Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-06-17
HIS COURT ADJOURNED
Judge Holmes Mortal Record Now
Forever Closed.
TO Be REyIEWEDBY A HIGHER COURT
The Loss of His Estimabis wife Was .
Blow from Which He Never Rallied
A sIainfes. Professionai Career
and Private Lie

Judge John T. Holmes died yesterday
morning about ii o'clock, At his home,
Il Bareiay-st. In the sad demise OF
this honored lawyer. jurist and gentle
man, the community mas suffered an
Irreparable loss. So long has he been
associated with all that pertained TO
the welfare and peace of this city and
county that his taking away by the Ruler
of All Things, leaves vacancy that
can not he easily filled. In passing
from this world 10 his reward beyond
Judge Holmes leaves behind a memory
for his family and friends which is rife
with honor and esteem. Every act OF
his life was such that not a spot of dis
repute has ever blackened his pure
character. As n counsellor, his advice
was inyaluable; as n lawyer, he was
able and conscientious. His friendship
Was something to be priced and
retained. Since the death Of his
wife, last November. for whom he
entertained the most unbouuded love,
the Judge has not been the same man
He went about his duties as judge OF
the police court with resignation
mournful to behold. For some time
past he has only been able to partially
preside III his court on account OF de-
cling health. He never fully recovered
from the bereavement caused by the
death of ms life long companion. His
family have noticed that existence had
htti.. or no ut for hin, and no
evinced no desire to rally from his great
affiiction. Though his death causes
deep regret and sorrow in the hearts of
his family, it Is considered better SO.
He leaves three children, Mrs. l.. {.
Remington, Miss LIZZIE Holmes and
John Z. Holmes, Jr. The following
creditable sketch of his life WAS taken
from Baxter's History Of Grand Rapids:
John I. Holmes has been upward of
half a century an honorable, useful
and esteemed citizen of Grand Rapids.
lie was born Dec. IL, 1915, at Carlisle,
Schoharie county, n. Y. His father,
Daniel Holmes, was native of Sara
toga, and for some forty years deacon
in the Presbyterian church in Niagara
county. N. Y. His mother, Sally (Tay-
lor) Holmes, was daughter of John
Taylor (for many years judge in Sara
toga county, n. y. and sister of John
W. Taylor, who represented the Sara
toga district in congress for ten consec-
utive terms twenty years., and was
speaker III the house In the With and
XIXth congresses. John T. Holmes
in early youth attended the common
schools In Niagara county, and o
elect school in Cherry Valley. His
parents hoped he would become q
clergyman, but as he was not thus in-
clined, he followed farm work and
clerking in store during the latter
part of his minority. March 81, 1886,
he married Mary Ann, daughter of
Nathan Pratt, of Niagara county, who
had been a soldier in the Revolutionary
war. In 1887 they came to Detroit,
passed several months in the southern
part of the State; then came to Grand
Rapids, arriving February IL, 1885, and
made this their permant home.
Here Mr.. Holmes engaged at
first as a clerk; but in 1889, with
VIM. q. Henry, opened general
assortment store, where now is the
western part of the Morton house, under
the firm name of Henry & Holmes.
This continued about three years, he
during the time reading law as he found
opportunity, and then pursuing that
study in the office of Bridge & Calkins.
May IL, lS43, together with Solomon l..
Withey and Sylvester Granger, he was
admitted to the bar of the Kent
circuit, Justice Epaphroditus Ran
som rresiding-they being the first
students thus regularly admitted IN
this county. In lS45 he was chosen
justice of the peace, which Office he re-
signed after serving three years. lie
was also tor some years master in chan
Gerry, and held that Office at the time
when its duties were transferred to
circuit court commissioners. In 1852
and again IN 1874 he was elected prose-
cutting attorney for kentcounty, serving
in that Office four years. In 1860 he was
the Democratic nominee for State SEN
ator, and in ls62 the candidate Of the
same party for Attorney General of the
State, leading his associates upon the
ticket, but III common with them was
defeated. Afterward he would accept
no nomination for an Office strictly
political. In 1915, when the superior
court OF Grand Rapids was established
he was elected judge of that tribunal
and served the full term OF SIX years.
He was elected Judge of the police
court-the first under its present organ
ization-in April. 1882, receiving a ma
jority of I7l3 out of total OF 67S5
votes; was re-elected in 1886, and again
in April, 1890. tbs time 10y a
plurality of 22l5 and the largest
vote ever given candidate in
this city, and is the present occupant of
that beIrh. OF members of the Kent
count bar only one living in Grand
Rapids has seen longer professional
service than Judge Holmes. He came
TO Grand Rapios when 1t was but n
small hamlet IN the wilderness, and has
seen and been an active participant in
its growth and development TO town
of near seventy thousand people, with
corresponding material wealth; and all
that time has been closely identified
with its judicial and social history.
He has teen tor many years an hon
ored member of the Old Settlers asso-
cation. In religion Judge Holmes was
an Episcopalsn. In politics he was a
lifelong Democrat. During the periot
Of the wsr Of the rebellion ne was an
ardent supporter of the Union eausc
strongly aniaeonlzed the faction called
"coppeTheads," and by speeches and
personal efforts IN Kent and adjoining
counties, dId much IN forwarding en-
lstnents aud IN sending artirics Of
comfort TO the army, and would never
receive A pepnv for hls services or ex-