My Genealogy Hound

NATHANIEL HOLMES, founder of the banking-house of N. Holmes & Sons, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in March, 1782. He married Eleanor Kerr, who was reared in the same locality, and together they came to Pittsburgh in 1807. After engaging in mercantile pursuits Mr. Holmes, in 1822, bought out an exchange-broker named Gilmore, and continued to transact a banking business till his death, in 1849; his wife died two years previously. They had three sons—Thomas Ridgway, Nathaniel and John Kerr; and two daughters—Mary (wife of W. W. Wallace), who died before her father, and Jane (widow of W. B. Pusey), who is still living. The two eldest sons became his associates in business, but the first retired in 1857, and died soon after without issue. John K. gave some attention to literature and painting; he died in 1874, leaving no offspring. Mr. Holmes was a member of the M. E. Church,, and an opponent of the M. P. seceders. He was a stanch whig.

Nathaniel, second son of the above, was born July 22, 1820, in Pittsburgh, and carried on the business established by his father until his death, in March, 1866. He was one of the incorporators of the Citizens’ Passenger railway, the Pittsburgh & Birmingham railway and Western Insurance company. With his elder brother he continued the cotton-manufactory firm of Blackstock, Bell & Co., and later became head of the firm of Holmes, Bell & Co. (this being part of his father’s estate). He married Susan, daughter of John and Mary Grier. Nathaniel, Jr., had three sons and two daughters, who reside with their widowed mother in Pittsburgh. Their names are John G., William R., Nathaniel, Mary G. and Eleanor K.