According to James Winslow Holland’s Illinois death record, he was born in Carbondale, Illinois on November 23, 1866 to Jerome Bryce Holland and Mary Jane Calvert. By the time the 1870 census was taken, the parental family unit of Jerome 32 and Janie 25 were living in West Marion Township and using Marion as their post office. Children in the home were Jessie 5, James W. 3, Sarah 1 and Florence aged 3 months. Jerome was a farmer.

By the 1880 census the family was living near Bainbridge just west of Marion. At this time the family members present were Jerome 42, Mary J. 35, J.C. 15, J.W. 14, Sarah E. 11, Joseph N. 9, C.E. 6, W.W. 5 and B.P. aged 4 months. Jerome was still a farmer and his two sons J.C. & J.W. were farm workers.

Since there is no 1890 census, the next record found on James W. was his marriage at the age of 26 and listed as a carpenter to Rosa Blake, 20 year old daughter of Willis Blake and Mary C. Martin on November 15, 1891 in Williamson County.

When the 1900 federal census was taken, James 35 and Rosa 27 had two children, Erma 7 and Robert 5. James was already working as a local undertaker clerk and they were renting a home. Rosa indicated that they had birthed 2 children and 2 were living, the ones in the home.

In 1908, James’ mother Mary passed away and when the 1910 census was taken James 42 and Rosa 37 were living in a home they owned at 707 S. Buchanan St. which they owned mortgage free. James listed himself as a self-employed undertaker. Living in the home with them were their children, Erma 17, Robert 15 and Clarence E. 11. Also living with them was Rosa’s mother, Mary Blake, a 56 year old widow working as a manager of a dry goods store.

In 1911, James’ father Jerome passed away and in 1912, Rose’s mother Mary passed away. It was noted in the local paper that Mary Blake had for years been one of Marion’s leading dressmakers and died at the home of her daughter on S. Buchanan Street. Her burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery.

In 1914, Rosa filed for divorce from James based on infidelity and sought alimony and custody of their children. The oldest daughter Erma had reached the age of 21 but was still living with her mother. The divorce was granted in September of 1914. Of the children, Erma and Clarence would end up following their mother and Robert would follow his father.

In 1917, James was elected Marion city commissioner for the period 1917-1919 under Mayor Earl B. Jackson. This was the first set of commissioners after Marion switched over from aldermanic to a commissioner style government serving 2 year terms.

By 1920, James had remarried to a widowed Lula G. Gloyd Littlefield. Lula was born in 1877 and had married Frank Littlefield in 1901 having at least two children by him. When the 1920 census was taken, James had not only remarried but had moved his undertaking business to West Frankfort. This is where James 53 and Lula B. 46 were living along with James’ son Robert 25 and Lula’s children Gertrude 15 and Marcella aged 13.

In May 1925, an article appeared in the Marion Evening Post indicating that the Holland Undertaking Company which had recently purchased the Co-Operative Undertaking Company on N. Market Street was looking for a new location on a nice quiet street in which they could house a mortuary, chapel and living quarters for the manager of an up to date undertaking parlor. It indicated that J.W. Holland would be in charge of the Marion facility, while his son Robert would remain in charge of the West Frankfort business. It noted that the company also owned and operated a funeral parlor in Herrin.

A check on businesses in Marion in 1927 revealed that James was no longer doing business in Marion, however, an article in the Carbondale Free Press from 1927 indicated that James was a nominee for city commissioner in West Frankfort in their first ever commissioner race after converting from an aldermanic system.

In the 1930 federal census, James 63, and Lula 52 were living at 102 S. Adams St. in West Frankfort and owned the home, valued at $6,500. They indicated that they ran an undertaking parlor which a street directory from that year confirmed as Holland Funeral Home at 201 W. Poplar St. Living in the home with them were Lula’s 72 year old widowed mother Mary V. Gloyd and their 5 year old grandson Earle B. Williams. The couple noted that they owned a radio set.

When the 1940 census was taken, James was 73 and Lula was 62, James was still working as an undertaker and they were living on Rt. 37 near Johnston City. James indicated that his education level was sixth grade.

James passed away in West Frankfort on April 4, 1946 at the age of 79. He left his wife Lula, sisters Mrs. George M. Eubanks and Mrs. W.H. McAlpin of Marion and Mrs. Lida Chamness of Carterville, daughter Erma Touve and sons Robert and Clarence Holland. Burial was in Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton.

James’ wife Lula, born December 14, 1877, continued living in West Frankfort where she died on November 26, 1953. Burial was with James in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton.

James’ first wife Rose Blake Holland was born September 20, 1872 and died in Pontiac, Illinois on December 3, 1954, burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion.

Notes on Children:

Erma Holland Touve, born April 23, 1893 in Marion, married Erwin P. Touve in 1915, died a widow on July 20, 1985 in Pontiac, Illinois

Robert Howard Holland, born November 28, 1894 in Marion

Clarence Eugene Holland, born November 5, 1902, married Gail R. Marsh, died June 20, 1985 in Pontiac, Illinois

(Sources: Federal census records, Illinois Death records, Egyptian Press, Marion Evening Post, Carbondale Free Press, Marion Weekly Leader newspapers, Williamson County Marriage records, Findagrave.com, Williamson County Court records. Compiled by Sam Lattuca on 5/29/2024)