Obituary: Adams County, Wisconsin: Luther W. HOLMES ************************************************************************ Submitted by Joan Benner, May 2005 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ Adams County Press [Friendship, Adams Co., WI], Saturday April 29, 1893, Page 5 Column 3 L. W. HOLMES DEAD Luther W. HOLMES died at his home in Big Flats on Friday, April 21, 1893, aged 75 years, 6 months and 13 days. The announcement of the death of L. W. HOLMES will cause a feeling of sadness and regret throughout Adams county. Few men are more generally known, and none more highly esteemed and respected. The integrity of his character was so clearly manifest that no one ever questioned or doubted, while his sympathies for the unfortunate and distressed were as quick and tender as those of a woman. So it was that the sad and troubled, the poor and unfortunate, sought "Uncle Holmes" for counsel, sympathy and assistance, and it was seldom indeed that either was with-held. Mr. HOLMES had filled many places of public trust, and always the people found him a most faithful public servant. He was one of the first superintendents of the poor elected in this county upon the change from the town to the county system of supporting the poor, and it is largely to the indefatigueable efforts of him and his associated, Messrs. D. L. McCONICK and G. W. WATERMAN, that the change was successfully established. After serving two terms as Superintendent of the Poor, he declined a re-election, but at the next ensuing town meeting his townsmen, without opposition, chose him Chairman of Supervisors of the town, and with scarcely an interruption he has held that position for the past ten or fifteen years. So greatly did his townsmen esteem him, and such was their affectionate regard for the man that at the last town election, though he was sick and unable to leave his room, they unanimously re-elected him chairman, and it is said that no man in the town would consent to the use of his name as candidate for the place against Mr. HOLMES. Luther W. HOLMES was born in Madison county, New York, October 8, 1817, and it was there that he lived and grew to manhood. In January, 1845, he was married to Miss Matilda PERSONS, a most estimable lady, who survives him. In 1857 Mr. HOLMES and family came west, and settled in what is now the Town of Big Flats, in this county. They therefore rank among the earlier settlers in the north central part of Adams County. He leaves, besides his widow, one son, Rosetor P. HOLMES, both in comfortable circumstances. In every relation of life Mr. HOLMES was an exceptionally good man and ciitizen. His funeral was on Sunday, and was one of the most largely attended ever held in the county. The services were feelingly conducted by Rev. P. R. Staples.