HOLLAND, GEORGE F. (January 20, 1850?-January 28, 1917) Acrobat and rider. Possibly the best rider to come out of Wisconsin. Came from a distinguished family of circus folk, having entered the profession at the age of 3 years. Son of John Holland. Had brothers John and Edward G. With the Holland Family act until August, 1872, when he went to Chicago and joined Chiarini's; in November married Katherine Holloway, who had been an apprentice of Chiarini. The two performed together until they retired, 1910. George did a principal act, including somersault riding, and Katherine was a manège rider. Worked for all the largest circuses of their time, Dan Rice's, Burr Robbins', John Robinson's (11 seasons), Sells-Floto, etc. George twice entered into circus partnerships. 1885, brothers Edward and John and Charles McMahon formed Holland-McMahon, a railroad circus until they reached Cincinnati, where they chartered the steamboat Mountain Girl, with the intention of performing on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers; played Aurora, Indiana, November 5, and were on their way down river, but about 2 a.m. the boat collided with an upbound ore packet; within minutes it sank, taking with it all the horses, animals and equipment, only the tent was salvaged; circus was valued at $20,000, and recovered $12,000 in a suit against the Mountain Girl's owners. Went back to Delavan and reorganized for 1886; George resigned, spring 1898. That year with Edward Holland and the Gormley brothers, Frank and Everett, framed Holland & Gormley Allied Railroad Circus, which they toured for 2 years; sold his interest, October 1889. George and Katherine retired, 1895; built a hotel in Delavan. Had 11 children, whom George began teaching, 1896; formed a new Holland Family act, 1897, and went with John Robinson's; subsequently, appeared at fairs, with an occasional season on circuses. George and Katherine spent their last season of performing on Sells-Floto, 1910, then lived out their remaining years in Delavan. Holland & McMahon, 1885-88; Holland & Gormley, 1889; Holland, Bowman, & McLaughlin, 1890; Holland & Sturtevant, 1891. Died at age 67.