California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


GEORGE WASHINGTON HOLMES. Occupying an honored position among the many worthy citizens 
of Fresno county is George W. Holmes, who is now serving as postmaster at Selma. A man of 
integrity, industry and sterling worth, he has been successful in his business enterprises by earnest 
effort acquiring a fair share of this world's goods. A son of Jacob Holmes, he was born March 3, 
1846, in Fayette county, Ohio. 

A native of New Jersey, Jacob Holmes was born May 10, 1806. He was reared and educated 
on the Atlantic coast, living there until 1840. Following the surging tide of emigration west- 
ward in that year, he moved to Fayette county, Ohio, where he took up land, from which he 
improved a farm. Going thence to Highland county, Ohio, in 1857, he there continued in 
agricultural pursuits during his active career, living in that part of the state until his death. 
March 2, 1896, in his ninety-first year. He married Sarah Worden, who was born in New Jer- 
sey, in 1 810, and died in Ohio, in 1892. Six sons and an equal number of daughters blessed 
their union, and of these three children died in infancy, five sons and four daughters growing 
to years of maturity. 

The ninth child in order of birth to his parents. George W. Holmes was bred and educated in 
Ohio. Removing to Illinois in the fall of 1865, he found employment in Biggsville, where he 
became manager of the lumber yard for the Criswell Lumber Company, after which he was clerk 
in a mercantile house for two years. Then, in company with a friend, he bought out his em- 
ployer, and four years later purchased the interest of his partner in the business. He established 
a large and remunerative trade as a general merchant, continuing there until his store and its 
contents were destroyed by fire in 1883. Migrating then to Nebraska, Mr. Holmes bought 
one hundred and sixty acres of land in York county, near York, and was there engaged in 
farming from 1883 until 1891. Coming to California in that year, he purchased forty acres of 
land on the McCall road, three and one-half miles north of Selma, and began the culture of 
fruit and grapes. In 1896 he bought a ranch of forty acres, lying south of Selma, and was there 
engaged in business as a dairyman for six years. In 1902 Mr. Holmes was appointed postmaster at 
Selma, and, obtaining his commission February 15, 1902, has since served in that capacity, per- 
forming the duties devolving upon him with ability and fidelity. 

While a resident of Illinois, Mr. Holmes was married in 1866 to Catherine Baxter, a native of 
Maryland, and they have seven children living, namely : Sarah Elizabeth, wife of Walter Fisher, 
of Los Angeles; John A., of San Francisco; Viola, wife of E. H. Eskew, of Los Angeles ; Minnie, 
wife of J. D. Greene, of Selma ; Lela, wife of Charles Heiguira; Helen, assistant postmaster at Selma; 
and Ralph Harrison, at school in Los Angeles. Mr. Holmes is a sound Republican in politics, and 
while in Nebraska served two terms as county assessor of York county and two terms as county 
supervisor. He is a man of deep religious convictions, and is an active member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church.