John Edwin Holmes

John Edwin Holmes (December 28, 1809  May 8, 1863) was an American lawyer, minister, and politician. He was the 1st Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin and a Union Army officer in the American Civil War. He was captured by Confederate forces during the Battle of Brentwood and died of disease.

John Edwin Holmes
1st Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
In office
June 7, 1848  January 7, 1850
GovernorNelson Dewey
Preceded byPosition Established
Succeeded bySamuel W. Beall
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Jefferson 2nd district
In office
January 1, 1853  January 1, 1854
Preceded byA. H. Van Norstrand
Succeeded byDavid L. Morrison
Member of the Council of the Wisconsin Territory for Dodge and Jefferson counties
In office
January 4, 1847  March 13, 1848
Preceded byJohn Catlin
for Dane, Dodge, Green, Jefferson, and Sauk
Succeeded byPosition Abolished
Personal details
Born
John Edwin Holmes

(1809-12-28)December 28, 1809
Glastonbury, Connecticut, U.S.
DiedMay 8, 1863(1863-05-08) (aged 53)
Annapolis, Maryland, U.S.
Resting placeGreenwood Cemetery
Jefferson, Wisconsin
Political party
Spouse(s)
  • Ruth A. Hawley
  • (m. 18361863)
Children
  • Edwin F. Holmes
  • three other sons
MotherAnn McKee Holmes
FatherSolomon Holmes
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Union Army
Years of service18621863
RankQuartermaster
Unit22nd Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Early life

Born in Glastonbury, Connecticut, Holmes moved with his parents to New York when he was four; and both parents died when he was eight. He then lived with his grandfather until he was twelve. He moved to Hamilton, in Madison County, and studied while working to support himself, and was able to teach in a common school. He attended an academy and prepared himself and was ordained a Universalist minister in 1833.[1] He preached for a short time in Michigan and Ohio. He soon began to study law in Illinois and was admitted to the bar in Illinois. He joined the Democratic Party and moved to the Wisconsin Territory, settling in what is now Jefferson, Wisconsin, to practice law.

Career

Holmes served on the Council of the Wisconsin Territorythe upper house of the territorial legislaturerepresenting Jefferson and Dodge Counties through the final years before statehood. When Wisconsin became a State, in 1848, Mr. Holmes was chosen as the first lieutenant governor of the state, and served in that capacity for 1848 and 1849 under governor Nelson Dewey. He was not a candidate for re-election in 1849. But in 1852 he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly for the 1853 session, surviving an election challenge from Benjamin F. Adams.[2]

Civil War

After the outbreak of the Civil War, Holmes volunteered for service with the Union Army and, in August 1862, he became a Quartermaster for the 22nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He remained with the regiment until March 25, 1863, when he was taken prisoner along with many of his regiment at the Battle of Brentwood. He was sent to Libby Prison where he became seriously ill. He was returned to the Union in a prisoner exchange on May 5, 1863.

Death

Two days after his release, Holmes was sent to Annapolis, Maryland, where he died the next day on May 8, 1863. His remains were brought to Jefferson, and were interred with Masonic rites at Greenwood Cemetery Jefferson, Jefferson County, Wisconsin.[3]

Family life

Son of Solomon and Ann (McKee) Holmes, Holmes married Miss Ruth A. Hawley, of Milan, Ohio, in 1836 and they had four sons.[4]

References

  1. Proceedings of the State Bar Association of Wisconsin. State Bar Association of Wisconsin The Association, 1905. 1905. p. 204.
  2. The United States Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Eminent and Self-made Men: Wisconsin Volume, Volume 1. American Biographical Publishing Company, 1877 - Wisconsin. 1877. pp. 218–219.
  3. 'Proceedings of the State Bar Association of Wisconsin,' State Bar of Association of Wisconsin: 1905, pg. 204-207
  4. "John Edwin Holmes". Genealogy Trails. Retrieved 30 May 2014.


Political offices
New office Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
18481850
Succeeded by
Samuel Beall
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