Lucas County IA Archives Biographies.....Holmes, William H. 1857 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 24, 2007, 11:53 pm Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1896) WILLIAM H. HOLMES, as a native of Lucas county, Iowa, and as one of its representative farmers and esteemed citizens, is entitled to specific recognition in this work, which aims impartially to portray the lives of the men and women who settled up this part of Iowa and of those who are to-day among its leading people. William H. Holmes first saw the light of day in Benton township, Lucas county, Iowa, January 1, 1857, his parents being Daniel and Mary (Hamilton) Holmes, pioneers of Iowa, the former having died many years ago and the latter still residing at the old home place. Daniel Holmes was born in Jackson county, Indiana, February 3, 1814, and died February 1, 1864, in Iowa, his last resting place being in the Waynick cemetery, where a monument has been erected to his memory. He was one of a family of eleven children, six sons and five daughters, and only one of that number is now living,-Gresham, of Benton township, Lucas county. Grandfather Fergus Holmes was a native of North Carolina, the great-grandfather Holmes having emigrated from his native land, the Emerald Isle, to North Carolina, at an early period in the history of this country, and some years later removing to Indiana, where he died. Fergus Holmes was a farmer and passed his life in Indiana. The father of our subject, Daniel Holmes, was married in Jackson county, Indiana, December 2, 1841, to Miss Mary Hamilton, the ceremony being performed by her brother, Esquire Hamilton, and at her father's residence, which was about eighteen miles from where the Holmes family lived. Ten years after their marriage they removed from Indiana to Illinois and settled in Warren county, and about the middle of September, 1854, came to Iowa. This journey from Illinois to Benton township, Lucas county, Iowa, consumed about five days, and was made with two wagons, in which they brought their household goods and in which the family rode, their children numbering five. They also brought along five head of cattle. Arrived here, Mr. Holmes purchased a tract of land from the Government and settled on it. Subsequently he rented a farm of Mr. Samuel Ragsdale, who resided just across the river from where William Holmes now lives. In the public affairs of this pioneer settlement he took an active and commendable part, serving on the Board of Supervisors and also as School Director. Politically, he was first a Whig and from the organization of the Republican party was one of its supporters. Daniel Holmes and his wife were the parents of eight children, three sons and five daughters, as follows: Oscar F., born February 10, 1843, was a Union soldier and died of disease at the battle of Shiloh, his remains being interred in the national cemetery at that place; Deliah H., born March 10, 1845, died July 4, 1864; Leonidas, born May 13, 1848, resides in Hutchinson, Kansas; Eradna L., born May 23, 1851, is the wife of John Pierce, a farmer of Washington township, Lucas county; Sarah A., born December 13, 1853, is the wife of George Parsons, Washington township, this county; William H., born January 1, 1857, was the first of the family born in Iowa; Doneta A., wife of M. Arnold, a farmer of Benton township; and Ida N., born December 23, 1862, is the wife of Franklin McKinley. The venerable mother of this family is still living and in the enjoyment of comparatively good health, her home being at the old farmstead. Besides the children above named, she has fifteen grandchildren. Of her people, the Hamiltons, we further record that they are Irish. Her father, James Hamilton, was born in Dublin, Ireland, and when young accompanied his father to America, their location being in the State of Virginia, where he grew up and married Miss Rebecca Robinson, who was of English descent. They became the parents of eight children, four sons and four daughters; of whom two are living,-Mrs. Holmes and her brother Mortimer, the latter residing on the old -homeplace in Indiana. We come now to William H. Holmes, whose name heads this article. His birth has already been recorded. On the home farm he grew up and received his education in the public schools, his first teacher being Miss Lizzie Umpscher and the school-house a log structure. He was small when his father died and has always remained at home with his mother, having charge of the farm since he was old enough. The estate now comprises a fine tract of land 360 acres in extent, and under his able supervision is being successfuly conducted. September 30, 1879, Mr. Holmes was married to Miss Phoebe M. Arnold, who was born February 22, 1862, in Marion county, Iowa, daughter of Ed and Sophia (Barnhard) Arnold, pioneers of Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes have six children, namely: Edward, born April 29, 1881; Jennie, March 23, 1883; La Bernie, March 14, 1885; George A., August 21, 1890; Elma Vivian, January 7, 1892; and an infant, January 23, 1895. Mr. Holmes has always kept himself thoroughly posted on all public issues and stands solidly on the Republican platform. His first presidential vote was cast for Grant. He is an advocate of good schools and in various ways has given his support and influence to advance the best interests of his community, and here where he has resided all his life he is an esteemed and honored citizen. Additional Comments: Extracted from: A MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF IOWA ILLUSTRATED "A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants."'—MACAULAY. "Biography is by nature the must universally profitable, universally pleasant, of all things."—CARLYLE "History is only biography on a large scale"—LAMARTINE. CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1896 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ia/lucas/bios/holmes174gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/iafiles/ File size: 6.3 Kb