this point. They handled only the finest of this fruit and shipped exclusively from Port Le Mon, Central America, via New Orleans.

The Southern Illinois Fruit Co., located also at Marion, was another wholesale fruit and produce company, and also opened up in 1904. In 1905, both companies consolidated and incorporated under the Southern Illinois Fruit Company.

On April 7, 1907 their youngest child, 36 year old Thomas Alfred Holland died.

In the 1910 census, Brice and Harriet were living at 903 S. Court Street in a home that they owned free of mortgage. Brice was then 67 and Harriet was 58. He was listed on the census as being a dry goods salesman, which doesn’t line up with his obituary stating that he had 22 years with a St. Louis Fruit Company. Perhaps he had a side business yet unknown, or there was a moment in time when he didn’t work in the fruit business. Twenty two years from his death would have started him with the company in 1898, so it’s possible the obit statement is supposed to represent his years in the fruit and produce business including his own business time. There is also the possibility that his business was enlarged or bought by the St. Louis firm. Perhaps, we will find out eventually.

When the 1920 census was taken on January 7^th, the couple has moved into a different home located at 803 W. Main Street, which they own free of mortgage. Brice was then 77 and still working and Harriet was 69. He listed his occupation as traveling salesman for a fruit company. There is a 26 year old, domestic housekeeper living with them by the name of Winnie Whitehead. This home was located on the southwest corner of the old four way stop (W. Main and Court).

Four months after the 1920 census was taken, on May 6, 1920, Brice’s wife Harriet passed away and was interred in Rose Hill Cemetery.

Mr. Holland was a devout Christian and a member of the Southern Methodist Church (the old S. Market church, now Aldersgate). He attended church services Sunday morning and came home in the best of spirits.

On Sunday afternoon, January 22, 1922, he returned to his home at 905 W. Main Street and ate a fine chicken dinner his daughter had prepared and after telling her how good it was, laid down on the couch for his final rest. Without pain or suffering he passed out from this life about 3 p.m.

Four or five years before his death this veteran of the civil war went to New York and visited the navy yard where he was presented with the navy uniform he praises so highly. He was a sea lover and it had been his ambition for years to be buried at sea.

Caleb T. Holland was the only brother to survive but Lucian Holland of Marion, Jake Holland of St. Louis and Mrs. Charles (Ivy) Holland Westmoreland of California are half brothers and sisters of the deceased (children of his father and second wife, Safrona).

Mr. Holland was active for many years in civic affairs. He served as mayor of Marion and has been at other times, chief of police, justice of the peace and deputy sheriff. He was a lifelong staunch Democrat.

He was an active member of the Elks Lodge, never missing a homecoming and usually leading the parade. He was a charter member of the Odd Fellows Lodge, but later dropped from active membership and was also at one time a member of the Knights of Pythias.

For 22 years he was a salesman for the Scalzo-Gunn-Fiorita Fruit Company of St. Louis and only a few days before his death did he definitely decide to quit the active work. He had planned to go to St. Louis on Tuesday with his son, W.T. Holland to attend to some business matters.

He owned the first Ford car sold in Marion, which at the time was on display in the Davis Brother Garage window, located at 700-704 N. Market Street. He kept it in excellent condition and the brass parts were always shined bright enough to be used as mirrors. He averaged over 7,000 mile per year with this car, which was known by everyone throughout the entire county.

Funeral services were conducted by the Elks Lodge on Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Southern Methodist Church. Reverend A.M. Stickney was in charge of the church service with interment by the side of Mrs. Holland in the family plot at Rose Hill Cemetery.

In accordance with his request, Captain Holland was buried in the Navy uniform that had been presented to him in New York. According to his grandson’s wife, while Brice was alive, the uniform always proudly stood on display in the foyer of his home mounted on a form and later generations always wondered what had happened to it.

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(Data from 1905 Souvenir History; MDR obit from Monday, January 23, 1922; Goodspeed’s History of Williamson County; Milo Erwin’s History of Williamson County; Federal Census Records; Illinois Death Records; Civil War POW Records; Civil War Soldier Records; Marion City Cemeteries; Marion City Directories; Wikipedia; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 09/09/2013)