Recently while doing some Paul Wirt fountain pen research, I came across an old Biographical Encyclopedia. I didn't find the Wirt information that I was looking for, but I did find a biography on John Holland. It is funny how things work out that way. This biography, is quite old, writen before Holland was mass producing fountain pens, but it does give a lot of John Holland history that has not been published in pen journals before. I thought I would place this here on the Kamakura Pens website, so it will be available for everyone. -Ron Dutcher

The Biographical Encyclopaedia of Ohio of the Nineteenth Century
published 1882

Name: John Holland
Gold-Pen Manufacturer, was born, August 25th, 1838, in the parish of Kilcrohane, in the county of Cork, Ireland, and is a son of the late Patrick Holland. His parents emigrated to America in 1848, and settled in Cincinnati, where his father followed the business of a stone-mason until his death, which occurred in 1854.

John Holland received his early education in St. Xavier's Parochial School; he also attended a night-school for about five years, during which time he studied the classics with a view of adopting a profession, but on the death of his father, finding the charge of his mother and the younger children devolved on him, he concluded to finish learning the trade to which his father had indentured him, that of gold-pen manufacturing in the establishment of George W. Sheppard, so favorably known to the trade.

John Holland served the specified four years' apprenticeship, and at the expiration of this term received the position of foreman of the pen factory, which he held for two years. He then purchased a one-third interest in the pen business, which he retained until 1862, and then bought the other two-thirds, since which time he has conducted the establishment in his own name.

When Holland first took charge of the pen factory the products were comparatively small, being but about $8000 per annum and giving employment to five hands. In 1866 he added to the business the manufacture of gold and silver pencils, fine ebony and ivory pen-holders and gold tooth-picks. The business now amounts to over $100,000 yearly, and forty persons are constantly employed in the works. His store and factory, which is six stories high, is entirely occupied by the business, with the exception of the second floor, which is rented for offices. His machinery is all propelled by steam-power, the rolling-mill alone weighing over two tons. A thorough mechanic of an inventive genius, he has taken out ten patents for pen and pencil-cases, also one for alloying gold for pens. The material employed in the manufacture of the various articles are gold and silver bullion, and he imports his ebony direct from Africa, and the ivory from the same country, and also from the East Indies.

John Holland's products find a ready market in the United States and Europe, as also as far east as China and Japan. For the past five years he has received the contract for supplying the Treasury Department at Washington, and has been awarded medals at several fairs and expositions, including that at Vienna, in 1873. The establishment is the largest in the country west of New York city, and there is but one even in that city which produces as large and varied a stock.

Since John Holland commenced business he has only been idle one month, during the time of Kirby Smith's raid through Kentucky and Ohio, he being at that time Captain of Company E in the 11th Ohio Reserves, which was called into the service for thirty days.

He is the owner not only of the valuable property No. 19 West Fourth street, where his factory is located, but also of the fine edifice where he resides, besides other properties in various parts of the city, amounting in value to over $100,000, being his accumulations during the fourteen years of his business career.

John Holland's unusual success in his avocation may be attributed in part to the fact that his pens are ever found to be of the most superior quality, and always as represented. He was one of the incorporators of the Miami Valley Savings Bank, and of which he has been Vice-President since its organization.

John Holland was married, July 7th, 1870, to Kate, daughter of James Ohlen, the well-known saw manufacturer, and is the father of three children, all living.