Holmes, George A. (1849-1897)

HOLMES

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 12/19/2008 at 16:17:22

George A. Holmes
1849 - Oct 7, 1897

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.26, Council Bluffs)
George A. Holmes, attorney, Council Bluffs, was born in 1848 in Huntsville, Ala., and is of English descent. in 1862, his father and fmaily went overland to California, and, returning overland in 1866, settled in Page County, Iowa. He commenced studying with Moore & McIntyre, of Clarinda, Iowa, in 1869, remaining in the office four months. He was admitted to the bar in March, 1869, under a close and rigid examination. He then worked on a farm two years for the benefit of his health. He came to Council Bluffs in December, 1871, and opened a law office on Broadway, where he has ever since been located. After having been located here a year, he had gained a lucrative practice. In April, 1874, he was elected City Attorney by City Council; was re-elected in 1876-77-78-79, and again in 1881. He is a Democrat in politics, and ran on that ticket in 1876 as Representative of Pottawattamie County, receiving a large vote, though the Republican majority in the county at that time was 600. He received at that election 220 votes more than the State ticket. During his administration as City Attorney, a great many valuable improvements were projected and carried out, of which he had the management. Big Spring Lake and Car Lake were ceded to the city by the General Government through the assistance of Hon. W. F. Sapp, Member of Congress at that time; Union avenue, Pacific avenue, Vaughn avenue, which required a great deal of labor and time and ability during these years, were finished and opened by the city, Union avenue causing a great deal of litigation, which was finally decided by the Supreme Court of the State in favor of the city two years after this improvement commenced. In 1876, while Col. J. H. Keatley was Mayor, he and the City Attorney devised and proposed a plan by which the whole of Williams' Addition might be secured as a public park for the city, the addition consisting of eighty acres cut up into town lots. This plan, however, was not accepted by the City Council at that time. In 1879, during Hon. Addison Coughran's administration, the question of securing the ground was again brought up by the Mayor and City Attorney. It was aided by the fat that the preliminary surveys were made for the construction of water works, and it was decided that a portion of Snow & Green's Addition was the proper place for a reservoir. This addition adjoins on the north and east sides of Williams' First Addition. This at once showed the expediency of having this ground secured for park purposes, and a resolution was then passed by the City Council for the procuring of the ground as had been advised by the City Attorney. The lots were all incumbered by deliquent taxes, and in but few instances were the lots condemned for more than taxes due upon them. the city paid the State tax and school tax and remitted its own tax, and the County Board of Supervisors, after the condemnation, released the county and assigned the county tax to the city. The assigned amount of money actually expended was between $1,800 and $2,000, and this includes also Snow & Green's Addition, making a body of land for park purposes of almost one hundred acres, contiguous to the city. In this improvement, there were over two hundred and fifty condemnation cases, which were prosecuted to successful termination by subject of sketch. The preliminary survey of water-works was made by Mr. Cook, Assessor of Cleveland, Ohio, and S. P. Judson, City Engineer. Many other improvements of minor importance were carried out. Graham avenue was established which passes around the south side of the park grounds, now known as Fairview Park. Alderman A. C. Graham used his best efforts for the establishment of this avenue, which now bears his name, and as a public drive it is the finest in the city. These improvements will always be a benefit to the present citizens and a blessing to those who will become future inhabitants, and remain a perpetual monument to the care of these administrations in providing free public resorts for coming generations. The last improvement was the procuring the right of way for th extension of Washington avenue, a much-needed improvement, which was made under a resolution of the Council instructing the City Attorney to procure the right of way for their work, which was immediately commenced, and, after the award of damages to owners, the Council instructed the City Attorney and Alderman R. F. Rain to settle with property-owners as they thought best. They settled all of the cases except one, which cost about $7,000. This amount was paid out on the order of the City Attorney.

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.375)
GEORGE A. HOLMES, attorney and counsellor at law, Council Bluffs, is one of the leading members of the bar of this city and one of its representative citizens. He became established here in his profession in December 1873. He has been continuously alone in practice and has occupied his present office at 332 Broadway during all the years of his residence here. Mr. HOLMES is a native of Illinois, born in Tazewell Co, that state, in 1849. His father, George W. HOLMES, was a pioneer of that county and a native of Charleston, West Virginia. The mother of the subject, formerly Sarah A. ALLEN, was born in Schenectady, NY. Her mother dying when she was an infant, she was adopted into the family of Flavel BASCOM, and taken by her adopted parents to the town of Groveland, Tazewell Co, Illinois.
GEORGE W. HOLMES and wife are now residents of Council Buffs. The former is a builder and millwright by trade. James W. HOLMES, the eldest brother of the subject of this notice, is a resident of Tulare Co, California; he has a family of six sons. Henry H. HOLMES, the second brother, is a resident of Council Bluffs. George A. is the next in order of birth, and a sister, Mrs. Laura A. RIDDLE, is the next. Fountain B. died in Council Bluffs in 1878, and left no family. Charles T. HOLMES, the youngest of the brothers, is also a resident of Council Bluffs. A sister, Emily, died in Page Co, Iowa, at age 13 years.
GEORGE W. HOLMES removed to Iowa in 1857 and settled in Page Co, and in 1862 the entire family went overland to California, and after a three years' sojourn on the Pacific coast returned to Iowa. The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of Page Co. He early conceived the idea of becoming a lawyer and after acquiring, by earnest industry, sufficient education to enable him to teach a common school, he engaged in that occupation. He began the study of law at home. His first law book was a copy of Blackstone. He began his professional career in Council Bluffs in 1873 and was a student in the offices of Messrs. Moor & McIntyre at Clarinda for a few months. In 1875 Mr. Holmes was made City Attorney and continued to occupy that position uninterruptedly for 14 years or until 1889. Politically Mr. Holmes affiliates with the Democratic party, but was frequently appointed to the office of City Attorney by Republican councils. Mr. Holmes is not only an able lawyer but a progressive and public-spirited citizen, ever taking a commendable interest in whatever tends to promote the best interests of the public.