BIO:  HOLMES, George M., s/o Josiah L. & Margaret (McClure) Holmes

Submitted by:  phill@redrock.net   (Phyllis Hill)

HOLMES   McCLURE   PRICE   PENNINGTON

History of Knox and Daviess Counties, Indiana
Chicago:  The Goodspeed Publishing Co.  1886

Knox County, Washington Twp., page 428

GEORGE M. HOLMES, one of the old settlers of Washington Township, is a son
of Josiah L. and Margaret (McClure) Holmes.  The father was born in 1775,
at Carlisle, Penn.  The mother, a native of Kentucky, was born about four 
years later.  Both came to this county about the same time--1804.  Here they
were married in 1818.  By trade the father was a tanner, which calling he
followed throughout life.  He was a man of some public note.  For four years
he was deputy sheriff under John Purcell, besides being constable for a 
number of years.  In the war of 1812 he took an active part, being in the
battle of Horseshoe Bend, and also at the battle of New Orleans.  At the
latter place he was promoted to captain.  In 1837 the father died.  The
mother died in 1832.  George's ancestors on both sides were of Irish descent.
He has had the pleasure of seeing seven generations, looking backward and
forward.  He was born in 1822 in Vincennes Township.  In boyhood he had 
very poor advantages for education, attending the old-time subscription
school, and not more than five months all told.  When only about seven years
old he and his brother, a ten year old lad, went week after week some eight
miles up the river, to cut a boat-load of wood for winter use.  In a little
log shelter they stayed of nights, but when Saturday came they would gladly
return home to spend Sunday and get a new supply of provisions.  For some
time he followed driving stage, going from Evansville to Vincennes, or from
Vincennes to Terre Haute, etc.  In 1842 he began his career as a farmer.
His first crop of corn was raised on a rented place, and sold for 8 cents
per bushel delivered at a station five miles distant.  Having no team, he
was obliged to give $1.50 per 100 bushels to get it hauled.  He thus 
received $13 for 200 bushels.  Times being hard, he thought to make some
money by chopping wood.  He was paid 25 cents a cord for wood split fine
and made out of the body of the tree only.  In 1842 he was married to
Berrila Pennington, born in 1824 in Lincoln County, Ky.  She is the daughter
of Isaac and Elizabeth (Price) Pennington.  Her father was a native of
Tennessee, and her mother of Kentucky.  To Mr. and Mrs. Holmes thirteen
children were born:  Josiah, Isaac, Harriet, Weston, Benjamin, James, 
Margaret, George, Mary, Martin, Elizabeth, Laura and Obediah, all of whom
are living on farms.  The husband, wife and nine of the children are members
of the Christian Church.  Mr. Holmes is a stanch Democrat, and cast his first
vote for Van Buren.  For four years he has held the position of justice of
the peace.  Two of his sons were in the late war--Isaac, who served four
years in the Rebellion and three years as a regular soldier, and Weston,
who served three years in the Rebellion and three years as a regular soldier.
In 1860 Mr. Holmes moved to Washington Township, and bought 145 acres, on 
which he still lives.  As a farmer he has been quite successful; having
started with nothing, he has arisen to the ownership of a good farm.  He has
been engaged to some extent in literary work, having written a number of
stories for periodicals.  Though he had such meager opportunities in early
life, he acquired broad information by reading.
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