Spearman "Major" Holland
March 18, 1801-1872
January 1842 - THE FINAL JOURNAL Holland's Plantation
The parents of Spearman Holland were Kemp Holland and Judith Sanderson. The
Holland family Bible reflects that Spearman was born March 18, 1801, in Virginia
and died after the Civil War in 1872. He was born in Virginia and lived in
Tennessee, where he was a member of the State Legislature during the period when
Sam Houston was Governor. He later moved to Mississippi and from there, in
January, 1842, to Texas. He brought with him 43 slaves, an overseer, two
laborers, his wife, Nancy, three sons: Spearman, Jr., Devereux, and James Kemp
(a State Representative). Devereux, the middle son, was married and had one
child by 1850.
In this new land after making his final journey, he established Holland's
Plantation deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas. As he made a new life for his
family and a better life for his slaves, he continued with his political
ambition. He was considered a fair man, what some called a civil servant. For
his compassion toward the slaves, he would leave a legacy of unbelievable
wealth. The community grew and became well-known as Holland Quarters (a
community of African Americans).
THE SOUTHWEST PASSAGE Alabama-Georgia trail
The Journey started on the East Coast and ended on the Gulf Coast, through
the Alabama Georgia trail. Although this was not the first time Master Spearman
Holland had traveled this path, it would be his final trip.
Master Holland would stop along the trail to rest for days, weeks or even
months. Shanties (shacks or houses) were built and left standing for the next
ones who passed this way, striving to see the new land.
Slave owners would buy or trade slaves from nearby States and
Territories.
Families were reunited, people died, babies were born, families were split
up, and at times there were Jumpings of the Broom (marriages), having a sort of
understanding that their agreement shall continue until one or both chose to
form some other ties and even of wishing to continue faithful until death. They
knew their master deemed their vows null and void, if he chose to separate them,
and he often did this without scruples, by selling one or both.
Slaves had first names given to them in secret by family members in hopes
that they would meet again.
When families were reunited, they were reunited by things they remembered
from the past and hearing tales from other family members before they were split
up.
All those who began the Journey did not complete the trip due to age,
influenza (flu), fits (seizure), scarlet fever, spider bites and other
diseases.
Those who died left behind children and loved ones to tell the tale of where
they began or where they were picked up along the way on the Journey.
THE PORTAGE Hard and Treacherous Journey
Their feet were sore and tired from the hard ground, even though the land had
been softened some by other travelers. They took turns walking because there
were not enough wagons for everyone to ride.
The Journey was hard and days were long. At night or at the end of a long day
they went to sleep instantly. They were so tired from sun-up to sun-down,
working, and walking for miles before resting. They never gave up on the dream
of reaching the promised land.
As they were getting closer to the new land that Master had promised them and
where he had hoped to settle, he would send scouts ahead to check out the
passage.
If he were informed, in some way, that one of his black families was not
complete, he would purchase the missing family member. This kindness
distinguished him through life as a fair man.
At one time, he was known to have purchased a fair complexioned young girl
and gave her to a slave (woman) on the plantation to make her life complete. The
woman had no husband or children.
1845 - FIRST LEGISLATURE
Spearman Holland was one of the richest and most powerful men in the area. He
represented Harrison County at the Convention of 1845 and in the first
Legislature.
1846 - NAMING THE TOWN
Spearman Holland was credited for naming the near-by town Carthage for his
hometown of Carthage, Leake County, Mississippi. The name was suggested to the
honorable Issac Van Sandt, Harrison County member of the Texas Legislature. Van
Sandt wrote the act which named the town Carthage and it passed.
Judicial System in 1842-Authorized in 1846-Named in 1848.
Panola County was created out of Harrison and Shelby County. Panola is an Indian word for cotton.
1850 - PANOLA COUNTY CENSUS
The Panola County Census reflect that Spearman, his wife, two sons, an
overseer, two laborers and 43 slaves are listed.
Late 1850 - BIRD HOLLAND The Purchase
Bird Holland was a brother to Spearman Holland. Bird came to Texas in 1837,
landing at Galveston with L. B. McGill. He was a long-time civil servant. He
would purchase slaves just to give them their freedom. In late 1850, he bought
Milton M., William H. and one other son of Jack and Emily Holland. He had the
three brothers educated at Oberlin College in Ohio. In 1860, he was chief clerk
and assistant secretary in the State Department. From March 16 to November 1861,
he was Secretary of State and went into the Confederate Army. During the Battle
of Mansfield in April of 1864, he was killed and his remains returned to Austin
for burial.
Accomplishments (2 brothers):
Milton M. Holland was born on August 1, 1844, to Jack and Emily Holland. Jack
was Toby's first recorded son. Milton is the third generation of African
Americans born as slaves to the Holland Family Plantation. Milton M. Holland
enlisted as a private in Company C, 5th U.S. Colored Troops. The 5th Ohio was
raised in Ohio and accredited to that State. He was the first African American
Texan to earn the Medal of Honor.
He was mustered into the Union forces on June 22, 1863, at Delaware, Ohio.
Assigned to the 5th United States Colored Troops commanded by General Benjamin
F. Butler, Holland saw considerable action in the swamps of North Carolina
"capturing forage and emancipating slaves" under the recent Emancipation
Proclamation.
As first sergeant of Company "C", Holland was with the James River fleet in
its advance on Richmond when his company was ordered to make the attack. They
struck the first blow at Petersburg by capturing the Confederate flag, the
signal station, and the officers at the station. On September 29, 1864, his
regiment was in front of Richmond at Deep Bottom where he, as Sergeant Major,
led his unit in the most brilliant and daring fight of its career. With the
officers (white) having been killed, and he himself wounded, they fought a
fierce battle at Chaffin's Farm. It was here that Holland's daring and courage
earned him the Medal of Honor.
Milton was mustered out of the service on September 20, 1865. He died of a
heart attack on May 15, 1910, on a farm near Silver Springs, Maryland. He is
buried in the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
In 1849, William H. Holland was the youngest son born to the parentage of
Jack and Emily Holland. He married E. H. James; they became parents of two
daughters. He taught in various schools in Texas cities including Austin and
worked in the Austin post office.
In 1876, William represented Wharton County in the House of the Fifteenth
Legislature and introduced the bill for the establishment of Prairie View
University.
He was instrumental in the establishment of the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind
Institute for Colored Youth (later the Texas Blind, Deaf, and Orphan School). He
was president of the institute from 1887 to 1897 and later served another 3-year
term as president.
He was founder of an organization called Friend in Need, which gave aid to
needy African Americans.
William H. Holland died on May 27, 1907, in Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto County,
Texas.
1851 - JAMES KEMP HOLLAND 1822/5-26-1898
U.S. Marshal
James Kemp Holland followed his father into politics by representing Panola
and Rusk counties in the Third Legislature. He was a United States Marshal for
Eastern Texas in 1851, but returned to politics as a Senator in the Fifth
Legislature. He declined nomination to the Secession Convention, but represented
Brazos, Grimes and Montgomery Counties in the Ninth Legislature. He served as a
colonel on Governor Pendleton Murrah's staff during the Civil War.
He was killed in a fall from a buggy while riding in Tehuacana, Texas, on May
26, 1898.
1860 - PANOLA COUNTY CENSUS
Only Spearman Holland and his wife are listed.
1865 - CIVIL WAR
Spearman "Major" Holland served with the Texas State Troops during the Civil
War.
When slavery was abolished in 1865, Major thought enough of his ex-slaves
(blacks) to leave the land to them because they were the ones who had farmed and
harvested the land.
The name Spearman, and his brother's name, Bird, were remembered and passed
down for three generations in memory of the slave master.
1866 - LEFT PANOLA COUNTY A man among men
Spearman "Major" Holland and his wife, Nancy, left Panola County.
1867 - BRAND NEW NAME
Holland's Plantation is now called Holland Quarters, a community of African
Americans.
1870 - AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE LISTED
Major is not listed. African Americans are now listed by name instead of by
number.
1872 - DEATH
Spearman (Major) Holland is dead.
8-1996 - HIS DESCENDANTS Together in brotherhood
Descendants of the slave master and I have been in contact since the
completion of The Legacy. I sent invitations for them to attend the dedication.
They declined because they celebrated a family reunion during the same time. But
at my request they did come down later in the month.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., had a dream for the sons of former slaves and
the sons of former slave owners to sit down together at the table of
brotherhood. Instead the vision was fulfilled by daughters. We had lunch at
Benitez Mexican Restaurant in Carthage, visited the local KGAS Radio Station and
the Panola Watchman Newspaper office. From there we headed to the old plantation
site (the "Quarters"). We stood inside Pine Grove Baptist Church, because this
is the site where Spearman's home once stood. Our research became one as we
spoke briefly of the old school. Lost history surfaced, as we walked among the
spirits of the historical Holland Quarters Cemetery, making note of how names
still matched. The historical marker and the monument in which it stands reveal
the life and legacy of African Americans and whites of the 18th century. On this
day, the children of the 1840's reunited in the 20th century, to compare and
admire the changes with an open mind of how this day made history for the
Holland Quarters Community.
We took lots of pictures and paid special attention to the Old Masonic Hall
(and outhouse) of the early 1900's. As it stood like a beacon in the sky, we
spoke of how magnificent it would be to restore the site in memory of our
ancestors.
We didn't look upon each other as black and white, but as descendants whose
past has surfaced because each were interested in researching family roots, and
to see how far both sides had come. After an hour or so, my friends and I hugged
and said good-by. They went back home, with the promise that I would visit them,
and we would stay in touch. Pictures reveal the great time we had in the
"Quarters".
In April of 1998, I submitted an application with
narrative to the Texas Historical Marker Commission in Austin, Texas, for a
marker for Holland Quarters Slave Master, Spearman "Major" Holland. The
application was approved on August 28, 1998.
