Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Holmes, Robert ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 2, 2008, 3:10 am Author: Past & Present Will County, 1907 Robert Holmes, one of the well known citizens of Joliet, is treasurer of the board of highway commissioners of Joliet township and the city suburbs. He has been a member of the board since April, 1904, in which connection he has done capable service. He is also proprietor of a restaurant at No. 1814 Collins street and, wide-awake, alert and energetic, is making steady advancement in the world. A native of Ireland, he was born near Belfast in 1865 and in 1884, when about nineteen years of age, crossed the Atlantic to America. He spent two years in New York and thence came to Joliet, locating at No. 503 Elwood street, which property he still owns. He is a son of Samuel and Sarah (White) Holmes. The parents were of Scotch descent and representatives of old families of Presbyterian faith. They removed from Scotland to Ireland, however, before the birth of our subject. The father was a farmer by occupation and for many years followed that pursuit on the Emerald isle but is now living retired in Belfast at about the age of seventy years. His wife has also attained about the same age. Their family numbered eight children: Robert, William and Samuel, who are residents of Joliet; Sarah J., the wife of John Swenson, of Joliet; Mrs. Anna Edberg, of this city; Mrs. Elizabeth McCarthur; Mrs. Esther Rowe, deceased; and John, who is living near Belfast, Ireland. After coming to the new world Robert Holmes was for sixteen years employed as engineer at the Illinois Steel Works in Joliet but resigned that position when elected to his present office as treasurer of the board of highway commissioners. The other commissioners on the board are James S. Boyd, president; George Haywood, commissioner; and John Overholzer, town clerk. Mr. Holmes also established a restaurant at No. 1814 Collins street and is conducting it successfully, having a good patronage. In this city occurred the marriage of Robert Holmes and Miss Catherine Munn, who was reared in Joliet and is a daughter of Robert and Ann (McVety) Munn, who came to this city about thirty-eight years ago from the vicinity of Belfast, Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes now have three children, all born in Joliet: Sadie, whose birth occurred June 14, 1889; Anna, born November 10, 1892; and William, October 29, 1901. In his political views Mr. Holmes is a stalwart republican, unfaltering in his advocacy of the party and its principles, and is a member of the German Republican Club. He is prominent in fraternal circles, being a member of the Foresters of America, in which he served for fourteen consecutive years as financial secretary at Joliet. He then resigned and in 1905 was appointed deputy grand chief ranger of the state of Illinois by the County Caledonian Club, of which he is secretary and both he and his wife are members of tne grand lodge. He is also a member of the Will Presbyterian church. Mr. Holmes has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for he has found here favorable business opportunities which he has improved and has won many warm friends. Additional Comments: PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/holmes2440nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 3.9 Kb