WILLIAM HOLMES

From "Past and Present of Clinton county" - 1910

William H. Holmes, who is serving for the third term as township treasurer of
Eagle township and makes his home on section 32, where he is extensively
engaged in farming, was born in Oneida township, Eaton county, Michigan,
on the 9th of September, I86I. His parents, Anson T. and Sylvia (Henry) Holmes,
were also natives of Michigan, the former a native of Washtenaw county and the
latter of Eaton county. In I854 the father removed to Clinton county with his parents, settling on section 32, Eagle township, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land where he lived on this and the adjoining farm until 189I, when he moved to Grand Ledge. He died at that place in May, I901, at the age of sixty-six years, and is still survived by his wife, who resides in Grand Ledge.

Calvin Holmes, the paternal grandfather, was a native of New York and brought his family to Michigan in I834, where he lived to the advanced age of ninety-four
years, while his wife, Sylvia Maltby, passed away at the age of seventy-eight years. In their family were the following named: Louisa, the wife of Henry Swegles, of Eaton county, Michigan; Wilson, who is living in Ludington, Michigan; Rosina,
deceased; Mrs. Sarah Van Leuvan, a widow; Luther, of Grand Ledge; Willis,
deceased; and Elizabeth Robinson.

William H. Holmes, whose name introduces this review, is indebted to the district
schools for the educational privileges he enjoyed, and through the period of
vacations he engaged in farming on the old homestead, thus becoming familiar
with all the duties and labors that fell to the lot of the agriculturist. In 1885 he
began farming on his own account on forty acres of land and in 1901 he added to
his property nearly all of the old homestead farm on section 32, Eagle township, so
that he now has a valuable property which is productive by reason of the care and
labor he has bestowed upon it. He is a thorough up-to-date farmer, painstaking
and careful in the management of his business, practical and progressive in all that
he does and his efforts have been resultant factors in winning his success.

On the Ioth of June, 1885, Mr. Holmes was married to Miss Lena Stearns, a
daughter of Thompson Stearns, of Eagle. In politics he is a republican, prominent
in the local ranks of his party. He has served as justice of the peace for two terms and as a member of the board of reviews and in 1901 was elected treasurer of Eagle township, which office he held two terms and is now serving for the third term. He is prompt and faithful in the performance of all his public duties and the trust reposed in him is well merited. He belongs to the Grange, has been identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for ten years and is a member of the Universalist church of Eagle.