| Notes |
- Obituary
THE LATE J. W. HOLMES
September 2, 1826 Cayuga, Ontario
At Selkirk, on Saturday, August 21st, Mr. Jose W. Holmes passed suddenly away at his home in the village while reading, which was ever his favorite pastime and relaxation from business, being very widely read and possessing a wide knowledge of not only current literature, but historically was volumes in himself.
Born on a farm in the Township of Rainham on July 4th 1842, being the only son of the late William Holmes and Mary Hoover, the earliest settlers of the Township he continued to farm at the old home until the year 1875, when he moved to the Township of Walpole and purchased a farm on the town-line just north of the Village where he continued as a successful farmer for a number of years, moving into the village of Selkirk about the year 1885, where he established an Insurance and Conveyancing business which grew extensively, and he was known far and wide as the poor man's friend. His public duties required much of his time, which was freely given many times without thought of recompense, and during this service to his fellowmen and country he established a clientele of friends which are legion.
He entered public life as a very young man being elected Reeve of the Township of Rainham in the year 1867, and served continuously in that office until 1875, when he moved to Walpole Township. In the year 1880, he was again persuaded by his many friends to again assume Municpal duties and in that year was elected Reeve of Walpole, and re-elected in 1881. After a few years respite he was again called to the Reeveship in 1888, and served faithfully and well as the ruling head of the Township of Walpole until the time he was returned as the Liberal Member for Haldimand in the Provincial Legislature in 1898, holding the seat through two parliaments.
His wide knowledge of municipal matters was quickly recognized in parliament and he held the position of Chairman of the Municipal Legislative Committee of the House for a number of years.
The deceased was married on November 24th, 1869, to Martha Wilde of Napanee, Ontario (who pre-deceased him about ten years) and to whom were born a family of five sons and two daughters, all of whom are living, namely: Ivan W. of Jarvis; Mrs. F. D. Fry of Detroit; Dr. Cecil U. & Elmo R. of Edmonton, Alta; O. Blake of Los Angeles, Cal; William C. of Toronto; and Mrs. Arthur Stead of Hamilton. Besides the above family the deceased left to mourn his passing, one sister, Mrs. William Shearer of Villa Nova, and one half-sister, Mrs. S. H. Smiley of Portland, Ore. All that is mortal of a man so widely known, and a friend so deeply revered now lie in the beautiful Union Cemetery in the village of Selkirk, in one of the earliest settled portions of his native Township and within call of his stately home left behind. The funeral service was conducted at his late residence on Tuesday last by the Rev. Mr. Walker, Pastor of the Baptist church in the presence of a very large concourse of mourners and friends of the deceased. The pall bearers were R. F. Miller, C. J. Smelser, Alex Miller, Tillman Dennis, Erwin Hoover and P. W. Armstrong.
Marriage
Marriage - Jose William Holmes, 28, Farmer, Born Township of Rainham, Resides Village of Selkirk, son of William & Mary, Married Martha Wilde, 24,Born North Fredericksburgh, Resides same, daughter of Andrew & Catharine. Witnesses George C. Wilde & Maggie Holmes, both of Napanee, on 24 November, 1869, at North Fredericksburgh.
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Rainham Builders
1842 - 1926 (84 years)
, d. 8 May 1892 (Age 82 years)