- WILLIAM C. HOLMES, merchant tailor, of Janesville, Wis.,
was born in Manchester, England,
- on the 23d day of February, 1830, and his parents, James
and Isabelle (COLLIER) HOLMES, were also natives of the same
country. His father was a merchant tailor and engaged in business
in Goole, Yorkshire, until 1849.
- Our subject received his education in his native town, and
in his father's shop learned the tailor's
- trade. In 1849 he came to America in company with his parents,
the family locating at Rockton, Ill., where the father opened
a tailor shop, which William subsequently carried on from 1852
until 1853, inclusive. In the last mentioned year he went to
Chicago, where he worked one year for Davison & Merrill,
merchant tailors, in the capacity of cutter. His employers having
then gone out of business, Mr. HOLMES solicited work and carried
on the shop for himself until 1855, when he removed to Arlington
Heights, a suburban town of Chicago, engaging in business at
that place. In 1857 he removed to Durand, Ill, where he prosecuted
his trade until 1860, when in the early spring of that year he
came to Janesville. Immediately after his arrival in this city
he engaged with M. C. SMITH, one of the leading merchants of
Janesville, in the tailoring department of his establishment,
continuing his connection with that gentleman for two years,
when in the spring of 1870 he began business for himself in a
small way. By 1875 Mr. HOLMES had secured sufficient capital
to put in a good stock of goods, and since that time has an excellent
business, being now classed as one of the leading merchant tailors
of this city. In June, 1879, he moved into the store which he
now occupies, situated on the river bank at the west end of Milwaukee
street bridge. For over twenty-nine years he has been identified
with the tailoring business of Janesville, and has secured a
good line of custom among the best citizens of the town.
- On the 15th day of January, 1855, in Chicago, Mr. HOLMES
and Miss Janette Douglass
- LANGMUIR were united in marriage. The lady was born in Cleveland,
Ohio, of Scotch parentage, and is a daughter of William and Janette
LANGMUIR. Four children grace their union, three sons and a
daughter - William Henry, James Duncan, Isabella C. and Clayton
Langmuir. The daughter is now the wife of Dr. William H. JUDD
of this city. Mr. HOLMES and his family are all liberal in their
religious opinions and attend All Souls Church. In politics
he is a supporter of the Republican party, but has never sought
or desired public office. Socially, he is a Knight Templar Mason,
a member of Janesville Lodge, No. 55, A.F. & A.M.; Chapter
No. 5, R.A.M.; and Janesville Commandery, No. 2, K.T.; and also
belongs to Olive Branch Lodge, No. 36, A.O.U.W. of Janesville.
- James HOLMES, the father of our subject was a prominent Mason
and a member of the same
- Masonic bodies to which the son belongs. He resided in Janesville
the latter part of his life and was highly respected and greatly
esteemed by his fellow townsmen. His death occurred in this
city at the age of sixty-four years. His wife died in Chicago
in December, 1854. An item of interest in connection with the
history of the HOLMES family worthy of mention here, is the fact
of the remarkable longevity of Richard HOLMES, the grandfather
of William C., who lived to be one hundred years old.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 498-499.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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