San Joaquin County
Biographies
THOMAS J. HOLMES
THOMAS J. HOLMES is a
Kentuckian by birth, born in Harrison County, January 11, 1825, his parents
being Thomas, a native of Virginia, and Jane (Vance) Holmes, a native of
Kentucky. In 1839 they removed to Marion County, Missouri, where they made
their home up to the time of their death, both dying the same year, at an
advanced age. In their family were eight children.
Thomas, the subject of this
sketch, lived with his parents until he was twenty-one years old, working on
his father’s farm and teaching school for a while. He was married the year
after he became of age, in 1847, and until 1851 carried on farming and teaching
school. In 1851 he bought an ox team and joined some neighbors who were coming
to California. They crossed the Missouri river April 18, landing at Diamond
Spring, El Dorado County, August 28, 1851. He
commenced mining and continued it until 1860; during all these years, he, like
many others, made considerable money in the mines, but was not able to save it.
At length he determined to go into some other business. He came down to
Stockton, landing there with but $10 in his pocket. He worked for wages a few
years, and finally settled on the place owned by Victor Jahan,
where he stayed a year, when he purchased his present place of 240 acres,
situated in Liberty Township, in the northern part of the county, and where he
has resided since 1868.
Politically Mr. Holmes was an
old-time Whig until that party became absorbed in the Know-Nothings, since
which time he has been a Democrat.
Mr. Holmes was married to his
present wife, Mrs. Anna (McGuin Bemenderfer)
Holmes, in October, 1880. By her former husband there is one child, born
February 2, 1880, in San Francisco, in San Francisco, named Louis Bemenderfer; and Mary J. born January 23, 1882, is of the
present union.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 468-469. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Biographies
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
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