BIOGRAPHY

GEORGE H. HOLMES - OF LE ROY. NY

George H. Holmes, born May 7, 1840, where Mr. Vary now resides, is a son of Harry and Susan (Cole) Holmes, who were born in 1799 and 1803, respectively. Harry Holmes was a farmer in early life, and during his latter years was engaged in the stone business in this County, where he was one of the early pioneers, settling in Le Roy in 1815. George H. Holmes, one of a family of four sons and four daughters, received a common school education, and worked at the stone business until 27 years of age, since which time he has been extensively engaged in the stone trade for himself, having at times as high as 90 men at work quarrying and 40 men cutting. During the busy season he has shipped as many as 50 car loads per week, about 25 car loads going to Buffalo. He was doing all the heavy stone business in this section for about five years. He is now, and has been for a number of years, extensively engaged in lime burning, operating two kilns and making about 700 bushels per day. Mr. Holmes enlisted in August, 1862, in Co. I, 129th N.Y. Inf., and at Baltimore the regiment was transferred to the 8th N. Y. H. A. and garrisoned for many months at Forts McHenry, Federal Hill, Carroll, and Marshall. He was detailed to remain at Baltimore six months, and later joined his regiment at Petersburg, Va. He participated in the engagements at Deep Bottom and Weldon Railroad, and thenceforth in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged to the close of the war. He became noted in his regiment for his accuracy in directing and landing mortar shells. In February, 1865, he was promoted sergeant, and in June following received his discharge at Rochester, N. Y., as commissary sergeant. He located where he now resides in July, 1882. November 28, 1861, he married Caroline M., daughter of John and Lorana (Payne) Buckley, who were born in Mendon, Monroe County, and Turin, Lewis County, respectively, and who were among the early settlers of Stafford and Le Roy. Abraham Buckley was a soldier in the War of 1812, and reared six sons and five daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes have three children, Eva, Frank H., and Parley M. Mr. Holmes is related to Thurlow Weed.

Source: Gazetteer and Biographical Record of Genesee County, New York, Edited by: F. W. Beers, J.W. Vose & Co., Publishers, Syracuse, N. Y. 1890