Following is one of the Biographies and Stories which where gathered by Charles Sumner McKamy in the 1950s for publication in a Crawford County History Book. Unfortunately he passed away before the book was published.
Thomas J. Holmes was born May 8, 1832, in Paye County, Virginia. Phoebe C. Richard, his wife, was born Feb. 10, 1830, Paye County, Va.
Thomas J. Holmes came to Illinois with his parents in 1852, made a trip back to Va. To marry Phoebe C. Richard, Feb. 8, 1855, then lived near or in Hutsonville, engaged as manage of a cooper shop. Six children were born: Willis M., born Dec. 27, 1857; Winfield S., Jan 30, 1860; Flora E., April 8, 1862; Edward, March 31, 1864; Perry C., June 8, 1867 and Sarah E., July 8, 1871. Flora E. died July 13, 1863, Sarah E. died on Aug. 9, 1872, Phoebe C., wife, died Dec. 12, 1874, age 44 years. Willis M. died Feb. 5, 1878 and Perry died Oct. 12, 1909.
Mr. Holmes married Sarah Jane Adams, she died in Feb. 1901. Thomas J. Holmes died April 6, 1911, age 78 years.
Winfield S. married Ellen Coulter, whose home is south of Annapolis, moved to Nebraska, where he lived until his death in August 1940.
Edward Holmes attended the Hutsonville school, married Louisa Rains, daughter of Simpson and Nancy J. (Lindley) Rains, Nov. 28, 1889. They lived in Hutsonville until they start farming on rented land. The year 1903 they bought eighty acres on Quaker Lane. Mrs. Holmes inherited twenty acres from her father's estate, sold ten acres, later bought thirty acres a mile from their home.
Seven children were born: Okley S., Mary B., Arthur D., Ralph S. (deceased), Florence N., Kenneth E. and Elise L.
Mr. Holmes was a deacon in the Christian Church for thirty-two years, an elder for twenty years. Mrs. Holmes was a Universalist. Her parents were charter members of that church. They celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary Nov. 1939. Mr. Holmes died Sept. 26, 1940, Mrs. Holmes June 26, 1946.
Okley S. married Barbara Ruffner, Luray, Va.
Mary O. married Harry E. Baumgartner, Mt. Vernon, Ill.
Arthur D. married Margaret Lochman, Lawrenceville, Ill.
Florence N. married W. Henry Ogburn, Oblong, Ill.
Kenneth married Florine Fischer, Terre Haute, Ind.
Elsie L. married Earl C. Carlson, Northfield, Ill.
Mr. and Mrs. Okley Holmes have two sons, Walter S. and Marvin E.
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Holmes have one son, Keith A.
Marvin E. married Wanda Chipman, Hutsonville, they have three sons, Roger E. William S. and Walter J.