BIOGRAPHY: Hon. Alexander M. Holmes; MorrisvilleMadison co., NY
surname: Holmes, Peck, Cross, Hanks, Leffingwell, Cook, Steele

submitted by W. D. Samuelsen
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Biographical Review
The Leading Citizens of Madison County, New York
pub. 1894, Boston, Biographical Review Publishing Company

HON. ALEXANDER M. HOLMES, a resident of Morrisville, is an eminent example of
lofty citizenship, exhibited in long fidelity to public interests. His public
services have been marked throughout by rare intelligence, sterling honesty,
strong common sense, and indefatigable labors for the public good. That the
efforts he has made to serve the people have always been appreciated is shown
by the fact that his period of service as Supervisor-twenty-seven years - has
been longer, perhaps, than that of any other man in his State. The field of
his labors, however, has not been confined to the circumscribed arena of town
and county politics. The people of his district, recognizing his capacity as a
man of affairs, testified their appreciation of his abilities by sending him
as their representative to the Upper House of the State Legislature, his
Senatorial district being composed of Madison, Herkimer, and Otsego Counties.
The perfection of his well-rounded character is manifested also in the more
tender relations of private life and of the family no less than in the
performance of public duty.

Dr. Holmes was born in the town of Westford, Otsego County, N.Y. His father,
John P. Holmes, was a native of Connecticut; and his father, John Holmes, so
far as is known, was a life-long resident of that State. John P. Holmes was
reared and educated in his native State, and in young manhood commenced
teaching school, being for a time a member of the faculty of the famous Oxford
Academy in Chenango County, New York. Returning to Connecticut, he was there
married, and not long afterward located in the town of Westford, Otsego
County, bought a farm, and resided thereon until 1830. Selling his farm, he
removed to Plymouth, Chenango County, resided there two years, and then went
to Cortland County, and bought a farm within two miles of the village of
Cortland, on the Norwich road. Upon this farm he lived until 1847, when he
sold it, and re-moved to McGrawville, where he lived retired until his death.
His remains were interred in Rural Cemetery, Cortland. His wife, whose maiden
name was Lydia Peck, was born in Connecticut, and died at her home in
McGrawville. She reared eleven children.

Alexander M. Holmes received his education in the public schools, studied
medicine with Dr. Wiggins of McGrawville and dentistry with Drs. Thompson of
Cortland, Allen of Syracuse, and Dwinelle of Cazenovia, N.Y., receiving, the
degree of D.D.S. from Baltimore Dental College in 1851. In 1849 he removed to
Morrisville, where he opened an office. Having made a thorough study of his
profession, it was not long before he acquired a profitable practice and a
reputation as a skilled dentist which extends far beyond the limits of the
county. Of recent years he has spent the winters in New York City, engaged in
the practice of his profession, of - which he is a master, having kept pace
with its progress by constant study, and having an intimate knowledge of all
its re-courses and modern improvements.

In 1857 Dr. Holmes was united in marriage to Mary E. Cross, who was born in
Morrisville, and is a daughter of Jefferson Cross, the latter being born in
Upper Lisle, Broome County, N.Y. His father, Reuben Cross, was a native of
Mansfield, Conn., but came to the State of New York, and spent his last years
in Upper Lisle. The maiden name of his wife was Marilla Hanks. She also was
born in :Mansfield, Conn., and survived her husband some years, dying in the
town of Manlius, Onondaga County. Jefferson Cross, the father of Mrs. Holmes,
removed to Manlius, N.Y., in 1825. He located in Morrisville in 1829, and here
established a foundry, and engaged in the hardware business. He invented and
patented numerous improvements upon stoves, in the manufacture of which he was
engaged. He remained in business in Morrisville until his death, which
occurred on the 28th of March, 1850. The name- of the mother of Mrs. Holmes
before her marriage was Elizabeth Leffingwell Cook. She was born in Hartford,
Conn., and was a daughter of John and Mary (Steele) Cook. She died December
20, 1876, at her home in Morrisville.

Dr. Holmes was one of the twenty-one prominent dentists of the State of New
York who met at Utica, December 17, 1867, to draft laws for the organization
of the State Dental Society, which association was divided into districts,
there being one society or branch in each of the eight judicial districts of
the State, the delegates from these districts forming the State Society. Dr.
Holmes served two years as President of the Sixth District Dental Society, two
years as Vice-President of the State Society, one year as President of the
State Society, and in 1879 was chosen State Censor for the Sixth District, and
has served in that capacity up to the present time. The Doctor has always
taken an active interest in public affairs, and has filled many offices of
honor and trust. Politically, he first affiliated with the Whig party, was
always opposed to the extension of slavery, and was one of the organizers of
the Republican party in Madison County. A man of strong character and great
intellectual ability, he has been sent as a delegate to numerous county,
district, and State conventions, and was a member of the Republican National
Convention which met at Philadelphia in 1872, and renominated President Grant.
He was elected County Treasurer in the fall of 1860, and re-elected to the
same office in 1864; was elected a member of the County Board of Supervisors
in 1867, and has served on that board continuously to the present time, having
been its Chairman for the last sixteen years. In 1881 he was elected State
Senator to represent the district composed of Madison, Herkimer, and Otsego
Counties, and while in the Senate served on the following committees, namely:
Commerce and Navigation, Canals, Public Health, and Villages. He also was
prominently connected with many general and local bills, at all times working
earnestly and conscientiously for the good of his constituents. In 1864 he was
one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Morrisville, and was
elected one of the Board of Directors, and since 1874 has served continuously
as President of that institution. He was also one of the promoters of the Home
for Destitute Children located at Peterboro, N.Y., and established some years
ago by special act of State Legislature, the building and ten acres of land
being presented by the late Gerrit Smith. This noble institution has proved of
great benefit to the county; and, since the death of Mr. Smith, Dr. Holmes has
been President of the Board of Trustees, and has done much for the good of
this local enterprise.

From the brief narrative of Dr. Holmes's life here presented it will be
apparent that he has achieved a high degree of success in more than one field,
his eminence in his profession and his long-continued public services, both in
the spheres of political and business activity, bearing witness to his own
high mental and physical qualities and to the confidence of his
fellow-citizens in his ability, judgment, integrity, and fidelity to their
interests. The fine steel portrait of Dr. Holmes here presented will he viewed
with interest and pleasure by his many friends throughout the county and
elsewhere.