Holmes, Bertha (Mrs. Richard), 1871-1936

HOLMES, OSBORNE, WILSON, OGLESBY

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:37

Born: June 1, 1871
Died: March 29, 1936

From the Rock Valley Bee, June 5, 1936:

Bertha Wilson Osborne Holmes

Bertha Wilson was born June 1, 1871. She spent the most of her life in and around Rock Valley, excepting a few years at Sioux City. She returned to Rock Valley about four years ago where she has resided until she passed away last Friday, May 29, 1936.

She married Richard Holmes on January 12, 1924. She leaves to mourn her husband, Richard Holmes, her son and daughter from a former marriage, Frank Osborne and Mrs. Ollen Henderson, and eight grandchildren, all of Rock Valley.

Surviving her are three sisters and one brother. They are Mrs. Len McDonald, Seattle, Washington; Mrs. Sarah Kewley, Witton, S.D.; Mrs. Joe D. Rome, Minneapolis, Minn.; and Leon Wilson of Rock Valley, and a host of friends and neighbors.

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From the Alton Democrat, June 5, 1936, Rock Valley news:

Mrs. Richard Holmes passed away at her home west of Rock Valley at 5 o’clock Friday morning, May 29.

Bertha Wilson was born on a farm at the Ernisse Lake just west of Rock Valley on June 1, 1871, where she grew up in the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Wilson. The family moved to Sioux City for a short time but later returned to this vicinity where she reached womanhood. She was married to George Osborne and four children were born to them, two of whom survive. Mr. Osborne died in 1920. Several years later she was united in marriage to Richard Osborne [actually, Holmes] and they made their home in Sioux City for a short time.

Three sisters and one brother survive, namely: Mrs. Len McDonald of Washington state, Mrs. John Rowe of Minneapolis, Mrs. Sarah Kewley of Kadoka, S. D., and Leon Wilson of Rock Valley. The two children surviving are Frank Osborne of Rock Valley and Viola Mae (Mrs. Olin Henderson) and eight grandchildren, besides nephews, nieces and a host of friends.

Funeral services were held at the home of Mrs. Henderson on Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, conducted by Reverend L. A. Hunsley, pastor of the Methodist church. The vocal numbers, "Abide With Me," and "Rock of Ages" were sung by Helen and Sue Vander Laan, accompanied by Miss Zoe Smith. Interment was at Valley View Cemetery.

Mrs. Holmes was the first white child to be born in this vicinity and was well known and highly regarded by all the early settlers of this territory.

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Her death certificate has her as Florence Holmes; husband Dick Holmes; born June 1, 1871 in Rock Valley; parents Ira Wilson and Margaret Oglesbye; resident of Rock Valley 64 years, 11 months, 28 days [her age at death]; died at 5 a.m. May 29, 1936; causes, lobar pneumonia, onset May 3, 1936, and left hemiplegia, probably embolic in origin, onset May [21 or 27], 1936; buried at Rock Valley.

She appears in the Sioux County Cemetery Index as Bertha Osborne, b. 1871, d. 1936, ss George, Valley View Cemetery, Rock Valley IA.

FindaGrave.com includes a copy of her headstone as Bertha Osborne. It gives her full name as Bertha Florence Wilson Osborne; parents Ira Simeon Wilson (1831-1909) and Margaret Elizabeth Oglesby Wilson (1843-1913); spouses George Osborne (1865-1921, married 1895) and Richard Holmes (1866-1939, married 1930).

The marriage return for her second marriage has groom Richard Holmes, age 53, resident of Sioux City, a teamster, born at Kenosha, Wisconsin, parents John Holmes and Mary Sizland, second marriage; bride Mrs. Bertha F. Osborn, age 53, maiden name Bertha F. Wilson, resident of Rock Valley, born at Rock Valley, parents R. A. Wilson and Margaret Oglesby; married at Sioux City January 12, 1924.

Her name is variously rendered in other sources: Birdie Wilson in the 1880 census, Birdie E. Wilson in the 1885 Iowa state census, Florence B. Osborne in the 1900 census, Bertha Osborn or Osborne in the 1910, 1915, and 1920 censuses, maiden name Bertha Florence Wilson or Bertha F. Wilson in birth index records for her children