John Dana HOLMES

Notes:

Excerpt from "The Descendants of George Holmes": He was a cripple and on crutches when a boy, but earned considerable money by braiding whip lashes, tanning the hides of woodchucks for his leather. He lived in Plainfield Conn., then. He lived in Albany a while and went to New York on the second steamboat ever built, the Paragon by name. The fare was twelve dollars each way. He also went from Albany to New York in horse cars on rails of wood; the horses were driven tandem and were kept on the gallop.
While quite a young man he went to Monticello, NY, and became a partner, afterward full owner in a tore. In 1812 he sold out, went to Winfield, bought land and settled there. In 1832 he went to South Richland and built a saw mill and residence on the cross road from the "Old Salt Road," then went back for his family. On the way to the new home John Bradley was born. In a few years he built a good house now owned and occupied by Mr. Andrus Rockfeller.

Isaiah was deputy sheriff for many years. He built, owned and operated three different saw mills in his life.

Isaiah married Martha Melvina DANA on 23 Nov 1866 in Holmesville, Chenango Co., New York. Martha (daughter of Elijah DANA and Eunice KINGSLEY) was born on 12 Feb 1829 in Holmesille, Chenango Co., New York; died on 28 Dec 1893 in Centreville, New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]