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John H. Holland, Genoa Junction, Wis., a soldier of the civil war, was born at Somerset, Crawford Co., Pa.,
Nov. 14, 1826. His father and mother, John H. and Anna (Dearborn) Holland, were born in the State of New York.
His father was a sailor and ship carpenter and died of yellow fever at Michigan City, Ind., where ha had gone
to build a pier. The son was three years old and in the next year his mother died. When wholly orphaned he was
taken in charge by his uncle, John Dearborn, with whom he remained until he was 13 years old, when he
went to work on a farm and also performed such other labor as opportunity offered. He had a brother and
sister, named Anna Charlotte and Peter Joseph, of whom he has lost all trace. In 1844 he went to Ashtabula Co.,
Ohio, returning after five months to Pennsylvania and, in the spring to New York, whence he went to Kenosha,
Wis., in 1851 and, soon after located in Bloomfield, Walworth County, engaging in farm labor until he entered
the army. Aug 10, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, 95th Illinois Infantry and was mustered at Rockford, Ill.,
whence he went to the seat of war. The command was sent to Jackson, Tenn., via Chicago and Cairo, and two
weeks later went to Grand Gulf, the regiment being sent in pursuit of Price and Mr. Holland was in a
fight at Coldwater. Afterwards he accompanied the command down the river and worked on bridges and
performed other military service en route to Abbeville, where he was taken sick and sent to Holly Springs
hospital, where he remained about one month. When Murphy surrendered, December 20 1862, the sick went to
La grange and Memphis, Tenn.; and Mr. Holland remained at the former place until discharge, April 6, 1863,
on surgeon's certificate on permanent disability. He returned home and was wholly unable to rise from his
bed or chair for three months, when he became able to move on crutches. The next year he was able to work
a little and during the following year was compelled to sell the place and he moved to Genoa Junction, where
he opened a meat market and continued its management from 1870 to 1886, when he retired from active and
regular business. He is afflicted with a spinal disease causing paralysis.
He was married Jan. 1, 1846, at Lancaster, Erie Co., New York, to Jeanette, daughter of John and Kate
(Goodcourage) Schermerhorn. She was born in New York of ancestors who belonged to the early settlers of
the city and is a lineal descendant of the family on her father's side which was allied to Aneka Jans,
and she is an heir to the Trinity church estates in the great metropolis. Mr. And Mrs. Holland are the
parents of 10 children, of whom five survive. Harriet A. is married to Warren Palmerston, of Genoa Junction;
Warren is a farmer in Lake County, Illinois; Marcy O., resides at Geneva; he was five years a member of
the regular army, enlisting Sept. 19, 1876, and receiving discharge in 1881, from Company K, 2d U. S. Cavalry.
He enlisted soon after the Custer massacre. Wallace L. is a blacksmith of McHenry Co., Ill.; Elmer E. is a
painter and resides at Genoa Junction.
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