OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS - Seneca Co., Ohio

DAVID HOLMES.    It is but in justice due that in this volume should be accorded a tribute to the memory of one who was identified with the civic and industrial life of Seneca county in so prominent a way as was Mr. Holmes, whose abilities and unswerving integrity in all the relations of life gained to him unlimited esteem from all with whom he came in contact. Super-added to this, the memoir is the more consistent from the fact that he was a native son of the county and here passed his entire life, attaining marked success and becoming one of the representative and influential men of this section of the state.
     David Holmes was born on a farm in Venice township, Seneca county, Ohio, on the 12th of May, 1843, and here his death occurred on the 7th of February, 1898. His parents, John and Sabina (Hillis) Holmes, had a family of eight children, of whom four survive at the present time, namely: Amos, who is a resident of Michigan; Rebecca, the wife of Lafayette Palmeter, is a resident of the state of Missouri; Sarah, the wife of Benjamin Slough, of Michigan; and John, who resides in Attica. The subject of this memoir was reared on the old homestead farm and received a common-school education, and as a young man served an apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade, to which he devoted his attention for a time, though agricultural pursuits constituted his
vocation during by far the greater part of his independent business career, and through the medium of the same he achieved a high degree of prosperity. Mr. Holmes became the owner of two- hundred and fifty acres of land in Huron county, Ohio, and also acquired the controlling interest in the old parental homestead of two hundred and twenty-six acres, the latter having been divided among the heirs subsequently to his death. Mr. Holmes was a man of a high order of mentality, was especially progressive and discriminating in the management of his business affairs and was one who had a deep and abiding interest in all that made for the general prosperity and advancement of the community in which he lived and in which he was honored by all who knew him. In his
political proclivities he was found stanchly arrayed in support of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, and for nine years he was incumbent of the responsible office of trustee of Venice township, and he also gave the benefit of his influence and marked executive ability in promoting educational interests in the county, having been for a number of years a member of the board of school directors of his district. Mr. Holmes was one of those prominently concerned in the grange movement, and he gave his best efforts in the cause of this fraternal organization, through which he felt that much could be accomplished for the intellectual and material advancement of the agricultural community. He was called upon to serve as master of Venice Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, in his township, and was one of the active and influential members of the order in the county and state.
     On the 21st of January, 1893, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Holmes to Mrs. Isabella (Philhower) Sheely, the widow of Andrew Sheely. She was born in the state of New Jersey, as was also her father, Elias Philhower, who became a resident of Seneca county, Ohio, in the early ’70s, and here passed the remainder of his life'. Of the three children of Mrs. Holmes’ first marriage two1 survive, namely: Mary, who is the wife of Jacob Heintz, of Crawford county; and Francis A., a successful agriculturist of Seneca county. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes became the parents of three children,—Esther Sabina, Sarah Almeda and Oliver Wendall. Since her husband’s death Mrs. Holmes has continued to reside on the homestead, which is one of the best improved and most attractive in this section of the county, and she has shown marked judgment and executive ability in the management of the farm and other business interests, and as a woman of gracious presence and true refinement she has gained a wide circle of friends in the community, and her home is a center of cordial hospitality.
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Seneca County, Ohio - Publ. by Lewis Publishing Company - 1902 - Page 527

JOHN R. HOLMES.    No citizen of Eden township, Seneca county, is more widely known or highly esteemed than John R. Holmes. Of a sterling pioneer family, he and his ancestors have been prominent in the development, organization and maintenance of this county, always being safely counted upon to endorse and support to the extent of their ability every good work, movement and enterprise.
     Mr. Holmes was born in Eden township, July 27, 1837, a son of David and Maria (Downs) Holmes. The father was born in Holmesville, New York, but in 1825 he came from the Empire state to Ohio, and for a time thereafter made his home with his brother-in-law, J. Sherman, in Eden township. He was a blacksmith by trade, and for several years he followed his. trade at Melmore, while for a time he was also engaged in the operation of a threshing machine. His father, Jedediah Holmes, who was the founder and laid out the town of Holmesville, New York, subsequently joined him in the Buckeye state. After coming to this state he located in Eden township, and died here, aged seventy-seven years. In 1859 David Holmes joined the great army of gold-seekers who were making their way to the Pacific coast, and he made the journey to the Golden state with an ox team, and on his arrival there he located at Marysville, where he purchased cattle and drove them to the mines. After a residence of two years on the Pacific slope he again returned to his home in this state, locating on the farm which our subject now owns, but about 1879 he put aside the cares of a business life and from that time until his death, which occurred Jan. 4, 1891, he lived in quiet retirement at Melmore. His wife passed away in death Feb. 10, 1882. They became the parents of three sons,—Jeremiah, who was born in 1833, and died at the. age of twenty-two years; John R., of this review; and James W., who is a practicing physician of Tiffin, Ohio.
     John R. Holmes has spent his entire life in this locality and to its public school system he is indebted for the educational privileges which he enjoyed in his youth. At the age of twenty-two years he began the active duties of life on his own account, and as a life occupation he chose that to which he had been reared, namely, farming, to which he has devoted the best efforts of his life. With the exception of one year, which was spent in Lucas county, his entire life has been passed on the farm which he now owns and occupies. It can be truly said of him that he has grown up with the locality. Here he was born, here his boyhood was spent and here he determined to achieve that success in life which illustrates his industry, his intelligence and his superior business qualifications. Not daunted by any adverse circumstances but fastening his eye upon the object before him, by persistent effort and judicious management his business career has been crowned with success. His farm now contains one hundred and twenty acres of valuable land, and here he is extensively engaged in general farming and stock-raising.
     Jan. 27, 1874, Mr. Holmes was united in marriage to Miss Annie Foley, and they have eight children,—Eva, Sheldon M., Bertha, Clara, Benton, Byron, Elson and Anna Helena. The family circle has not been broken by the hand of death, and they occupy an enviable position in society circles in Seneca county. Eva is a bookkeeper in Cleveland, where Sheldon M. is a drug clerk; Bertha is employed in Tiffin; and all the other children are at the parental home. Mr. Holmes gives his political support to- the Republican party, stanchly advocating the principles of that grand old party.
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Seneca County, Ohio - Publ. by Lewis Publishing Company - 1902 - Page 261

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