Harry A. Holmes Biography


	This biography appears on pages 649-650 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	HARRY A. HOLMES. - Identified with the city of Oacoma from its 
earliest history to the present time and an influential actor in the 
material growth and development of Lyman county, South Dakota, Harry A. 
Holmes, mechanic, official and representative citizen, enjoys marked 
precedence in the place of his residence and is entitled to specific 
mention with the leading men of his adopted state. The subject's 
father, George W. Holmes, a native of New, York, was in early life a 
miner, subsequently turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and 
in connection therewith spent about fifty years as a blacksmith. He 
married Miss Elizabeth Webb, who bore him five children, and moved to 
Wisconsin a number of years ago where he became quite successful, 
accumulating a handsome property in that state besides large landed 
interests in Kansas. A Democrat in politics, he took an active part in 
the public affairs of his community, lived a long and useful life and 
was highly esteemed by all with whom he came in contact.  

	Harry A. Holmes was born in Iowa county, Wisconsin, on March 19, 
1860. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, attended of winter 
seasons until his eighteenth year the public schools of Mineral Point 
and grew up strong of body and independent of mind, becoming a skillful 
worker at blacksmithing. In 1883 young Holmes started out to make his 
own way in the world and carve out his own destiny. Thanks to his 
efficiency as a worker in iron, he had something upon which to rely of 
much greater value than ready capital, and when he came to Dakota in 
the above year and located in Plankinton, Aurora county, he found ample 
opportunity to ply his trade. After working in a shop at that place for 
two years he changed his location to White Lake, where he followed his 
chosen calling until 1890, when he moved to the present site of Oacoma, 
in the county of Lyman, at that time a frontier military post, occupied 
by a company of soldiers whose duty it was to guard the rights of the 
Indians in the vicinity.  

	Shortly after his arrival at camp in Oacoma Mr. Holmes entered 
the employ of the government as a blacksmith and after continuing as 
such for a period of three years, started a shop of his own, settlers 
having arrived the meanwhile until the place took the appearance of a 
thrifty and promising western town. Having the first and, up to the 
present time, the only blacksmith shop in the place, Mr. Holmes soon 
had more work than he could accomplish and in order to meet the demands 
of his steadily growing patronage was in due season obliged to secure 
the help of assistants. His business grew so rapidly that he was 
compelled after a while to enlarge the capacity of his establishment, 
and without interruption it has continued to increase in magnitude and 
importance to the present day. Being one of the first settlers, he very 
naturally became interested in the growth of the town and to him more 
perhaps than to any other man is due the prosperity which has made it 
one of the flourishing little cities and important business centers in 
the southern part of the state.  

	Mr. Holmes not only took an active and leading interest in the 
growth of Oacoma, but also became a prominent factor in the general 
development of the county and an influential participant in the public 
affairs of the same. He served for eight consecutive years as deputy 
sheriff and discharged the duties of that exacting and trying position 
in such a way that his name became a terror to evil doers, the 
administration with which he was identified becoming noted for the 
enforcement of law and respect for order throughout the entire 
jurisdiction. In politics Mr. Holmes has been a staunch Republican from 
the time of exercising the franchise and his activity and influence in 
party circles led to his being chosen the first delegate from Lyman 
county to the state convention which convened at Yankton in 1894. He 
has also been much interested in the course of education and for a 
number of years has served on the school board of Oacoma, at one time 
being chairman of that body and at this writing he is treasurer of the 
same for the second term. In business matters he has by no means been 
slothful, but on the contrary has so managed his varied interests that 
he is now in independent circumstances, owning, in addition to much 
valuable city and personal property, a fine tract of farming and 
grazing land in Lyman county, also a beautiful island of one hundred 
acres in the Missouri river, the latter covered with a dense growth of 
fine timber, which ere long will doubtless prove a source of 
considerable wealth.  

	Mr. Holmes is a leading spirit in several secret and benevolent 
organizations, notably among which are the Independent order of Odd 
Fellows, Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen, having as a charter member assisted to establish the first 
named society at Chamberlain, beside holding important official 
stations in the different brotherhoods. Personally the subject enjoys a 
large measure of popularity, being the soul of genial companionship, a 
favorite in social gatherings and his kindly disposition and proverbial 
hospitality have gained for him hosts of friends whose loyalty and 
devotion strengthen as the years go by.  

	Mr. Holmes is a married man and the head of a family which is 
highly esteemed in the city of his residence. His wife, who was 
formerly Miss Lizzie E. Elliott, of the state of Iowa, and to whom he 
was united in the bonds of matrimony in 1887, has borne him sons and 
daughters as follows: Florence E., Daisy E., Harry B., Calvin H. and 
Willa G., all under the parental roof and constituting a most happy and 
mutually agreeable home circle. The best educational advantages the 
community affords have been provided for these children and they are 
now pursuing their studies under favorable auspices, the older ones 
having already laid plans for their future careers.