Robert Henry Holmes (1819-1885)
HOLMES, KEYES, MCCORMICK
Posted By: CJeanealogy (email)
Date: 4/4/2022 at 22:14:56
Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette February 2, 1885
Major Robert Homes.
The Veteran Journalist and Publisher Passes Quietly Away.
There are many things which all newspaper men are pained to chronicle, yet they would be derelict to their mission did they fail to pen the lines informing the public of the death of the oldest journalist in Linn county, Major Robert Holmes, aged sixty-six years. While growing somewhat feeble in years, Mr. Holmes was in his usual health until several days ago, when he caught a severe cold, which seemed to grow upon him as the days passed. An addition alarm as to his condition was occasioned last Thursday morning, when he received a slight paralytic stroke, and continuing to grow worse Major Holmes passed peacefully away yesterday morning at 8 o'clock.
There is hardly a citizen in Linn county who did not know Major Robert Holmes. Coming as he did, to the county over forty years ago, he became thoroughly identified with the interests, holding many responsible positions and enjoying the unalloyed respect and esteem of his hundreds of friends. As a journalist he possessed marked and strong ability, giving to his writing a force and strength so characteristic of the man. His death occasions the most genuine sorrow among the fraternity of which he was an honored member for so many years.
The oldest journalist in Linn County, Iowa, Robert Holmes, was a native of Kentucky, and was born in Shelby county, on the 29th of May, 1819. His father, Andrew Holmes, a farmer and surveyor, died when Robert was two years old. The mother, who was a McCormick, moved to Montgomery county, Indiana, eight years afterward. From ten to fourteen years of age Robert spent his time in school and aiding an elder brother on a farm; he then went to Crawfordsville, the county seat, and acted as clerk for another brother in a drug store until he was about twenty, when he became a partner in the business. In 1841 he moved to Marion, Iowa, and opened a dry goods store, still in partnership with the brother, who followed him to Iowa a short time afterward. At the end of two years Robert bought out his brother, and continued the mercantile business until 1857 when he took possession of the Linn County Register; this he published until 1863, when he sold out, and did not engage in business until the autumn of 1865, continuing it until 1867.
In 1873 Mr. Holmes moved to Cedar Rapids, joined the editorial corps of the daily Republican, and was its political editor for a number of years.
Mr. Holes served two years as clerk of the board of county commissioners, and one years as school commissioner for the sale of public lands, when Iowa was still a territory. In 1854 he was elected to the lower house of the general assembly, serving one term.
In 1864 Mr. Holmes was commissary of subsistence with rank of captain; was sent to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, as commissary; remained there until 1865, when he was sent to Denver, Colorado, to occupy the same official position. Late in the same year, when discharged, he received a commission as brevet major, for faithful and meritorious services. Mr. Holes was a Mason, having received the blue lodge and council degrees.
He was a whig until the dissolution of that party, and in 1859 was the whig candidate for treasurer of state. He was a very active republican since the party was organized, and up to within several years before his death he was an earnest worker for those principles in which he firmly believed.
On the 3rd of October, 1849, he married Miss Eliza Keyes, of Marion. They have had eight children, only four of whom are living.
When Mr. Holmes settled in Linn county forty-one years ago, Marion had about one hundred and fifty inhabitants. Cedar Rapids a single cabin, and the county between three and four hundred voters. He had lived to see the population swell to more than forty thousand souls, and a city of twenty thousand inhabitants surround the site of the single log cabin of 1841.
At one time Mr. Holmes possessed considerable property. In 1858 he went the security of a friend for an amount reaching almost $16.000. The friend failed and Mr. Holmes, though he could have escaped the payment of the sum, adopted an honorable course and signed over his entire property. This incident only illustrates the high and honorable character so inherent in Mr. Holmes .He took a course which, while embarrassing himself, was just and ???, and certainly only strengthened the regard and esteem in which he was universally held by all.
The funeral of Mr. Holmes is announced to occur at 10 o'clock to-morrow morning from the residence at No. 412 First avenue. All are invited to attend.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6647532
Linn Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
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