Capt. J. J. Holland

Portland, Oregon Intelligence

Jan. 29, 1893 - Capt. Holland Dead - The Well Known Boat Builder

Expires at Ballard - Due to Exposure in Alaska - The Man Who Built Many
Fine Boats on the Sound and Columbia.

Capt. J.J. Holland, the well-known ship builder, died yesterday
morning at 10 o'clock at his residence on Shilshole avenue, in Ballard.
The last ship Capt. Ballard built was for the North American Trading
and Transportation Company on St. Michael's island, in Alaska. While on
St. Michael's island he was taken with a cold and fever and was confined to
his bed in a tent for over over two weeks. His constitution never fully
recovered from this attack, and when he returned to Ballard last October
his physical system was still weak from the effects of his Alaskan journey.
Five weeks ago he was taken ill with typhoid fever, and lately seemed to
be convalescing, when pneumonia intervened and carried him off very
quickly.

Capt. Holland was born in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, April 15,
1843, where he learned the trade of shipbuilding. While yet a young man he
removed to the States and finally settled at The Dalles, Or., where he
worked for the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company, and where he also
married. He afterwards moved to Portland, where he was engaged in building
steamers for the same company. he lived in Portland many years, and among
the steamers he built were the Wide West, R.R. Thompson, Idaho, and Emma
Hayward. While in Portland he took part in politics to some extent and was
elected councilman from the First ward in 1886.
 

Several years ago he moved to the Sound, locating at Tacoma, where he
built the State of Washington, Skagit Chief and Fairhaven. From Tacoma in
early 1890 he came to Ballard, where he also built a number of steamers,
the best known of which was the Bailey Gatzert, costing $100,000, and said
to be the finest stern wheel steamer in the United States. He also built
the Monte Cristo, Frances Henry and other boats at Ballard.

He was elected to the city council of Ballard in 1890, and again in
1891, and made an excellent officer. He and A.W. Hight being the two
councilmen to whom credit is given for originating and consummating the only
system of fire protection in Ballard-the present salt water system on
Ballard avenue. He was afterwards prominently mentioned for the
mayoralty, but never sought the office, although always taking an
intelligent interest in municipal affairs.

Capt. Holland made a great deal of money in nearly all of his
contracts, but he was liberal and a poor financier, and died in rather
straitened circumstance He leaves a wife and five children, Thomas, age
18; James, 15; William, 12; Anna, 10; Mamy, 17, and Johnnie, 1 1-2. The
funeral services will be held Tuesday morning at 7:30 o'clock at the
Catholic church in Ballard, and the remains interred in Calvary cemetery.