Holmes, Jesse H. 1826-1886

HOLMES, BARRET

Posted By: Janet Brown - volunteer (email)
Date: 9/15/2013 at 14:52:45

From the Sioux County Index of January 7, 1886:

Died

HOLMES — January 2,1886, at 12:08 a. m., at the residence of W. H. Casady, in this city, Jesse H. Holmes, aged 59 years, 5 months and 17 days.

The news of the death of our beloved friend and fellow citizen, Col. Jesse H. Holmes, is received with real sorrow and pain by all who knew him. No man was more truly or universally loved, and no man could be more heartily mourned than is Col. Holmes. He has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. W. H. Casady, of this place, for the past three years, and his genial heart and willing hand have helped us all to live more happily. He lived for others, and they loved him for it.

JESSE H. HOLMES was born in Ohio, on the fifteenth day of July, 1826. His father was a poor man and at his death, which occurred in 1838, Jesse went to Indiana and made his home with an elder brother. There he remained for some years, and in 1849 was married to Miss Missouri T. Barret. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes removed to Keokuk, Iowa, where Mr. Holmes engaged in business as a dry goods merchant, and also dealt largely in real estate. He amassed a large fortune, but, in the crisis of 1857, he failed in business and lost nearly all his property. At the breaking out of the war Mr. Holmes volunteered to enlist as a private among the 75,000 "three months men," who were called for by President Lincoln, but as the ranks were already full, a large company was formed at Keokuk and Mr. Holmes was made captain. The company joined a Missouri regiment and were mobbed, together with a number of union soldiers at St. Louis. Soon after Mr. Holmes met Gen. Prentiss, an old friend who had him transferred to his own regiment, the 21st Missouri, with rank of lieutenant-colonel. In 1863 Col. Holmes was thrown from his horse in an engagement, and the accident resulted in a broken hip. Soon after this he was appointed provost-marshal at Ottumwa, but did not remain there long, for as soon as he was perfectly well he returned to active service with his regiment. After this he was taken prisoner by Texas rangers at Napoleon, on the Mississippi river. With them he went to Little Rock, Arkansas, where he made his escape, and, together with two men whom he induced to desert the confederate army and join the union forces, was taken aboard of a Mississippi gun-boat. For a long time after he was taken prisoner his family and friends at Keokuk supposed he had been killed, as it was impossible for them to obtain news as to his whereabouts. During the time that Col. Holmes was a prisoner he was attacked with severe chronic diarrhea, which very nearly caused his death at that time and which broke him down in health so that he never fully recovered.

In April, 1866, Col. Holmes moved his family from Keokuk to Oskaloosa, where he again engaged in the dry-goods business. He remained there until 1882, when, after the death of his wife, he came to Orange City.

Col. Holmes leaves two children to mourn his loss, a son, Lucien B. Holmes, and a daughter, Mrs. W. H. Casady, both of whom were with him at the time of his death. One brother also survives him, Thomas Holmes, who lives at Matamoris. Franklin county, Indiana.

The remains of the deceased have been taken to Oskaloosa, where they will be buried in the Forest cemetery by the side of those of his beloved wife. Telegrams were sent on Saturday to Dr. D. A. Hunt and Major J. W. McMullen. who made all the necessary preparations for the funeral. The services will be conducted by Rev. F. E. Corkhill, pastor of the Simpson Methodist church at Oskaloosa.

Civil War Record
 

Sioux Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen