Representative Robert Holmes View All Years
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Robert Holmes
Linn County
A native of Kentucky, and was born in Shelby county, on the 29th of May, 1819. His father, Andrew Holmes, a farmer and surveyor, died when Robert was two years old. The mother, who was a McCormick, moved to Montgomery county, Indiana, eight years afterward. From ten to fourteen years of age Robert spent his time in school and aiding an elder brother on a farm; he then went to Crawfordsville, the county seat, and acted as clerk for another brother in a drug store until he was about twenty, when he became a partner in the business. In 1841 he moved to Marion, Iowa, and opened a dry-goods store, still in partnership with the brother, who followed him to Iowa a short time afterward. At the end of two years Robert bought out his brother, and continued the mercantile business until 1857, when he took possession of the "Linn County Register," this he published until 1863, when he sold out, and did not engage in business until the autumn of 1865, continuing it until 1867. Mr. Holmes then moved to Cedar Rapids, joined the editorial corps of the "Daily Republican," and was its political editor. Mr. Holmes served two years as clerk of the board of county commissioners, and one year as school commissioner for the sale of public lands while Iowa was still a territory. In 1854 he was elected to the lower house of the general assembly, serving one term. In 1864 Mr. Holmes was appointed commissary of subsistence, with rank of captain. Mr. Holmes was a Mason, having received the blue lodge, chapter and council degrees. He was a Whig until the dissolution of that party, and in 1850 was the Whig candidate for treasurer of state. He has been a very active republican since the party was organized, and is an earnest worker in its interests at the present time. On the 3d of October, 1849, he married Miss Eliza Keys, of Marion.
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