My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Perry County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

Richard M. Holmes. This enterprising farmer and blacksmith was born in Ste. Genevieve County, Mo., May 30, 1843, being a son of William J. and Margaret (Madden) Holmes, both natives of that county. The former, of Scotch-Irish descent, first saw the light of day in 1818, and was one of the early settlers of Perry County, Ark., where he died in 1874. His wife, born about 1829, still lives with her son Richard. She is the mother of four children, all in Perry County, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest. He was reared in this county to a farm experience, where he received his education in the subscription schools, and when the war broke out he enlisted in Company H, Tenth Arkansas Infantry, serving till the surrender, in 1865. He took an active part in the battles of Shiloh and Port Hudson, and in many skirmishes. Returning home to his father’s place in Perry County (the father having in the meantime resided in Texas), Mr. Holmes remained until February 13, 1873, when he married Miss Susan Burke, a native of Pontotoc County, Miss., born in 1852. She became the mother of four children, two living, Mollie and Maggie, and died November 9, 1881. Mr. Holmes has 165 acres of excellent land, about fifty acres of which are under cultivation. Some fifty acres of this land is in Aplin, where he resides. He has been a member of the Masonic order since 1869, and is a member of Aplin Lodge No. 444. In politics he is a Democrat and for three years was deputy sheriff under Sheriff Oliver. He has been school director of Aplin for three years, and takes a great interest in the promotion of education and other worthy affairs. His mother is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 53 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Perry County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Perry County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Perry County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.