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- ALBERT HOLMES, who is engaged in
- farming on section 10, in the town of Milton, is one
- of Rock County's pioneers, having for forty-seven long years,
made his home within her borders. He was born in Stoddard, N.H.,
Jan. 19, 1832, and is a son of Luke and Sally P. HOLMES, the
former also a native of New Hampshire, and the latter of Massachusetts.
They were married in the old Granite State, where Mr. HOLMES
Sr. followed the occupation of farming, and unto them was there
born a family of nine children, six of whom grew to
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- manhood and womanhood, while four are yet living. Charles,
who is now a resident of the town of Milton; Frank, who is engaged
as a carpenter and builder in Fayette County, Iowa; M. J., who
is transfer agent at Chicago, in the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee
& St. Paul Railroad Company, and Albert of this sketch.
- In 1832 the family left New Hampshire and removed to Oneida
County, N.Y., where they
- continued to reside for ten years, and at the end of that
time emigrated to the Territory of Wisconsin, locating on the
northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 10, in
the town of Milton. Mr. HOLMES there entered a claim for forty
acres, and at once began the development of the farm upon which
he resided until his death, which occurred Jan. 22, 1871, at
the age of seventy-seven years. His wife survived him until April
7, 1889, departing this life at the very advanced age of ninety
years, nine months and four days. On the death of Mr. HOLMES
the county lost one of its best citizens, one who was always
in the front rank of all public enterprises, and was a liberal
supporter of all the institutions calculated to be of public
benefit. His wife was a member of the Universalist Church, and
although he did not belong to any religious organization, he
gave liberally of his means toward promoting their interests,
and led a life of the strictest integrity. In him the poor found
a true friend. Benevolent and charitable, he was always ready
to extend a helping hand, and by many he is held in loving remembrance
for his timely assistance in the hour of need. In politics he
was a radical Democrat, and one of the most inflexible adherents
of that party.
- When our subject was an infant, his parents removed to New
York, where the first ten years of
- his life were spent. He then came to Rock County, and from
that time has witnessed its growth and development. He was reared
to manhood upon his father's farm, receiving his education in
the common schools, and on the 25th day of December, 1854, was
united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth HAWKINS, who was born
in Oneida County, N.Y., Oct. 12, 1835, and is a daughter of Thomas
and Ann (TAFT) HAWKINS, who were also natives of the Empire State.
The family came to Wisconsin in 1849, making their first location
in Jefferson County, whence they removed to this county in 1851,
becoming residents of the town of Lima, where Mr. HAWKINS yet
resides. In 1885 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his
wife, whose death occurred on the 1st day of June.
- Two children have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs.
HOLMES. Blanche, who is now the
- wife of R. S. THOMPSON, hardware merchant of Milton Junction,
by whom she has two children - Eva L. and Alice E.; Addie the
younger, who is at home with her parents. Both have received
good educational advantages, and are ladies of culture and refinement.
- For forty-seven years Mr. HOLMES has been numbered among
the citizens of Rock County and
- is residing upon the old homestead first located by his father,
where the pioneer days were passed - the days when the county
was in its infancy, when few settlements had been made, when
its prairies were still in their primitive condition, and the
smoke of the wigwam had scarcely cleared away. He has been an
active participant in the many changes which have taken place
since that time, has aided in its progress and development, and
has been prominent in the promotion of its social, educational
and religious interests. In political sentiment, he has followed
in the footsteps of his father, and is a staunch supporter of
the Democratic party, while socially he is a member of the I.O.O.F.
The county has no better citizen than Albert HOLMES and his wife,
whose many kind deeds, acts of charity and upright lives have
won for them the highest respect of all. Their circle of friends
is extensive, and the regard in which they are held is well merited.
The portraits of this worthy couple will be seen upon another
page.
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-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 483-484.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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