Sorry it took me so long to reply...been really busy... Anyway, I don't recognize the name John Tarpley Holland, but that doesn't mean he's not related. I've been researching the Holland name for about three years now, and much to my distress I haven't been able to get any further back that my gg-grandfather William T. Holland. William T. was from Georgia and died in Tyler County, Texas in 1866. His son Mitchel G. Holland was the one to move the Etoile area. William had three other sons, Council O. born in Dec 1861, who settled in Shelby Co, and eventually moved to Nacogdoches Co with his son (also named) Mitchel, Benjamin who I believe may have died because he disappeared after the 1870 Tyler County census, and William T. jr who remained in Tyler County. Mitchel G. had fifteen children (which seemed to be the norm in the Holland family). The boys were: Willie, Wiley, RD, John Taylor (my grandfather), Oliver, and Kelly- It is a possibility, I suppose that John Tarpley belonged to any of those children (except John Taylor), but I haven't found him. I do know that across from the Sam Rayburn River there is a road there with a cemetery at the end of it, I believe it is named Holland something or other. My grandmother says that those Hollands are not related to us, but I am not so sure... As a matter of fact, I have some of those grave inscriptions that I haven't been able to make a connection to: Texas Oates Holland Dec 7, 1858-Feb 2, 1931 Sav (?) Holland Sept 1884-Nov 1917 Joe Bailey Holland Texas Pvt Infantry World War II August 20, 1920-July 29, 1958 Are you connected to any of these? Looking forward to your reply... Michelle Holland ----- Original Message ----- From: "Vaughn Ballard" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, January 13, 2001 2:52 PM Subject: Re: Little Flock School > Michelleh wrote: > > > I don't recognize any of those names, but my family is from that area. The > > HOLLAND, BURNAMAN, and LAYTON families are from that area. Most lived close > > to, or around Etoile, Texas. > > Holland~Layton~Burnaman Page > > Michelle Holland, > > My great grandfather, William M. Ballard, came to Texas from Claiborne Parish, > LA about 1890. He apparently bought land along the Angelina river and Carrizo > Bayou. He sold the land in 1898. In 1900 Angelina Co. census, William, his wife, > Elizabeth Boozer, and their to youngest sons, William M. and Houston Ballard, > were listed listed in the HH of Marion Courtney. Their daughter Sally Ballard > Courtney, her husband Robert and two son were also listed. > > The younger Wm. M. (1857-1904) married Molly Slay. They had one child, Willie > Ballard b. 1904, d. 1978. Willie married John Tarpley Holland in 1931. They > lived in Hunnington, across the river from Etoile. My grandfather Houston took > me to visit Willie when I was 8-10. > > I didn't see a BALLARD on your surname list, but does the John Tarpley fit in > your HOLLANDs? > > Vaughn > >