WELCOME HOLMES Welcome Holmes was born 1814 Perry Co TN. Welcome was the son of William and Elizabeth Holmes. Welcome married Sarah/Sary M, abt 1839/40 her maiden name at this time is unknown. It is possible that they married in Searcy County Arkansas. Welcome Holmes died between 1861/69 Pope County Arkansas. It is unknown exactly when Sarah died, last found was on the 1870 Census in Pope Co Arkansas.   Court records in Perry Co., TN about the Dentons and Holmes joining together in times of trouble -- like when they were fighting someone else -- and said that between the years 1834 - 1840 there were numerous trials in which the Dentons usually allied with the Holmes when they were charged with fighting. In many cases the Court would find them not guilty and their action justified, and in one case the Sheriff refused to arrest Welcome Holmes for punching the Court's witness in the eye.  The Sheriff agreed with Welcome, saying he, too, thought the witness was lying about the accused Denton.   By 1840 A lot of the Holmes had left Tennessee and moved to Arkansas. Welcome was among them of those who had.   1840 HOLMES WELCOME Searcy Co AR 189 00001-0001 Welcome 20-30 Sarah   15-20     Searcy Co Ark Taxes 1839-1850 1842 Welcome Holmes Taxes are as follows Poll Tax ...1 Horses over 6 yrs old....3 Value of Horses / mares ...(3) $180 No of Cattle over 3 yrs old....1 Value of Cattle.....$12 Total of Value of property...$12 State Tax.....1.50 County Tax......81 1/4   1843 Searcy Co Ark Tax list. Welcome Holmes   1850 HOLMES WM Van Buren Co AR Craig 318 Nov 5th Wm Holmes  36 M Farmer TN Sary M     26 F        TN Charles B   9 M        AR Benjamin J  5 M        AR James K     2 M        AR   1860 HOLMS WELCOME Pope Co AR Independence 829 Aug 29 Welcome Holms 46 M Farmer AL Sarah M       37 F        TN Benjamin      15 M        AR James K P     11 M        AR Minerva V B   10 F        AR Martin V B     8 M        AR   1870 HOMES SARAH Pope Co AR Independence 401 Aug 10 Sarah Homes 47 F Keeping House TN $150/$200 James K P   22 M Farmer        AR Mary        20 F               AR Martin V B  17 M               AR   An article sent from Leslie Smith in regards to William D Holmes and remembering his uncle Welcome Holmes and helping build the first Jail.   Help to Build County’s first Jail... Written By William D Holmes.. June 11th 1915 Editor Democrat, Clinton Ark. Van Buren Co (sent by Les@lodinet.com Leslie Smith)   My Dear Sir: On being advised of your request for letters from old settlers I am going to offer a few lines for publication. I am informed you offer your paper to the oldest citizen the remainder of his life. I am sure I am not the oldest in the county, but should I be fortunate one to receive it I feel it could not reach me many more years. I will be 78 years old the 11th day of August.   I was born in Perry Co Tenn in 1837 . My Father moved his family to Searcy Co this state in 1844, and five years later 1849 we moved to this good ole County. I was 12 years old and it has been my home every since, making me a continuous citizen of Van Buren Co for 66 years.   My first home in the county was 12 miles northwest of Clinton, what is now known as the County farm. We were living there in 1861, my father enlisting in the army. I remember helping my father Benjamin Holmes , My Uncle Week Holmes ( Welcome Holmes) and Joe Barnes build the first jail house ever built in Van Buren County and it was built at Clinton. I was 16 or 18 years old at the time. It was built of hewed logs. Sometime after this my father was elected treasurer. He could write very well and I assisted him.   Many of the boys I knew in those days have long since passed over the river. I am still enjoying reasonably good health, but cannot see very well and am not able to work. I love everybody especially the older ones such as Wilson Pat?? , Bill Pate, James H Frasier, Bill Peel, Ant and Smith Bradley and many other I could mention but don't want to encroach on your space too much. With best luv and respect to the Democrat's Editor and readers and to all citizens of this grand old county and State I am, yours truly Will Holmes     Children:   1 CHARLES B HOLMES born abt 1841 Searcy Co AR. Charles married Mary L Curtis Aug 4 1859   1860 HOLMES CHARLES B Pope County AR Independence Twp 830 Charles Holmes 19 M Farmer AR Mary           17 F        AR     2 BENJAMIN HOLMES born about 1845 Searcy Co AR. 3 JAMES POLK HOLMES..................................................................... 4 MINERVA HOLMES born about 1850 Van Buren Co AR. 5 MARTIN VAN BUREN HOLMES born Jan 1853 Van Buren Co AR. Martin married 1st Liddy ?, 2nd Lara T ? abt 1894.    1880 HOLMES MV Pope Co AR North Fork Twp 351 M V Holmes Head WM 27 AR TN TN Farmer Liddey     Wife WF 24 AR Alfred W   Son  WM  5 AR AR AR                    Benj F     Son  WM  3 AR AR AR                 John W     Son  WM  1 AR AR AR         1890 POPE CO ARKANSAS TAX LIST North Fork Township (List of persons liable to pay poll tax) Holmes, Martin      1900 HOLMES MARTIN Logan Co AR Cane Creek 38 Martin Holmes Head WM Jan 1853 47 M 6 yrs AR TX TN Day Labor Lara          Wife WF Feb 1876 24 M 2/0   IL MS MS Will          Son  WM Jun 1879 20 S       AR AR AR   Nerva         Dau  WF Aug 1882 17 S       AR AR AR Ira           Son  WM Jul 1885 14 S       AR AR AR   Charlie       Son  WM Apr 1888 11 S       AR AR AR Patrick       Son  WM Sep 1889 10 S       AR AR AR          1910 HOLMES M V McIntosh Co OK Holmes MV Head MW 56 M2 16     AR TN TN L.T.      Wife FW 36 M1 16 7/3 IL MS IL Minnie    Dau  FW  7 S         OK AR IL Jodie     Dau  FW  2 S         OK AR IL baby      Son  MW 1/12 S       OK AR IL    Children    1 Alfred Holmes born 1875 Pope Co AR.    2 Benjamin Holmes born 1877 Pope Co AR.    3 John W Holmes born June 1879 Pope Co AR.    4 Nerva Holmes born August 1882 Pope Co AR.    5 Ira Martin Holmes born July 24 1886 Russellville Pope Co AR. Ira    registered for the World War I Draft on June 5 1917 from Seminole    Co OK. Ira was of a medium height and build with brown eyes and    black hair.      1920 HOLMES IRA Seminole Co OK Brown 41    Ira Holmes Head WM 33 M AR AR AR Farmer    Maye       Wife WF 23 M AR AR AR    Icy        Dau  WF  4 S OK AR AR    Ruth       Dau  WF  1 S OK AR AR    6 Charles Cotton Holmes born April 1888 Russellville Pope Co AR. Charles    registered for the World War I Draft on June 5 1917 from Seminole Co    OK. Charles was medium height and build with blue eyes and brown hair      1920 HOLMES CHARLES C Seminole Co OK Brown 41    Charles C Holmes Head    WM 30 M AR AR AR Farmer    Ethel            Wife    WF 23 M AR AR AR    Orvil            Son     WM  4 S OK AR AR    Ermal            Dau     WF  2 S OK AR AR    Goldman          Brother WM 10 S OK AR AR    7 Patrick Holmes born Sept 25 1889/91 Russellville, Pope Co AR. Patrick    registered for the World War I Draft on June 5 1917 from Seminole Co OK.    Patrick was of a medium height and build with blue eyes and black hair.    8 Minnie Holmes born 1903 OK.    9 Jodie Holmes born 1908 OK.   10 Goldman Holmes born 1910 OK.