Few men of Fayette County are as widely and
favorably known as D. A. HOLMES, of Donnan. He is one of the strong and
influential citizens whose lives have become an essential part of the history of
this section of the state, and for years his name has been synonymous for all
that constitutes honorable and upright manhood. . . . .
Mr. Holmes was born in Rensselea county, New York, on January 5,
1834, and is a son of William and Rachel (THOMPSON)
HOLMES. The father came from his native land to New York state in 1820
and was there married. In 1838 he came to Oswego county, New York, where he
followed the vocation of farming, though earlier in life he had been a weaver.
In 1864 he came to Fayette county, Iowa, and here spent his remaining days, his
death occurring in 1883 at the age of eighty-three years; he had been preceded
to the silent land a number of years by his wife, whose death occurred in 1870.
They were the parents of five children, four sons and a daughter, of which
number the daughter, Mrs. Margaret J. CLAXTON, and the subject
are the only ones living.
D. A. Holmes, who spent his boyhood days
on the home farm, was given the advantage of a good practical education, his
common school training being supplemented by a course in the Mexico (New York)
Academy. He engaged in teaching school and was so employed in New York and in
Fayette county, Iowa, for sever years. He then decided to make agriculture his
life work and to the end he bought forty acres of land, to the cultivation of
which he assiduously applied himself. . . . . today he is the owner of four
hundred acres of good land, practically all of which is under cultivation or
devoted to pasture for his livestock. He has been an extensive and successful
breeder of pure-bred Durham and Galloway cattle . . . . In 1904, Mr. Holmes
went to California, remaining there until the spring of the following year, and
on his return he erected a fine residence in the attractive village of Donnan,
where he now resides . . .
Politically, Mr. Holmes is a stanch
supporter of the Democratic party and has held several local offices, . . . .
Fraternally, he is a member of the Good Templars. . . .
In 1860 Mr.
Holmes was united in marriage to Angelica NEWMAN, the daughter
of John and Catherine NEWMAN, and the widow of J. A. HOLMES,
having by that marriage two children, James A. and Lizzie C. Her parents were
born in Germany and on coming to the United States settled in Saratoga county,
New York, where they spent the remainder of their days. To Mr. and Mrs. Holmes
were born two children, S. Kate, deceased, and D. N., a farmer in Center
township, this county. Mrs. Angelica Holmes died in 1867 and in 1869 Mr. Holmes
married Sarah CARTER, who was born at Carterville, Oswego
county, New York, the daughter of Robert G. and Emily M. (CHITTENDON)
CARTER, the father a native of Ireland the mother of Westland,
New York, her people being of Scotch origin. Robert G. Carter came to Oswego
county, New York, when seventeen years of age, and was married in Oneida county,
that state. He became the father of four sons and a daughter, of which number
four are living. Mr. Carter was a successful farmer and extensive land owner,
his holdings at one time amounting to about two thousand acres. He was also
engaged in mercantile business, owned and operated a grist-mill and a saw-mill,
a tannery and a hotel. His death occurred in 1893 and his widow passed away in
1903. To the subject's second union were born four children, namely: One that
died in infancy; George R., born August 23, 1871, is engaged in business at
Donnan; John Andrew, and Ina Sarah, the wife of Henry ADAMS,
of West Union. John Andrew HOLMES, who is the successful
pastor of a large Congregational church at Champaign, Illinois, received a
splendid education, being thoroughly equipped for the sacred calling to which he
has devoted his life.. . . .
Mrs. Holmes is descended on the maternal
side from Jerry CHITTENDEN, a soldier of the Revolutionary
war, who was with the patriot forces at Valley Forge and Yorktown, and who,
though of English extraction, devoted himself unselfishly to the cause of the
colonists. For his services he received a land warrant for six hundred acres of
land. His wife was Asena DOUGLAS, a cousin of Stephen A.
DOUGLAS.
Mr. Holmes is justly numbered among the
representative men of his county. . . . ."
(Source book contains a picture of "Mr. and Mrs. David A. Holmes.")