Happy Father's Day: Adrian Holland from his daughter Cindy Holland Presson and his granddaugher Salen Holland White

IN MEMORY OF MY GRAND DADDY, THIS FATHERS DAY: I know there are alot of PaPa's out there but THIS was MY PaPa. He was my Mom's Dad and this is him and my Aunt Cindy. He was the most tender hearted man I knew and a terrific grandfather. Him and my grandmother "Ma Ruth" were such a wonderful compliment to each other. I have been so blessed with good Christian men in my family there was a time I just expected men to be that way. I treasure the times I had with him and wished there were more.
- Salen Holland White
IN MEMORY OF MY DADDY, THIS FATHERS' DAY: My daddy has been gone from my life since Oct. 1990.... This was made one fall when JD and I were going over in the woods to make some pretty fall pictures; Daddy and Mike jumped on the tailgate of the truck and went with us!! Got so many beautiful fall pictures that day, and love this one of me and daddy. He was a farmer, but was a very distinguished and handsome man when he was dressed up! All my friends in school loved him so much; he was a very loving, tender hearted man and I will never get over missing him... So wonderful to have had parents who had such love for each other....
- Cindy Holland Presson

Ruth and Adrian Holland with Helen and Sam Holland with their Daughters: Salen, Bev, and Debbie on the porch of  Adrian and Ruth home [need a note here for location]

Happy Father's Day Samuel L. Holland: "My Daddy was a mender of toys... I just knew there was nothing Daddy did not know, nothing he could not do."

My Daddy was a mender of toys, changer of fuses, kisser of bruises, mover of couches, soother of ouches, pounder of nails, teller of tales, hanger of screens, counselor to teens, fixer of bikes, chastiser of tikes, raker of leaves, cleaner of eaves, dryer of dishes, my fullfiller of wishes my Daddy was. No one could have had a better "Daddy" than I did. He was always there for me supporting me with advice and direction; his love and care were always there. I just knew there was nothing Daddy did not know, nothing he could not do. He was the rock our family was built upon. He was also the most Christian man I knew. I was so blessed to have him as a Daddy.
Love you Daddy.

-- Salen Holland White

Sam Holland with his brothers and sister in the back yard of his father's home in Fairplay, Texas

Leland, Sam, Bill and Margarite at Fairplay, TX

Leland Holland , Sam Holland, Bill Holland and Margarite Holland at the home of David M. Holland in Fairplay, TX

Andrew Jackson Holland

Written by Samuel L. Holland, his Grandson

Andrew was born Dec. 22, 1860 in Benton County, Term, and died Nov. 22, 1 941 in Carroll County. He married Margaret Adeline Young Sept. 8, 1888. She was born Feb. 2, 1869 in Henry County and died April 7, 1941, Both of them are buried at McLemoresville, Tenn., Her father, David Young, was a confederate soldier from 1861 to 1865 during which time he was captured but paroled,

Andrew and Margaret were married in Benton County. They rode double on horseback from Henry County to Benton County to be married, and lived in Benton County until about 1894. They moved from there to Carroll County and lived near Carter’s Chapel Methodist Church. Soon afterward they bought the farm where Adrain Holland now lives, located 3 miles south of McLemoresvjlle on the Terry Road, for $300 and moved into a log house on the place. About 1 909 they built a house between the present site of Adrain’s house and barn, and moved there. Records show they were in attendance at the MeLemoresville Methodist Church in 1911. Evidently about that time they built the 2 story house in McLemoresville where they lived until about 1915 when it burned, They then moved back to the farm,

Andrew was always a farmer, but he worked in slack seasons selling automatic churns that were operated by foot power on a pedal. He was a hard worker that never backed off from a hard job or near impossible one. His knowledge of the Bible and commitment to God made him a hard opponent in a discussion on Biblical subjects. He was just as thorough and devout in his farming practices.

Andrew and Margaret’s children are:
Eddie Calvin 1889-1904.
Jewell Frances 1891-1985 married Oscar Neeley.
Mamie Pearl 1893-1950 married Talmage Kennon.
David Mordie 1895-1972 married lois Elisabeth Allison.
Willie Halbert 1900-1967 married Imogene DeShazo.
Adrain Jackson 1906 married Ruth Cleo Leach.
Halley Leroy 1910-1976 married Isabel Chance first then Elta Bullard.

Andrew’ s parents were Gilbert Holland 1835-1896 and Martha Frances Brigham 1840-1908. They lived in Benton County and were buried there at Flatwood Methodist Church. They lived near the Church at Way, Tenn.

Andrew’ s grandparents were James Lewis Holland 1806-1870 and Mary Melton 1812-1838, Lewis ‘s second marriage was to Mary (Polly) Patford 1819-1872 on June 11, 1839. They were born in Tenn., lived and died in Benton County.

David Mordie Holland

Written by his son, Samuel L. Holland


Mordie was born in Carroll County, Tenn. Aug. 31, 1895 and died Aug. 8, 1972 in Panola County, Texas. He married Lois Elizabeth Allison April 28, 1917 in Panola County. His parents were Andrew Jackson Holland and Margaret Young Holland. When Mordie was quite young they moved to the farm where Adrain Holland now lives. They were living there in a log house in 1904 when his older brother Eddie died from congestive chills. They were at the same place in 1908 when his grandmother Martha Brigham Holland died in their home.

Then about 1915, after building a home in McLemoresville, Tenn. and moving there, the house burned and all family belongings were lost. These and other events caused serious setbacks in the family economy.

Mordie attended school in McLemoresville but on a part time basis some of the time due to the critical need for help on the farm. In spite of this he made the most of his schooling. At the time of his death, he could still name all of the bones of the human body by memory.

In 1916, about the time Mordie became 21, he packed all of his earthly belongings in a trunk and boarded the train for Beckville, Texas to join and work for his uncle in Panola County, Texas.

One glimpse of his wife to be and he hired on with her uncle in the same area. A little more than a year after Mordie left home, he was married to Lois Allison. She was a descendent of President James K. Polk and her grandfather was one of the original signers of the Texas Constitution.

Mordie became a highly respected farmer, rancher, builder, Sunday School Teacher, and served on numerous community and local government projects and committees.

As a rancher he was well known for his ability to make a horse, mule, cow or dog do what he wanted them to. Soon after he was married, he traded for a blue mare mule. She lived 35 years and was the only animal Mordie never conquered. The first time he rode her she jumped a fence and fell on him. She ran away at least once every spring, Mordie loved her for her spirit and she never failed him in a pulling contest, but she never consented to be ridden.

Mordie and Lois’s children are:
Virgil M. Holland married Evangeline Dennard.
Samuel L. Holland married Helen Holland.
Marguerite Holland married Edwin Botkin,
Leland R. Holland married June E. Pierce.
James H. Holland married Martha Flanigan.