- JUDGE WILLIAM HOLMES, deceased, was one of the early settlers
of Rock County, Wis.,
- having become a resident of the county when there were but
two families within its borders, those of Samuel ST. JOHN and
Dr. James HEATH. Judge HOLMES was born in Washington County,
Pa., on the 1st day of July, 1780, and was a son of James and
Ann (WHITAKER) HOLMES. His father was born Feb. 13, 1748, and
the family was founded in this country by three brothers who
emigrated from England to America. One brother died of lockjaw,
and Thomas settled near Philadelphia, Pa., where he reared a
family, numbering among his sons James HOLMES, the father of
our subject. James and Ann HOLMES were the parents of fifteen
children, thirteen sons and two daughters, and with the exception
of one all grew to manhood and womanhood.
- Judge HOLMES was the third son and was reared to manhood
in Washington County, Pa.,
- where he was united in marriage with Miss Rachel DAY. He
engaged in farming in his native State for some time, but later
removed to Newark, Ohio, where he followed farming and milling
until 1820, when he became a resident of Marion, Ohio, then
in its infancy. While residing in that embryo city he was elected
Associate Judge, and served in that position for several years.
At length leaving Marion, he located in La Porte, Ind., in 1833,
where he again engaged in agricultural pursuits until March 1836,
when he emigrated to the wild and unsettled Northwest and on
the 9th day of March located permanently in Rock County. A son
of Judge HOLMES in company with Milo JONES, a Surveyor, had visited
this region the previous year, and had made a claim east of the
river They built several shanties, one of which was situated
on what is now the site of the MILTIMORE property. In the following
winter, 1835-36 the boys returned to Indiana, and loading two
or three teams with goods again came to Rock County.
- As before stated Judge HOLMES with his family settled at
what was then called Rockport, now
- a part of Janesville, March 9, 1836. From Chicago to Beloit
but two houses were passed, and from the latter city to the present
site of Janesville the travelers followed an Indian trail. On
reaching the bluffs south of the town, the night was so dark
that they lost the trail, but finding a bugle horn, with that
they called assistance and were piloted on their way. Mr. HOLMES
owned a section of land on what is now west Milwaukee street,
north to the WOODRUFF place, where he made his home for many
years. During those pioneer days the nearest market place was
Chicago, where all goods, provisions and everything needed had
to be obtained. The city of Beloit consisted of a few Indian
homes. The first frame house built in Janesville was made from
lumber which was cut by a whip-saw by Judge HOLMES' men on the
west side of the river in the fall of 1836. With his family
he spent the first six months in this county in a log cabin on
a bluff on the south side of the river until the erection of
a more suitable home. He always took great interest in the welfare
of the county, was prominent in the promotion of its enterprises,
and was an honored pioneer, who was held in the highest respect
by all.
- By the union of Judge HOLMES and his wife eight children
were born, five sons and three
- daughters, but the former have all passed away. Thomas A.,
who was born March 19, 1804, and was three times married, died
July 2, 1888; Lydia, born Nov. 9, 1805, is the widow of J. P.
SEARS, and is residing in Denver, Colo.; George, born Dec. 10,
1807, was the first white male who died in Janesville, his death
occurring Aug. 20, 1836; John D., born Feb. 20, 1810, wedded
Miss Hannah RICHARDS, and died in Leavenworth, Kan., in 1878;
William, whose birth occurred July 22, 1812, became the husband
of Susan SHOOK, and departed this life in 1873; Joshua, born
on the 7th day of October, 1814, married Rosetta LEMON, and died
March 30, 1861; Lucinda, born Oct. 22, 1816, is the widow of
Samuel O. WELLS, and now resides in the town of Texas, Mich.;
Catherine A., who was born in Newark, Ohio, Aug. 9, 1819, became
the wife of Volney ATWOOD, in Janesville, June 30, 1847, and
they are still residents of Rock County.
- The death of Judge HOLMES occurred April 7, 1861. He was
a valued citizen, an honored
- pioneer and was mourned by many friends. In this early life
he supported the Whig party, but after the organization of the
Republican party cast his ballot with that body. He was of the
Episcopal faith, and was one of the volunteers from Licking County,
Ohio, in the War of 1812.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 894-895.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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