Legislator Details
Vital Records Information:
Marital Information:
married Anna; children: Gordon D; married Eva M. Holmes about 1900; children: John P.
total children: 4, 3 sons, 1 daughter
Number of Children: 1
Background
Education:
public and high schools of Buffalo NY & Cleveland OH
Biographical Sketch:
Of English & Irish descent. At the age of 16, he began working as assistant timekeeper and paymaster during the construction of the railway Q.M.& O.O., from Montreal to Ottawa. He then entered the foundry business as an apprentice in Springfield, OH, and was promoted to the position of superintendent. He held similar positions in large foundries in eastern states. In 1912, he organized the Holmes Foundry Company, of Port Huron,
a concern which was first known as the Romeo Foundry Company,
and of which he was president for many years. He was also vice president of the State Savings Bank of St. Clair; a member of the board of governors of the Northwestern Finance Company; the director of the New Egyptian Portland Cement Company; and the chairman of various church and social organization committees. He became vice-president of Romeo Savings Bank, 1915. In 1906, he moved to Michigan where he operated the first of his 3 foundry plants. In 1930, he was living in Fort Wayne, IN. He was a charter member of the Detroit Athletic club, and was a member of the Detroit Aviation
club, the Port Huron Golf and Country club, the St. Clair River Country club, the Rotary club, the Grotto of the Mystic Shrine, Detroit, and the Masons
Notable Facts:
"He was successful in his efforts to improve conditions at the Boys' Industrial School in Lansing and was one of the senators who instigated the movement to sell the old site of the school and purchase the tract of ground where the
new buildings are now erected, and where the boys receive practical training in various trades to assist them when they have been released from the school to make their own way in the world."
He had charge of the erection of the Ford company's foundry at Highland Park, Detroit.