Born September 24, 1854, at Decorah, Iowa, John Hoiland was destined to leave his mark on the history of Barnes County. He grew up in Fillmore County in Minnesota, where his father, Aadne Aadneson Hoiland, was a mill-wright. Later, back at Decorah, he worked for his father tending hop kilns. With the decline of business in the Panic of 1883, John decided to go to Barnes County. He first worked for an implement dealer in Fingal and gained title to the Southeast ¼ of Section 14, Oak Hill Township. As clerk of the Daly School Board, he met Nettie (Annette) Johnson, first teacher in the Oakville School. They were married on December 13, 1883. They lived on a homestead owned by his wife just across the county line in LaMoure County.

By 1896, four children had been born; Lillie, Mable, Eison and Tyler. Not liking farming, in 1896, John, with A. H. Gray and John Simons, formed the Pioneer Implement Company of Valley City, located where the Standard Oil station is now operating. Later, he dissolved this partnership and entered into another with A. I. Anderson. This venture succeeded until 1912, when A. I. Anderson withdrew. John carried on alone and the next few years were very lucrative. It ended with his death on July 8, 1918. His last sale was a motor hearse in which he rode to his funeral a few days later.

Tyler Hoiland, his son, returned from service in the Navy to find the family fortunes on the wane. He found a position with an auto dealer and married Marie Langemo of the rural Fingal area. Two sons were born to this couple, John Tyler and Harold Philip. In personality and character, Tyler stood out among others. A fellow Mason spoke of him as "noble" and this truly characterized the man.

John Hoiland was most identifiable with Barnes County because of his wide connections, both fraternal and political. Nominally, a Republican, he nevertheless was liberal in his thinking, especially where local candidates were concerned.

In 1914 John was appointed by Governor Hanna to present a statue of Lincoln to Norway on its Centennial. He could not accept the appointment due to the press of business, but it points up the esteem in which he was held in North Dakota.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 104