William H. Holland (politician)

William H. Holland (1841 – May 27, 1907) was an educator who served one term in the Texas Legislature. He was the brother of Medal of Honor recipient Milton M. Holland.

William H. Holland
Texas State Representative from District 37 (Fort Bend, Waller, and Wharton Counties)
In office
April 18, 1876 – January 14, 1879
Personal details
Born1841
Marshall, Texas, USA
DiedMay 27, 1907
Mineral Wells, Texas
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Eliza H. James
Alma materOberlin College
OccupationEducator

He was born into slavery in Marshall, Texas in 1841, the child of Captain Bird Holland and a slave named Matilda. At some time during the 1850s, his father purchased his freedom along with his two brothers and sent them to attend an abolitionist-run school in Ohio. During the American Civil War, he served in the Union Army, while his father died while serving as a Confederate Army officer. After the war ended, he returned to Texas where he taught school and became active in the Republican Party. He was elected to the legislature in 1876.

In the Legislature, he sponsored the bill calling for creation of Prairie View Normal College (now Prairie View A&M University). In 1876 and 1880 he was chosen as a delegate to the Republican national convention. He later submitted a memorial to the Texas legislature leading to the establishment of a school, the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Institute for Colored Youth; he was appointed by the governor as its first Superintendent.[1]

In 2018, the city council of Austin, Texas, voted to rename Jeff Davis Avenue to William Holland Avenue.[2]

References
  1. Thompson, Nolan. "Holland, William H." Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  2. Audrey McGlinchy, April 25, 2018, Austin City Council Votes to Rename Two Streets Named for Confederate Figures. Accessed 2018-09-10.


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