HOLLAND, Ella (STIDGER) 1870-1952

HOLLAND, STIDGER, BONNEY, WALKER

Posted By: Betty Hootman-Volunteer
Date: 2/24/2014 at 11:07:58

Ella Stidger Holland

Ella Stidger was born Feb. 17, 1870 in Keosauqua, Iowa, the daughter of William C. and Mary Bonney Stidger. When she was still a small girl the family moved to Red Oak, Iowa. When she was ten years old, her father died, and her mother, with four small children, returned to Keosauqua. There Ella Stidger attended high school and county normal school. There she joined the Methodist church and the P. E. O. sisterhood. After completing high school she taught in various places in Van Buren county, first in country schools and later in Milton. In 1907 she was married to Elisha C. Holland of Milton, and until his death lived at Walnut Lawn, the Holland farm, on the edge of Milton. During the long period of helplessness and paralysis which Mr. Holland suffered after a fall from farm machinery, she took devoted care of him. After Mr. Holland’s death she moved from the farm to a house in Milton and for several years made a home for her aunt, M8iss Orpha Bonney. She was active in the work of the Methodist church in Milton, and for many years taught a Sunday School class of young women. She carried on a large correspondence with people all over the country and spent many hours a day writing letters.

In 1949 she went to live in Terre Haute, Ind., with her step-son, George E. Holland and his family. On April 26, 1952, Mrs. Holland fell and broke her hip. She passed away on May 1st.

She was preceded in death by her two brothers, Josiah Bonney Stidger and Otto Stidger. She is survived by her younger sister, Willa Stidger of Keosauqua; by an aunt Mrs. Estella B. Walker of New York; by several nieces and nephews; by three step-sons, Frank Holland of Milton, Dr. John Holland of Oak Park, Ill., and George Holland of Terre Haute, and by many step-grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Source: Scrapbook of Unknown Origin, page 58