Person:William Holmes (53)

William Holmes and his father-in-law, William Bybee are this researcher’s two greatest brick walls! Any help and collaboration is greatly appreciated.

William Holmes moves to Green County, Kentucky

Currently the oldest known record for William Holmes[1] is found in the Green County, Kentucky tax rolls of 1847. He paid tax on a horse. Often the ownership of a horse in these days indicates that he was traveling. If he had been settled he might have had a mule or ox to clear land or a cow if already farming. William had paid no taxes on any farm or occupational items and he paid no tax on oxen or cattle, indicating that he had just moved into Green County, Kentucky in 1847. But where did he travel from? In any case, perhaps that horse impressed my Great Grandmother or she, Elizabeth Bybee, impressed William enough for him to settle down a short while in Green County. William married Elizabeth Bybee[2] in Green County, Kentucky on October 16, 1847. Elizabeth's father had died some 8 years previously. Not much is known of her mother, but her brother Pleasant Bybee swears in her Marriage bond that she is 21 years old. Other sources indicate that she was only 18 year old. Her brother Pleasant's action on the bond also concurs with other sources indicating that her father, William Bybee, had already died in about 1838. Elizabeth would have been only 10 at the time.

William Holmes moves to Crawford County, Missouri

William and Elizabeth had their first child, Adolphis Allen Holmes, on March 28, 1850 and had moved to Crawford County, Missouri by the time of the 1850 census in June. Note that some Index of the 1850 Census list Wm. and E. Homes. Their first four children, Adolphis Allen, John Crawford, Alcy Ann "Nan", and Charity Alla Holmes, were born in Crawford County.

William Holmes moves to Callaway County, Missouri

Sometime between 1854 and 1855, the family moved on to Callaway County, Missouri where the fifth child, Virginia Ellen Holmes was born on February 2, 1856. The remainder of the 11 children were also born in Callaway County: Saul Washington, Fannie E., James Burygard, William Harrison, Alvin Edgar, and Jackson Tramel Holmes. The 1880 US Census locates William and Elizabeth Holmes, and their four youngest children living in the South Fulton district of Callaway County. The family remained in Callaway County the rest of their lives and most all are buried there in Guthrie or Fulton[3].

William Holmes is buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Fulton, Callaway County, Missouri. His cemetery marker is shown on the Find-A-Grave[4] website.

1.   AEH-BK-004.

   "Holmes, William to Elizabeth Bybee. Bond 13 October 1847. Pleasant Bybee, her brother, swore both over 21." --"Marriage Bonds, 1842-1853, Book D", compiled by Judy Froggett, Published by The Green County Public Library, Greensburg Printing & Office Supply,Inc, Greensburg, KY, 1985. Xerox copy of page 12 and cover sheet obtained, via ROOTS-L, from Jeffrey Jewell, 3319 Ellis Way, Louisville, KY 40220, in May 1993. {Ref. BK-004}

2.   AEH-LD-021, in Green Co.,KY Marriage Book D
   p.43.

   "Holmes, William to Elizabeth Bybee. Bond 13 October 1847. Pleasant Bybee and William Holmes were the suretors. Photocopy of page 43, Marriage Book D, of the Green County, Kentucky records. Obtained from the County Clerk, Greensburg, KY, in 1993. {Ref. LD-021}
   A second copy with the back of page oath, obtained by A.E. Holmes during a visit to the Green County Courthouse, Greensburg, KY in December 1995.
   "Pleasant Bybee Sware that E. Bybee was a sister of his & over 21 years of age & Wm Holmes stated that he was over 21 years of age."
   signed [Jnols?] Barret D.C.

3.   AEH-LD-288, in Crawford, Missouri, United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   1850.

   {REF LD-288}
   1850 Census Index for Crawford Co., MO
   from online source;
   http://genealogytrails.com/mo/crawford/Census/1850/1850indexh.htm

4. ↑ William Holmes, in Find A Grave.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Callaway, Missouri, United States. 1880 U.S. Census Population Schedule.

   South Fulton, Callaway county, ED 30, Sheet 559B, Pg 10, Dwelling 85, Family 87, Lines 16-21, NARA microfilm publication T9, Roll 677

6. ↑ Knox, Missouri, United States. 1870 U.S. Census Population Schedule.

   Fabius township, Knox county, Pg 21, Dwelling 176, Family 153, Lines 35-38, NARA microfilm publication M593