Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon
George H. Holmes was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1855.
In early childhood he crossed the plains with his parents to Bannock City, Montana. Later the family came to Walla Walla and in 1868 they located at Cove, which was his home until early manhood.
Mr. Holmes was one of the earliest settlers of Wallowa County, residing here at a time when there were only thirteen families in the County. While still a young man, Mr. Holmes proved up on a homestead on Crow Creek, the same homestead being farmed by himself the summer previous to his death.
At the time of the establishment of the Wallowa National Bank in 1889 he was associated with his brother in the bank.
In 1891 he was united in marriage to Susie A. Zurcher and to this union was born four children, John L., Jean, Ruth and Charles. Besides the wife and children he is survived by three brothers, W.R. Holmes of Enterprise, T.J. Holmes of La Grande, E.A. Holmes of Portland, and one sister, Mrs. Adelaide McKennon of Clarksville, Arkansas.
In 1892, on his father’s death the family moved to Cove, Oregon where he had charge of his father’s estate for a number of years.
Returning to Enterprise in 1915 the family made their home in the city during the winter and on the ranch on Crow Creek in the summer time.
He was a member of the Episcopal Church, the Masonic order at Cove, Royal Arch at Union, and the Eastern Star order of Enterprise.
He died at his residence in the city Friday, Oct. 3, 1919 of an ailment from which he has suffered for ten years.
The funeral was held at the family residence Sunday at 2 p.m. with Rev. Cullison in charge. Interment was made in the Enterprise cemetery.
Wallowa County Reporter, Wallowa County, Oregon, Thursday October 9, 1919
