De Villo A. Holmes
De Villo A. Holmes has been since 1896 prominently connected
with business interests of Lansing as the proprietor of a harness
manufacturing and selling establishment, his progressive methods,
his industry, honesty and ability bringing him a substantial
measure of success. He carries also a fine stock of
gentlemen’s furnishings and he has made both branches of his
business important and profitable.
Mr. Holmes is numbered among Allamakee county’s native sons,
his birth having occurred in La Fayette township, June 9, 1869,
and he is a son of Oliver Wendell Holmes, who was born in Oneida
county, New York, May 5, 1835. The father was reared on a farm in
his native community and after acquiring a fair education in the
public schools came west to Iowa in 1853, settling in Dubuque
where he engaged in teaming. He married in that city Miss
Catherine Treanor, a native of Dubuque, born in 1845. They moved
to Allamakee county in 1861 and in La Fayette township the father
purchased a tract of raw land which he cleared, broke and fenced,
opening up and developing a new farm. He was successful in his
agricultural operations and from time to time bought more land
owning finally a farm of two hundred and forty acres upon which
was a fine residence and barn and all the necessary outbuildings.
Failing health obliged him eventually to leave the farm and go
west to Denver, Colorado, where he died February 6, 1891. He is
buried in the Catholic cemetery at Lansing.
De Villo A. Holmes was reared on his father’s farm and from
his early childhood aided in the operation of the homestead
becoming thoroughly familiar with the best agricultural methods.
After reaching maturity he took charge of the farm and continued
to manage it even after he moved into Lansing where he learned
the harness making trade. He abandoned farming, however, when he
purchased an established harness business in the city, conducting
it first upon a small scale and gradually expanding his
enterprise to meet the demands of his growing trade. He now
carries a complete stock of factory-made harness and he also made
fine goods to order. He sells also robes, horse blankets and all
the other articles to be found in a first-class harness
establishment. Since 1908 he has also dealt in gentlemen’s
furnishings and has secured a profitable trade in this line, his
patronage coming to him in recognition of the excellent qualities
of his goods, his reasonable prices and his progressive and
honorable business standards. His entire stock is valued at five
thousand dollars and his business house is one of the finest in
the city, a substantial brick structure which he bought in 1897.
In Allamakee county on the 12th of November, 1895, Mr. Holmes was
united in marriage to Miss Mary Regan who was born in Lycurgus, a
daughter of Dan Regan, one of the well known pioneers of this
part of Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes have four children, Cornelius
D., Daniel O., Mary K. and Joseph G. The family are members of
the Lansing Catholic church.
Mr. Holmes gives his political allegiance to the democratic party
but he is not active as an office-seeker although he takes a deep
and intelligent interest in public affairs. He is one of the
progressive and representative business men of the community,
adhering always to high standards of commercial ethics and
managing his interests in a careful and conservative manner, and
his success rewards many years of honest, capable and well
directed labor.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Diana Diedrich
Return to 1913 biographies index