This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Holmes, Collins, Cunningham, McKindley (McKinley) Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Hi.2ADI/2582 Message Board Post: Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, pg. 713 Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1888 THOMAS HOLMES, a progressive and enterprising citizen of Wea Township, residing on section 3, is a native of Greene County, Ohio, born in the year 1822, his parents, THOMAS and MARY (COLLINS) HOLMES, being natives of New Jersey. The father lived in Ohio until his death, the mother of our subject dying in Tippecanoe County, Indiana. The father being a farmer, our subject was reared to the same vocation, which he has made his life work. His youth was spent in assisting with the work of the farm, and in attending the pioneer subscription schools of his native county, where he received but a limited education. He remained in Greene County, Ohio, until twenty-one years of age, when he came to Indiana, locating in Carroll County, where he lived until 1847, coming thence to Tippecanoe County. He was married March 9, 1848, to MISS MARY JANE CUNNINGHAM, who was born in Washington County, Indiana, May 4, 1828, a daughter of JOHN and SARHA (McKINDLEY) CUNNINGHAM, her father being a native of Pennsylvania, and her mother born and reared in the State of Kentucky. Her parents came to Tippecanoe County in 1831, and lived in Washington Township until their death. They are buried on the old homestead in Washington Township, where they spent so many years. Five children have been born to MR. and MRS. HOLMES--RORISSA DELL, WILLIAM MARCUS, WILBERT G., JOHN HENRY, and MARY ETTA. On first coming to the county MR. HOLMES located on section 10, Wea Township, where he made his home until 1869, since which time he has resided on his present farm. He is the owner of 264 acres of as good land as the county affords, all well improved. He has 114 acres in his home farm, where he has a fine brick residence, built in modern style, and well furnished, surrounded by a well kept lawn and park, the barns and other farm buildings being commodious and convenient. A water wind-mill furnishes the power for supplying house and stock with pure water. MR. HOLMES has been a resident of the county for forty years, and has always taken an active interest in the cause of education, or in any enterprise for public advancement, and by his fair and honorable dealings and cordial manners has won many friends.