Shannon Holland was born near Morgantown, West Virginia, February 2, 1846, and came with his parents to Illinois at the age of 15 years in 1861 settling near Attila in the western side of Williamson County.
In the 1870 census, Shannon is a 24 year old farm laborer living with his parents Bazzel and Sarah Ann (Grey) Holland and his six brothers and sisters. His siblings were Festus, Polly, William, Mary, Belle and Can.
He married in 1872 to Annie Cox, daughter of George Cox, from N. Carolina. She was born on April 10, 1846 at Herrin’s Prairie in Williamson County. Her mother was Sarah Jane Ferges from Virginia. The couple never had any children.
His father, Bazzel, engaged in brick making and was assisted by the son, who later entered the livery and stock business on his own account and was successful.
His brick making skill came in handy in 1872 when Willis Aikman built his brick home. The bricks were made on Aikman’s own land and were molded by Shannon Holland. They made and burned 200,000, used 100,000 and sold the rest for $8.00 a thousand.
By 1880, the Shannon and Annie were both aged 34 and living in the city of Marion. Shannon lists himself as a liveryman and operating a livery stable. His wife, Annie, is a milliner.
1886 brought a record breaking turnout to the Williamson County Fair under the guidance of the Williamson County Agricultural Society; Shannon served as director during this term. He later served as the Ag Societies Vice President under Joab Goodall in 1903 through 1905.
Though shunning publicity, Mr. Holland has been City Treasurer in 1887, served as City Alderman in 1878, 1883 and 1884 and Mayor of Marion in 1891-92.
Holland erected a building in 1894-5. It was 50×75 feet in dimensions, 2 stories and a basement, iron front, modernly built and one of the finest structures in Marion. The upper portion, devoted to residence purposes, was Mr. Holland’s handsomely appointed home. (I believe this building to be 800 Public Square, where Bainbridge Jewelry was located.)
There he established a dry goods and millinery establishment, on an extensive scale, in the Holland block on the south side of our public square. His wife, Annie assisted with the operation of the millinery business.
In 1894, Holland became president of the First National Bank, organized in 1891, and served in that capacity until its closing at the start of the depression in 1930. Since the bank was a national bank and could print their own money with government backing, Holland’s signature appears on each and every note as president. Some of them are handwritten and some are stamped.
In the 1900 census, Shannon and Annie are both 54. They have a single, 28 year old, live-in servant by the name of Fannie Ferrell and one boarder in the home. I suspect that by this time the couple are no longer living in their building on the square and have moved to 107 S. Van Buren St. where they will live till Shannon’s death.
On February 11, 1904, Francis M. Sparks sold his grocery store to Shannon Holland. Sparks had been operating the store in the Holland building on the southwest corner of the square since September 1897.
Nothing changed in the 1910 census except they no longer have a servant. They do still have one boarder in the home by the name of Alice C. Stotlar, 34, who is a legal stenographer for a lawyer’s office.
During WWI, the Red Cross organized on the second floor of the Holland building. Shannon Holland donated the space rent free throughout the war.
In the 1920 and 1930 census, there are no longer any boarders in the Holland home. Shannon owns the home and values it at $6,000. Both Shannon and Alice have reached 84 years old.
Alice Holland died on December 28, 1930 at age 84 and was buried on December 30th. Shannon Holland passed away on August 15, 1936 at age 90 and was buried two days later. Both are interred at Rose Hill Cemetery.
(Data from 1905 Souvenir History, WCHS; Federal Census Records, Marion City Cemetery Records, Marion City Directories, Williamson County in the World War, 1918; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 04/18/2013)