Bjorn Sjursson Holland (July 5, 1841April 7, 1930) was a

Norwegian American Norwegian Americans ( nb, Norskamerikanere, nn, Norskamerikanarar) are Americans with ancestral roots in Norway. Norwegian immigrants went to the United States primarily in the latter half of the 19th century and the first few decades of the ...

immigrant, farmer, merchant, teacher, and politician. Also known as "Ben Holland," he was born July 5, 1841, in Rogaland,

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...

. In 1846, his family emigrated to the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

and settled in the town of La Grange, Walworth County,

Wisconsin Territory The Territory of Wisconsin was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 3, 1836, until May 29, 1848, when an eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Wisconsin. Belmont was ...

. The family soon moved to York, Green County, followed by Primrose, Dane County. Holland worked on neighboring farms and went to district schools before attending Albion Academy in Dane County, Wisconsin from 1861 to 1863. Following his studies, he was a teacher and a principal in a private school in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rockf ...

in 1865, 1867, 1871, and 1879. Between that position, he conducted a milling and merchandise business with his brothers in the villages of

Moscow Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 millio ...

and Adamsville in

Iowa County, Wisconsin Iowa County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 23,709. Its county seat and largest city is Dodgeville. When created, it was part of the Michigan Territory. Iowa County is part of the Madiso ...

, and served as town clerk of Moscow Township in 1867. In 1882, he purchased a farm upon which the Illinois Central Railroad soon built a line. A depot was established on his property and the village that grew, Hollandle, was named for him. He continued to work as a merchant, farmer, and cattle dealer here for more than 30 years. As a Republican, Bjorn Holland was elected to the

Wisconsin Assembly The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Representatives are elected for two-year terms, e ...

, serving from 1899 to 1903. He died at his home in

Blanchardville, Wisconsin Blanchardville is a village in Iowa and Lafayette counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 825 at the 2010 census. Of this, 648 were in Lafayette County, and 177 were in Iowa County. The Iowa County portion of Blanchardville ...

after being in poor health. He outlived all seven of his children and left no known descendants.''Wisconsin Encyclopedia'', 2008-2009 edition, Volume 1, Oscar B. Chamberlain, editor, State History Publications, LCC, Hamburg, Michigan: 2008, p. 348.

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Holland, Bjorn 1841 births 1930 deaths Norwegian emigrants to the United States People from Iowa County, Wisconsin Businesspeople from Wisconsin Farmers from Wisconsin Educators from Wisconsin Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly American city founders People from La Grange, Wisconsin People from Blanchardville, Wisconsin