| Sources |
- [S926] Find-A-Grave, (www.findagrave.com).
Thomas Henry "Harry" Holmes
Birth: Dec. 22, 1866
Rippingale
Lincolnshire, England
Death: Jan. 7, 1945
Algona
Kossuth County
Iowa, USA
HARRY HOLMES, ALGONIAN FOR 30 YEARS, PASSES,Death Sunday Closes a Last Illness of 8 Months.
T. H. Holmes Sr., 77, in the dry-cleaning business here for 30 years, died at his home Sunday at 12:45 p.m. following an acute illness of only a few days.
Mr. Holmes had been on noticeably failing health since last May. He submitted to surgery at that time, and on return home from Fort Dodge hospital seemed for a time to be recovering. At intervals he was unwell, and he returned to the hospital several times.
Concerned because of help storage, Mr. Holmes worked at the shop whenever he could, and he continued to do so til six weeks ago. He welcomed callers there and visited cheerfully with friends up to a week ago.
Grew Up at Oskaloosa
The son of Mathew and Mary Holmes, Mr. Holmes was born Dec 22, 1867 in England, but when a lad of seven was brought by his parents to the United States. The family came directly to Oskaloosa, where they had friends, and it was there that Mr. Holmes grew up.
In 1893 marriage to Rosalie Blattner took place, and they were parents of four children: Charles, Marie, Thomas Harry, and Fred. Charles and Fred, also their mother, are dead.
At Oskaloosa Mr. Holmes turned his hand to any worthwhile work to make a living. He was in the grocery business, and he once had a watch repair shop. After the death of his wife he worked with an utilities construction company on water towers and pumping plants in the west and Midwest states.
Came Here in 1914
In 1914 Mr. Holmes came to Algona and bought a dry-cleaning business then operated by A. H. Neilson in the building now used by Bjustrom furniture store.
He opened with a force of only two, himself and a helper, and he was a pioneer in improving service to patrons here. He had the first free delivery for dry cleaning in town, and he also established the first Algona truck for rural delivery.
In 1940 Mr. Holmes sold a half interest to D. G. Clopton, and in 1941 the plant was moved to the present location in the new brick building on So. Harlan built by Mr. Holmes.
Mr. Holmes was a member of the Episcopal church, a former member of the local Kiwanis club, for many years treasurer of the Country Club,which latter position he resigned late last summer. He was a member of the Zagazig Masonic Shrine, Des Moines, of Prudence Lodge No. 205, here, and of Prudence Chapter N. 70, Algona, also of the Holy Grail Commandery, Emmetsburg, and of Zarepath consistory No. 4, Davenport.
Funeral Tomorrow
On August 25, 1926, Mr. Holmes was married here to Mrs. Elizabeth Ressequie, former county recorder and assistant city clerk, and she, with his daughter, Mrs. Marie Clough, of Hollywood, Calif., his son T. H. Holmes Jr., here, and three grandsons Thomas, James, and Charles Holmes, and a brother, Wm. M. Holmes, Oskaloosa, and a step-son, Wilfred Ressequie, Chicago, survive.
The body will lie in state at the Mc Cullough funeral chapel til the funeral service, which has been tentative announced for Wednesday at 2 o'clock at the Episcopal church here, the Rev. Father Purrington, Estherville, to be in charge.
Pallbearers here will be Kirby Smith, Burt, C. W. Nicoulin, C. R. LaBarre, L. C. Hansen, Harry Mc Murray, and Mr. Clopton. The body will be taken by train to Oskaloosa, and service there will be held Thursday, with burial in a family lot.
Family links:
Parents:
Matthew Holmes (1832 - 1928)
Mary Ann Symonds Holmes (1830 - 1908)
Children:
Charles M. Holmes (1894 - 1910)*
Marie Louise Holmes Clough (1896 - 1954)*
Thomas Henry Holmes (1900 - 1970)*
Fred William Holmes (1903 - 1905)*
Spouses:
Rosamond Elizabeth Blattner Holmes (1871 - 1906)
Elizabeth J. McGirr Holmes (1875 - 1947)
*Point here for explanation
Burial:
Forest Cemetery
Oskaloosa
Mahaska County
Iowa, USA
Created by: Chuckles
Record added: Jun 15, 2010
Find A Grave Memorial# 53730005
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1866 - 1945 (78 years)