Oldfield Marries Bess Holland

For a view to Barney Oldfield's personal life, this article reports on his marriage to Mrs. Bess Holland. He met her in the St. Louis hospital he stayed in briefly to recuperate from injuries suffered in the Louisiana Purchase Trophy from August 1904. He had crashed through a fence to strike and kill two spectators after becoming disoriented by dust kicked by the Pope-Toledo of Alonzo "A.C." Webb. Bell Holland's maiden name was Gooby. She was an accomplished pianist and well read. Her great-great nephew, Wayne Carroll Petersen contributes content to firstsuperspeedway.com. The article provides background on their relationship and how it evolved into marriage, including commentary on Oldfield's divorce from his first wife.