…Holland and Springfield Township Recollections
Editor’s Note: This is the third in a series of stories on mayors of the Village of Holland. Holland-Springfield-Spencer Historical Society president Karla Miller submitted this story as part of the village’s centennial celebration this year.
Each month, the column will feature one of a dozen mayors the village has had over the past 100 years. This month’s story is about James A. Gunn.
Holland, Ohio’s third mayor was James Albert Gunn born July 4, 1897 in Springfield Township to Harry Everett Gunn and Emma A. Boyd, one of five children.
His father Harry died April 24, 1913 at age 41 of kidney disease.
His sister Helen Lose died at age 22 on April 20, 1917 during childbirth.
James’ brother Howard W. Gunn, 23, was wounded in action at Argonne on October 3, 1918 and died of his wounds October 10, 1918. Due to the war, his body was not returned to Ohio until October 1921 aboard the USS Wheaton. The funeral was held at the family home, 219 Hall Street, on Saturday October 22, 1921.
James enlisted in the U.S. Army on September 18, 1918 and was kept stateside. He was assigned to the student’s army training corp; Section B of the University of Toledo, where he remained through November 10, 1918: Mt Rep Co 305 Cp Grant lll. to November 18, 1918; motor transport Co 659 to discharge February 7, 1919.
At that time, James was working for the U.S. post office. After his military service, he married Mildred Catherine Risser, born June 16, 1899 to Albert Christian Risser and Olive Amelia Dubel. They were wed May 4, 1922 in Holland.
The couple had a son, Boyd Dubel Gunn, who was born January 8, 1923, but he died 21 days later on January 29.
By 1928, James was working for Toledo Edison Company and retired after 32 years. He lived his whole life in Holland, and was a member of the Springfield Board of Education and the Holland fire Department.
From 1929 to 1931 James served as Holland’s third mayor.
A daughter, Marilyn Helen Gunn was born December 1, 1933 in Holland.
Mildred was the sweetest lady, typical grandmother type, tiny and gray haired.
They lived across from the Holland Free Methodist Church on Hall Street where she taught Sunday School.
James died on January 21, 1960 at Toledo Hospital. Mildred passed away December 23, 1981. They are buried at Springfield Township Cemetery with their parents and baby son.
James rewired the farm house on Holloway Road in 1948 when we moved there. And yes, Gunn Road is named for the Gunn Family.
