A. G. CHERRYHOLMES

 

     A. G. Cherryholmes, prominently connected with business interests of Derby as a partner in the hardware firm of Cherryholmes & Nessen, is numbered among the pioneers in Lucas county, his residence here dating from 1854.  This has covered the period of the section’s greatest growth and development and although he was still a child at that time, he afterward bore his full share in the work of progress, his activities promoting the agricultural development of his township and later the mercantile growth of the city where he now makes his home.  He was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on the 27th of August, 1852, and is a son of John and Mary (Norris) Cherryholmes, natives of that state, the father born in 1804 and the mother in 1819.  They left Port Washington, Ohio, in a covered wagon on the 20th of September, 1854, and arrived in Union township, Lucas county, on November 8th of the same year.  They settled on a farm here when pioneer conditions prevailed everywhere, the settlements being sparse and the houses between their property and Chariton few and far between.  The father continued to develop his holdings, becoming one of the prosperous and substantial farmers in this locality, dying upon his property in Union township in 1889.  His wife survived him some years, passing away in 1894.  In their family were eight children:  W. H., deceased; Joseph, whose home is in Kansas; Rhoda and a daughter (unnamed), both of whom died in infancy; A. G., of this review; Mrs. Amanda E. Gibbs, of Humeston, Mrs. Ruth Brevard, of Colorado; and J. D., of Taylor county, Iowa.  The five eldest children were born in Ohio and the three youngest in Union township, but all were reared in Lucas county.

     A. G. Cherryholmes was only two years of age when he came with his parents to Lucas county and amid the pioneer conditions then prevailing he grew to manhood, attending the district school and when not engaged with his books assisting with the work of the homestead.  When he began his independent career he naturally turned his attention to the occupation to which he had been reared and he followed farming in Union township until 1897, when he moved into Derby, where he has since resided.  On the 4th of October, 1905, he formed a partnership with Mr. Nessen and they entered into the hardware and implement business in Derby under the firm name of Cherryholmes & Nessen.  They deal in all kinds of shelf and heavy hardware, vehicles and farm implements, conducting one of the largest enterprises of this character in this section, and they have been accorded a liberal and representative patronage, for their prices are at all times reasonable and their business methods honorable and straightforward.  Mr. Cherryholmes is known as a resourceful, farsighted and progressive business man and his success is the direct result of ability combined with industry.

     In 1881 Mr. Cherryholmes was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Brevard, who was born in Indiana on the 26th of June, 1851, a daughter of Jonathan and Charity (Marsh) Brevard, natives of that state.  They came overland to Clarke county, Iowa, in 1864 and settled on a farm there on which they continued to reside until their deaths.  In their family were the following children:  Mrs. Rachel A. Brower, James Martin and Jesse M., all of whom are deceased; Mrs. Jane Crawford, of Nebraska; Mrs. Cherryholmes, wife of the subject of this sketch; Isaac, whose home is in Colorado; Mrs. Amanda Folk, of Washington; and John F., of Clarke county, Iowa.  All of these children were born in Indiana with the exception of Mrs. Crawford and Charles W.  Mr. and Mrs. Cherryholmes became the parents of one daughter, Araminta, who died in infancy.

     Fraternally Mr. Cherryholmes is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Yeomen and his wife holds membership in the Rebekahs.  He is a democrat in his political beliefs and has served ably and creditably as road supervisor and assessor of Derby.  A public-spirited and progressive citizen, he is interested in the welfare of the section to which he came in pioneer times and is active in promoting its growth.  Business men respect him for his integrity and his straightforward dealings and wherever he is known he holds the esteem and confidence of all who are associated with him.

 

Return to biography list