Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Portrait and Biographical Album of Huron County, Michigan Pub. Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1884 [300-301] ALDRICH HOLMES, general merchant and dealer in grain at Case- ville, is one of the the leading and prominent business men of Huron County. He was born July 19, 1836, in Leeds Co., Ont., and is the son of RICHARD and MARY A. (ALDRICH) HOLMES. His father is yet a resident of Leeds County, and was born April 27, 1787, in Columbia Co., N.Y. His powers of mind are as complete as in his prime, and on the seventh day of July, 1884, he wrote the date of his birth and his birthplace in a fair, legible hand, to which he affixed his name. His son, the subject of this sketch, visited him in the summer of 1884, and found him in the field, hoeing corn! The mother, who was a distant relative of DR. BEN. FRANKLIN, was born July 1, 1797, and died March 13, 1870, on the homestead where the father is still living, and of which he has been a resident 58 years, or since 1826. They were the parents of 12 children, all of whom save the youngest, who died in his forty-first year, are living and in good health. The eldest will be 70 years old on the first day of January, 1885. MR. J. ALDRICH HOLMES was reared on his father's farm, and ob- tained a good education. In the winter of 1855-6, he engaged in teaching school in Leeds Co., Ont., returning in the spring to the farm where he assisted in the farm labors until September of the same year. He then went to Haldimand Co., Ont, and again became a teacher. He continued there in that vocation until May, 1858, and again returned to the farm. In September following, he went again to Haldimand County, and taught school until the spring of 1859. He then engaged as a salesman in a store at Selkirk, in the same county. He remained in that capacity until February, 1866. His salary for the first six months was $20 and board for that entire period. In connection with his labors as clerk, he officiated as book-keeper. At the time named, associated with a fellow clerk, he purchased the stock of their employer and managed the business about one year, when MR. HOLMES sold out. He spent the winter of 1866-7 at the Commercial College at Poughkeepsie, N.Y. The follow- ing summer he passed with little profit in the Madock mineral regions of Canada, and in the winter of 1867-8 he again engaged in teaching in Haldimand County. In May, 1868, he came to Ora Labor (now Bay Port), Huron County, where he conducted a limited mercantile enterprise in the interests of J. W. SNELL. In October of the same year he embarked in trade with H. C. MARVIN, at Unionville, Tuscola Co., Mich., buying a half interest in a trade already established. His marriage to SUSIE A. HOLMES took place in February, 1869, and five children, the youngest of whom died in infancy, have been born to them as follows: R. WILL, at Unionville, Dec. 8, 1869; S. ESTELLA, March 25, 1872; BERTHA A., July 2, 1874; M. MAUDE, July 6, 1876. The three last named were born at Caseville. MRS. HOLMES is the daughter of WILLIAM and MARY (HOOVER) HOLMES, and was born April 30, 1839, in Haldimand Co., Ont, where her father has lived for half a century. Her mother, who was a native of Pennsylvania, died April 4, 1869, at her residence. She was born Nov. 1, 1803. Her father was born in March, 1810, and is a money lender and a man of wealth. Her parents had one son and four daughters. MR. HOLMES continued in business at Unionville with MR. MARVIN until January, 1871, when he sold to his partner and removed in April following to Caseville. He rented a small store building in the lower part of the village, where he transacted mercantile busi- ness until September, 1872. In the summer of that year he pur- chased a lot and erected a suitable and convenient building, which he has since occupied. He is a Notary Public, and does the busi- ness common to the office. His lines of merchandise is suitable for the accommodation of his local patronage and include the arti- cles common to a general mercantile establishment. His building, which is 40 x 84 feet in size, is one of the largest in the county used for like purposes. MR. HOLMES owns some wild lands and a small improved farm. =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our growing collection of FREE online information by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/ ===========================================================================