The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-12-09
Obituary..

In ocean county, N. D., rev. WIN.
Holmes began his earthly life Sept. 8th,
1908. Nov. %, 1897, from his home
near Memphis, Ohio,he entered heaven,
toward which his footsteps have been
pressing almost ninety years.
In the place of his birth he spent his
childhood and youth. He lacked the
advantages of an education in his early
life, all schools being upon the sub.
scription plan in those early times, and
the opportunities which the free school
of the present day furnishes were not
then known. Although thirsting for
knowledge and an education, he only
had the privilege of the common school
for nine months, and that before he was
fourteen years Of age. But, courageous,
strong and brave, he pushed his way
steadily onward. In 1850, Father
Holmes made tour though western
New York and during his travels he had
an experience which possibly no other
person living has had. He was passen.
ger on the first steamboat that ever ran
on America waters-the old Robert
Fulton. He also rode on train of cars
drawn by the first engine ever built in
America. Aug 16, 1929, he was married
to Catharine Stout at Forked River,
NJ. Seven years later they came to
Ohio. This union was made more hap
py by four children all OF whom are liv
ing. Nov. 16, 1s4O, the tender ties were
broken and the wife was laid to rest. A
few years later he was married to a
noble Christian woman, Elizabeth Cow.
gill. To this union four more children
who still live gave them joy and cheer.
But again death claimed the loved wife,
and in sorrow she was laid to rest March
10, 1877. He was again married to Mrs.
Sarah T. Wright. With this excellent
wife in the peace and quiet of the dear
old home, he spent his last years. Faith.
er Holmes embraced the Christian re.
ligion in his eighteenth year. The meet.
ing was held in an old dwelling house
near the Atlantic Ocean. Shortly after
his conversion at Goodluck under the
ministry of Rev. Burris, he united with
with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
He was active in religious work and
soon began to exercise in public and
hold prayer meetings. Such was his
custom after he came to this vicinity
and during the long years of his active
life, scarcely a Sabbath day passed on
which he did not hold a meeting of some
kind. About the year OF 1882, Rev.
Hance came from N. J to this section
and being full of zeal for the master,
went all over this part of the country
preaching the word of life and organic
ing societies. Father Holmes was asso.
ciated with him in organizing societies at
Jacksonville, South Plymouth. Sabina
and Memphis, and in other localities.
While he lived near Lexington, the so,
ciety was organized there and Rev.
Hance appointed him leader. He was
licensed to exhort in 1S3land to preach
in 1S40 on what was then called the
Washington Ohio Conference. He pur.
sued the course of study required, pass
ed his examination and was elected to
deacon's order in 1874, and would have
been ordained at his own conference
which met in Chillicothe in Sept. of that
year but was providentially hindered
from attending. He had certificate of
his election from Rev. James NJ. Trim.
BILE, Sec. of conference, and being in
Philadelphia at the time of the session
of that conference, presented his certif.
cate of election and was ordained dea.
con by Bishop T. A. Morris in Wharton
chapel, Philadelphia, in 1874. Father
Holmes has lived beautiful life. He
has been one of the purest of men, con.
scientious in every purpose of his life.
All who have come in touch with that
life of splendid manhood and noble
character have been blest.
His last sickness which was of short
duration, lasting but a week, was attend.
ed with great suffering, but with greatest
Christian joy and triumph. The closing
moments passing very calmly away
without struggle. Thus ends the pure
and noble life. Farewell dear husband,
father, friend; we shall meet you again
in the sunbright cline OF eternal joy.