My Genealogy Hound

William M. Holmes, editor and publisher of the Marion Reform, was born in Memphis, Tenn., May 29, 1865, and is the son of George C. Holmes whose birth occurred in Georgia in 1834. The latter is a son of George L. Holmes, born in Massachusetts, of English descent. George C. Holmes was reared in Memphis from the time he was one year old, and was married in that city to Miss Ann Frances James, daughter of James C. and Sarah (Winkford) James, originally from Tennessee and Kentucky, respectively, the former of whom was at one time Governor and United States senator of his native State. Gov. James was a self-made man and an old line Whig and died in Tennessee in 1859. Mr. Holmes died in Memphis February 21, 1884, and his widow still resides in that city. William M. Holmes, the fifth in a family of eight children, of whom five are still living, was brought up and educated in Memphis, where he learned the printer’s trade, mostly in the Avalanche office. He worked at his adopted calling for about nine years before commencing for himself and during that time rose from the lowest position to the highest in the Avalanche office, first being office boy, and then, respectively, apprentice, compositor, proof-reader, assistant foreman, local reporter and lastly, commercial editor. In August, 1889, he came to Marion from Memphis and started the Reform, which is a splendid success as a local newspaper, published in a manner to win the commendation of all. In 1885 Mr. Holmes was married in Memphis to Miss Ruby Burrow, born in Humboldt, Tenn., July 20, 1868. She is a daughter of John Burrow. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes are the happy parents of two children: Frank E. and Eunice. Mrs. Holmes is an earnest worker in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, to which she belongs. Her husband is connected with the Typographical Union of Memphis, and has been a stanch Democrat since casting his first vote, which was for Cleveland. He is a man of intellect and deep thought, and the Reform promises to become a reforming power under the brilliant management of its present editor.