Holmes, Henry McCall, 1834-1899

Henry Marcus Holmes was born in Bristol, England, on 1836 December 9 to Marcus H. and Elizabeth Holmes. Soon after his arrival in Texas in 1850 October, Holmes became acquainted with Shapley Prince and Catherine Fulkerson Ross and began a lasting friendship with their son, Lawrence Sullivan (“Sul”) Ross. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Holmes headed north and joined the Union army. During the conflict he participated in battles at Valverde, New Mexico (1862 February 20-21), and Fredericksburg, Virginia (1862 December 11-15). Taken prisoner at the battle of the Wilderness (1864 May 5-7), Holmes was exchanged in 1864 August and returned to the army.

Holmes continued his military career after the Civil War. Briefly stationed as an Ordnance Sergeant in Rhode Island in 1865, Holmes met Lucia Sheldon (1840-1918), daughter Ephraim and Nancy Kender Sheldon. The couple was married in Jamestown, Rhode Island, on 1865 October 6. When his army enlistment expired in 1868, Holmes re-enlisted and was stationed in Texas. In 1871 he was honorably discharged from Company E, Twenty-fourth Infantry, at Fort McKavett, located in Menard County.

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