Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1905-05-18
j. HOI. MES.
Clothing. Hats. cups aud Gents
FURNISHINGS.

Clothing. Hats, cups and E"nts
FURNISHINGS.
For many years ~. Holmes has beer
one Of the leading business men Of Beld-
ing. and his is now the oldest clothing
store in the city, having been established
by himself and brother. L. W., eighteen
years ago.
Mr.. Holmes first engaged in business in
this city twenty years ago the coming
summer His first mercantile venture
consisted Of "a stock Of drugs. stationery.
wall paper and groceries, located in a
wooden building which stood where the
store of Robinson d hudson now stands.
Two or three years after Mr. Holmes
formed copartnershlp with II. j. Con-
nell under the firm name Of L. l.. Holmes
& ConnelL =Inl892 they sold the stock
Of groceries to Robinson & Hudson, NOV
ing the drug stock to store standing
where Council Bros store now is. and
which had been erected 10y Mr. Holmes
the year previous
At the time of the removal Frank j
Cornell was admttoa ass member Of
the firm. ana the name changed 10
Holmes g. Council rs May 1895 their
store was destroyed aV the disastrous
fire which visited TINS City bat Was Inn
nediately rebuilt by Mr. IioImes
MraHolmes. did not. however devote
his entire attontionto tbs store ZInl888
himself ard brother opened d
clothing store in building standing
where the Model meat MAJ ketnow stands
n 1892 this stock was moved toa store
standing where the American Expires
office is now located This store was al-
so destroyed by the big fire off895,
Immediately after the fire Holmes
Brothers purchased the clothing stock Of
Chas. F. Wood. n the store now occupied
by Mr.. Holmes, and here the business has
since been conducted In January 904
Mr.. Holmes purchased the interest Of his
brother, and since that time has conduct
ed the business alone.
Mr. Holmes carries a very complete
line Of clothing, hats. caps, gents furnish
inEs, trunks, valises, and by fair dealing,
courteous treatment and selling reliable
goods at reasonable prices has establish
ed and maintained very large trade.
fully keeping pace with the rapid growth
Of the CITY,
Mr. Holmes has not devoted his entire
attention to the mercantile business, but
for years has been considerably Interested
In real estate He has built and sold a
large number Of dwelling houses in this
city and at the present time is the owner
of the store occupied by Council Bros.
and sight dwelling houses. besides having
a one-third interest with his brother T.
w. ard -. r. Robinson lin the three stores
occupied by NJ f. Peck, W. A. Chaye and
Robinson 90 Hudson. Mr. Holmes has
a three story brick store at Greenville.
two farms in Orleans township and
quantity Of timber land in the upper pen
InsaIa Of Michigan Heis a stookho.der
and director in the Peoples Savings Bank
and the BeIdnR Building & Loan Associa-
ton
Mr. Holmes has never been what could
be called politician, still he has always
been considerably interested in local poll
tics and served as treasurer of the town
ship of0tsoo, before the incorporation Of
the city Of Belding, and was later chosen
the first supervisor to represent the sec
ond ward, after Incorporation as a city
Mr. Holmes is also a member of the
Congraga tionaI church, Masons, Knights
Of Pyth.as and Maocabees