Holmes, W. R.

HOLMES, MAXION, CASS, KENDALL, BROCK, KOON, SCRIBBINS, GARDNER, SWEET, BABCOCK, LANE, COPELAND

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 1/25/2003 at 09:19:28

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

W. R. HOLMES.

One of the representative citizens of Clinton county is W. R. Holmes, who owns and operates a valuable tract of farm land of one hundred and sixty acres in section 17, Bloomfield township. He was born in the state of New York May 17, 1830, being the youngest son of Stiles E. Holmes, a native of Connecticut, and Sarah Maxion, a native of New York state. The parents were married in the Empire state, and lived and died there, being buried in Petersburg, New York. The other children were Albert, dead, who married Sarah Cass, who with her two children resides in Evansville, Wisconsin; John, who married Adeline Kendall, both of whom are dead. They resided in Troy, New York, where he was sheriff at one time. They have two children, both living in Buffalo; Edwin, who married Mercy Brock, and by whom he had three children. They reside in Petersburg, New York; Jane, wife of Carr Koon, formerly of Petersburg, New York, and by whom she had two daughters. The parents are now dead; and Martha, wife of Isaac Saunders, both dead, resided in Adams, Jefferson county, New York. Four boys were born to them. The Holmes family were of Scotch descent.

William R. Holmes received his early education in the district schools, and when about eighteen years of age attended the high school of Petersburg, New York. He then received a teacher’s certificate and taught in the schools near his home for some time. The freedom of fresh air and outdoor life enticed him into the country and he gave up school work, taking up the management of his father’s farm. In the winter of 1865 he journeyed westward, locating in Welton, Clinton county, Iowa, where he remained for one year, after which he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres and thereupon erected a comfortable residence and good barns and sheds and had remarkable success in the cultivation of his land. He raised high grade cattle, horses and hogs for market and was well known throughout the community as a prosperous and energetic farmer and stock raiser. Besides his farm here he also owned land in Corwith, Hancock county, and 320 acres in Sioux county, Iowa, and Mrs. Holmes owns a farm in Waverly, Bremer county, Iowa. All these farms are highly improved and are now occupied by tenants. He held a number of local offices, but preferred to devote his entire attention to his farm interests.

Mr. Holmes was united in marriage in 1865 to Miss Emeline Maxson, a daughter of William and Susan (Scribbins) Maxson, both natives of the state of New York. The parents were married in that state, and lived and passed away there. The father followed farming until his death. They were the parents of six children; Silas, who died at the age of thirty-five years; Norman, who married Deliah Gardner, and resides at Petersburg, New York, with his wife and five children; Sarah Ann, the widow of Bonapart Sweet, who resides in Petersburg, New York; Emeline, the wife of our subject; Lois, who is the wife of Edward Babcock and lives in Petersburg, New York; and Stiles, a resident of Portland, Oregon, who married Eliza Lane, by whom he has six children.

William R. Holmes passed away on the 3d day of February, 1891, after years of devotion to his family. His career was a most honorable one, and he leaves behind him a stainless record of sixty-one years of unceasing labor and steadfast purpose. His utmost fidelity and upright principles won for him friends who will ever revere his memory. His wife and four children are left to mourn his loss, the latter being Mable, who married Burt Copeland, a resident of Lowell, Indiana, and by whom she has one child, Esther; Albert; John; and Ezra. The three sons are living at home and manage the farm. In politics Mr. Holmes was a stanch Republican, and he was a member of the Methodist church.

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