Nin Hader Whelker Holland (1877-1951)

From the Arkansas senate composite photograph, 1937.

   As September winds to a close, the annals of the Arkansas state government yield a truly fascinating name with Nin Hader Whelker Holland. Discovered recently via a copy of the 2018 Historical Report of the Arkansas Secretary of State, this extensive work compiles rosters of every legislative session in Arkansas history, dating back to the territorial assembly of 1819.  Included amongst these rosters are listings for the 1921, 1923, 1929, and 1937 legislatures, featuring the name of N.H. Holland, representative and state senator from Scott County. Curious about the initials "N.H.", a search through the archives of Findagrave and Familysearch revealed the name of Nin Hader Whelker Holland, a fascinating name that immediately presented itself with challenges. Information on Holland is sorely lacking online, and other than mentions of his being a farmer and Mason, little else is known of him. Despite his obscurity, the discovery of Holland's 1917 draft registration (shown below) comes as a welcome surprise as it reveals his full name. 

   Born in Arkansas on March 17, 1877, Nin Hader Whelker "Ned" Holland was the son of James Allen Thompson and Martha Matilda (Wood) Holland. No information could be located on Holland's childhood or education, and by 1897 he was residing in the town of Flippen in Marion County. He married in October of that year to Rachel Jane Burch (1877-1900), to who he was wed until her death. Shortly after her death, Holland remarried to Minnie Flippin (1876-1954). The couple were wed for over four decades and had four children, James (1903-1986), Oscar (1905-1911), Rachel (died in infancy in 1908), and Blake (1909-1977).

  Following his marriage to Minnie Flippin "Ned" Holland removed to Waldron, Scott County, Arkansas, where they resided for over forty years. He is recorded as a farmer and stock raiser in that town as per his 1951 death notice and held memberships in the Masonic fraternity and the Malta Commandery, No. 17, Knights Templar.

  In 1920 Ned Holland was elected as Scott County's representative to the Arkansas General Assembly and served from 1921-23. He won a second term in 1922, and during the 1923-25 session sat on the committees on Agriculture, County and County Lines, and Memorials. Holland subsequently won a third term in the house of representatives in 1928 and served from 1929-31.  

From the 1921 Arkansas legislative composite.

  After several years away from politics, Holland was returned to government service in 1936 with his election to the Arkansas state senate, representing the 33rd senatorial district from 1937-39. Little is known of the remainder of Holland's life, excepting note of his death in Winfield, Arkansas on October 10, 1951, aged 74. His wife Minnie survived him by five years, and following her death in 1956 was interred alongside him at the Sehorn Cemetery in 

Waldron.

Holland's draft registration from 1917-18, recording his full name.

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