My Genealogy Hound

Capt. N. D. Holmes, ex-clerk of Cleveland County, Ark., was born in Mecklenburg County, Va., January 30, 1833, being a son of Samuel S. and Martha C. (Dortch) Holmes, who were also born in the “Old Dominion,” the former’s birth occurring in 1810 and the latter’s in 1813. They were married in their native State, and in 1846 came to Arkansas and were among the earliest settlers of Dallas County, where they became successful agriculturists. The father was a Democrat and died in Dallas County in November, 1856, and he and wife, who is yet living, were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The Holmeses are of Scotch descent, and the grandfather served in the American army in the Revolutionary War, the maternal grandfather, Dortch, also taking the side of the colonists and held the rank of colonel. Samuel S. and Martha C. Holmes became the parents of ten children, nine now living, and their son, Capt. N. D. Holmes, besides attending the common schools near his home in his youth, was an attendant of Homer College, La., but dropped his books in the year 1861 to join the Confederate army, and became a member of Company C, First Arkansas Confederate Cavalry, serving for some time as lieutenant. The same fall he was promoted to adjutant of the regiment, and after the reorganization of his army he became major of his regiment, but was afterward appointed chief clerk of the conscript office for Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, and served in this capacity until the close of the war. He was in numerous battles and skirmishes. Upon his return from the war he became reporter for a Little Rock paper, and in 1866 was elected land commissioner of Little Rock District, but was thrown out of office during the reconstruction period. He then went to Pine Bluff and acted as deputy clerk of Jefferson County for four years, after which he came to Cleveland County, and here has since made his home (since 1873). In 1873 he was elected deputy county clerk, county clerk in 1876, and in 1884 was honored with a re-election to this position, and was a faithful servant of the public until October, 1888. He has always been a Democrat in politics, and socially is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having attained a high rank in this order. His union to Miss Lucy Gray took place January 30, 1861, she being a daughter of Maj. Joseph Gray, of Dallas County, and to them a family of eight children have been born, seven of whom are now living: Gray, Walter, Pitt, George, Samuel, Mary and Bertha. Harold died in 1884, aged fourteen years. The captain and his wife are well and favorably known throughout Cleveland County, and for many years they have been earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.