"The man with a thousand smiles," as he was sometimes called. Born in Winn Parish, Louisiana, June 25, 1856, the son of H. W. Holmes, who was a descendant of Walter Holmes, of South Carolina, a native of England.
Converted at twenty, he was baptized into the fellowship of Beech Creek Baptist church, Winn parish. He was left motherless when four years old; his early schooling was limited to about two years, but by close application to study he qualified to teach school in early manhood.
He married in 1875 Miss M. A. Smith of Winn parish. They moved to Simsboro about 1882. Not long after, he surrendered to preach and was ordained in 1888 by the Walnut Creek church near Simsboro. He began his ministerial labors in Concord association and did most of his preaching in that association; however he served pastorates in all adjacent associations, and in Franklin and Madison parishes. Quite often, as with other country preachers, his churches were far away, and with difficulty he reached them, on horseback or in buggy. Years ago he caught a vision as but few preachers then did of the possibilities of the country church. He saw that the success of the country church was linked with that of the farmer, and he set himself to the task of boosting, encouraging, and participating in farming. As a farmer he was a success. He also boosted the schools, the churches, in fact everything that tended to the improvement of the rural sections. For a while he was a lecturer for the Farmers' Union. He was a hearty supporter of all our denominational agencies and institutions. He always boosted the Baptist state paper, having been a regular subscriber almost all his Christian life. He was also among the first to contribute to the Louisiana Baptist Orphanage, and spoke many a time in its behalf.
He was a regular attendant at our state conventions, Bible Conferences, and always at his own association. And whether at these or on a business, a social, or a pastoral call, he was a dispenser of sunshine. How we missed his cheerful face, his happy spirit, and hearty handshake at our assemblies, after he went away.
Dr. E. O. Ware said of him: "He was a friend to every Baptist cause, and always looked forward with hopefulness. He was one among the few decidedly optimistic men in our ranks. He always wore a cheerful countenance." He served as moderator of associations, on many important committees, aided in ordaining several ministers, and helped to found a number of churches, Dubach being among the number. His children's names are: Addie, (Mrs. W. H. Wise, deceased); Leon, Georgetown, La.; Florence, (Mrs. E. C. Goodwin, Delhi); Mabel (Mrs. T. B. Bryan, Downsville); and Carey of West Monroe.
He died December 20, 1926, his wife having died September 17, 1926.
-- J. P. Durham and John S. Ramond, Baptist Builders in Louisiana, p. 83. Shreveport: Durham-Ramond, Publishers, 1934
HOLMES, ELD. L. N., ex-State President, and ex-National Chaplain of the Farmers' Union, Bernice, La. — The subject of this sketch, Eld. L. N. Holmes, resides on his farm near Bernice, La. He is the son of H. W. Holmes, Sr., who moved from the State of Alabama to Louisiana in 1855, when Eld. L. N. Holmes was born on the 25th day of June, 1856. His father early enlisted in the Confederate army,* leaving the subject of this sketch to the care of his mother and older brothers. His mother died in 1862, when young Holmes went to live with his aunt. The boyhood days of young Holmes, when he ought to have been in school, were spent on a farm, owing to the fact that there was no school for him to attend, the Civil War having disorganized society and broken up the schools of his -State. He, however, attended a country school for a few months during winter; the balance of his education was secured by study at night by the light of a pine knot fire. He with fifty of his neighbors organized a Farmers' Club in Lincoln Parish. This organization was later merged with the Farmers' Alliance, and L. N. Holmes became an active organizer in the Alliance. In 1904 he joined the Farmers' Union, and was one of the moving spirits in the promotion of the work in his State. April 4, 1905, he was elected the first State President of Louisiana. He was also elected National Chaplain at the formation of the National Union at Texarkana, in which capacity he served until the Fort Worth meeting in 1908. He has been an ardent admirer and is a persistent supporter of the Union cause ever since its introduction. He is a strong and faithful member and officer.
--Charles Simon Barret, The Mission, History and Times of the Farmers' Union, 1909
*Military and family records show that H. W. Holmes enlisted in the Union Army, not the Confederate Army, and that he enlisted after the death of his wife in 1862.
Converted at twenty, he was baptized into the fellowship of Beech Creek Baptist church, Winn parish. He was left motherless when four years old; his early schooling was limited to about two years, but by close application to study he qualified to teach school in early manhood.
He married in 1875 Miss M. A. Smith of Winn parish. They moved to Simsboro about 1882. Not long after, he surrendered to preach and was ordained in 1888 by the Walnut Creek church near Simsboro. He began his ministerial labors in Concord association and did most of his preaching in that association; however he served pastorates in all adjacent associations, and in Franklin and Madison parishes. Quite often, as with other country preachers, his churches were far away, and with difficulty he reached them, on horseback or in buggy. Years ago he caught a vision as but few preachers then did of the possibilities of the country church. He saw that the success of the country church was linked with that of the farmer, and he set himself to the task of boosting, encouraging, and participating in farming. As a farmer he was a success. He also boosted the schools, the churches, in fact everything that tended to the improvement of the rural sections. For a while he was a lecturer for the Farmers' Union. He was a hearty supporter of all our denominational agencies and institutions. He always boosted the Baptist state paper, having been a regular subscriber almost all his Christian life. He was also among the first to contribute to the Louisiana Baptist Orphanage, and spoke many a time in its behalf.
He was a regular attendant at our state conventions, Bible Conferences, and always at his own association. And whether at these or on a business, a social, or a pastoral call, he was a dispenser of sunshine. How we missed his cheerful face, his happy spirit, and hearty handshake at our assemblies, after he went away.
Dr. E. O. Ware said of him: "He was a friend to every Baptist cause, and always looked forward with hopefulness. He was one among the few decidedly optimistic men in our ranks. He always wore a cheerful countenance." He served as moderator of associations, on many important committees, aided in ordaining several ministers, and helped to found a number of churches, Dubach being among the number. His children's names are: Addie, (Mrs. W. H. Wise, deceased); Leon, Georgetown, La.; Florence, (Mrs. E. C. Goodwin, Delhi); Mabel (Mrs. T. B. Bryan, Downsville); and Carey of West Monroe.
He died December 20, 1926, his wife having died September 17, 1926.
-- J. P. Durham and John S. Ramond, Baptist Builders in Louisiana, p. 83. Shreveport: Durham-Ramond, Publishers, 1934
HOLMES, ELD. L. N., ex-State President, and ex-National Chaplain of the Farmers' Union, Bernice, La. — The subject of this sketch, Eld. L. N. Holmes, resides on his farm near Bernice, La. He is the son of H. W. Holmes, Sr., who moved from the State of Alabama to Louisiana in 1855, when Eld. L. N. Holmes was born on the 25th day of June, 1856. His father early enlisted in the Confederate army,* leaving the subject of this sketch to the care of his mother and older brothers. His mother died in 1862, when young Holmes went to live with his aunt. The boyhood days of young Holmes, when he ought to have been in school, were spent on a farm, owing to the fact that there was no school for him to attend, the Civil War having disorganized society and broken up the schools of his -State. He, however, attended a country school for a few months during winter; the balance of his education was secured by study at night by the light of a pine knot fire. He with fifty of his neighbors organized a Farmers' Club in Lincoln Parish. This organization was later merged with the Farmers' Alliance, and L. N. Holmes became an active organizer in the Alliance. In 1904 he joined the Farmers' Union, and was one of the moving spirits in the promotion of the work in his State. April 4, 1905, he was elected the first State President of Louisiana. He was also elected National Chaplain at the formation of the National Union at Texarkana, in which capacity he served until the Fort Worth meeting in 1908. He has been an ardent admirer and is a persistent supporter of the Union cause ever since its introduction. He is a strong and faithful member and officer.
--Charles Simon Barret, The Mission, History and Times of the Farmers' Union, 1909
*Military and family records show that H. W. Holmes enlisted in the Union Army, not the Confederate Army, and that he enlisted after the death of his wife in 1862.
"The man with a thousand smiles," as he was sometimes called. Born in Winn Parish, Louisiana, June 25, 1856, the son of H. W. Holmes, who was a descendant of Walter Holmes, of South Carolina, a native of England.
Converted at twenty, he was baptized into the fellowship of Beech Creek Baptist church, Winn parish. He was left motherless when four years old; his early schooling was limited to about two years, but by close application to study he qualified to teach school in early manhood.
He married in 1875 Miss M. A. Smith of Winn parish. They moved to Simsboro about 1882. Not long after, he surrendered to preach and was ordained in 1888 by the Walnut Creek church near Simsboro. He began his ministerial labors in Concord association and did most of his preaching in that association; however he served pastorates in all adjacent associations, and in Franklin and Madison parishes. Quite often, as with other country preachers, his churches were far away, and with difficulty he reached them, on horseback or in buggy. Years ago he caught a vision as but few preachers then did of the possibilities of the country church. He saw that the success of the country church was linked with that of the farmer, and he set himself to the task of boosting, encouraging, and participating in farming. As a farmer he was a success. He also boosted the schools, the churches, in fact everything that tended to the improvement of the rural sections. For a while he was a lecturer for the Farmers' Union. He was a hearty supporter of all our denominational agencies and institutions. He always boosted the Baptist state paper, having been a regular subscriber almost all his Christian life. He was also among the first to contribute to the Louisiana Baptist Orphanage, and spoke many a time in its behalf.
He was a regular attendant at our state conventions, Bible Conferences, and always at his own association. And whether at these or on a business, a social, or a pastoral call, he was a dispenser of sunshine. How we missed his cheerful face, his happy spirit, and hearty handshake at our assemblies, after he went away.
Dr. E. O. Ware said of him: "He was a friend to every Baptist cause, and always looked forward with hopefulness. He was one among the few decidedly optimistic men in our ranks. He always wore a cheerful countenance." He served as moderator of associations, on many important committees, aided in ordaining several ministers, and helped to found a number of churches, Dubach being among the number. His children's names are: Addie, (Mrs. W. H. Wise, deceased); Leon, Georgetown, La.; Florence, (Mrs. E. C. Goodwin, Delhi); Mabel (Mrs. T. B. Bryan, Downsville); and Carey of West Monroe.
He died December 20, 1926, his wife having died September 17, 1926.
-- J. P. Durham and John S. Ramond, Baptist Builders in Louisiana, p. 83. Shreveport: Durham-Ramond, Publishers, 1934
HOLMES, ELD. L. N., ex-State President, and ex-National Chaplain of the Farmers' Union, Bernice, La. — The subject of this sketch, Eld. L. N. Holmes, resides on his farm near Bernice, La. He is the son of H. W. Holmes, Sr., who moved from the State of Alabama to Louisiana in 1855, when Eld. L. N. Holmes was born on the 25th day of June, 1856. His father early enlisted in the Confederate army,* leaving the subject of this sketch to the care of his mother and older brothers. His mother died in 1862, when young Holmes went to live with his aunt. The boyhood days of young Holmes, when he ought to have been in school, were spent on a farm, owing to the fact that there was no school for him to attend, the Civil War having disorganized society and broken up the schools of his -State. He, however, attended a country school for a few months during winter; the balance of his education was secured by study at night by the light of a pine knot fire. He with fifty of his neighbors organized a Farmers' Club in Lincoln Parish. This organization was later merged with the Farmers' Alliance, and L. N. Holmes became an active organizer in the Alliance. In 1904 he joined the Farmers' Union, and was one of the moving spirits in the promotion of the work in his State. April 4, 1905, he was elected the first State President of Louisiana. He was also elected National Chaplain at the formation of the National Union at Texarkana, in which capacity he served until the Fort Worth meeting in 1908. He has been an ardent admirer and is a persistent supporter of the Union cause ever since its introduction. He is a strong and faithful member and officer.
--Charles Simon Barret, The Mission, History and Times of the Farmers' Union, 1909
*Military and family records show that H. W. Holmes enlisted in the Union Army, not the Confederate Army, and that he enlisted after the death of his wife in 1862.
Converted at twenty, he was baptized into the fellowship of Beech Creek Baptist church, Winn parish. He was left motherless when four years old; his early schooling was limited to about two years, but by close application to study he qualified to teach school in early manhood.
He married in 1875 Miss M. A. Smith of Winn parish. They moved to Simsboro about 1882. Not long after, he surrendered to preach and was ordained in 1888 by the Walnut Creek church near Simsboro. He began his ministerial labors in Concord association and did most of his preaching in that association; however he served pastorates in all adjacent associations, and in Franklin and Madison parishes. Quite often, as with other country preachers, his churches were far away, and with difficulty he reached them, on horseback or in buggy. Years ago he caught a vision as but few preachers then did of the possibilities of the country church. He saw that the success of the country church was linked with that of the farmer, and he set himself to the task of boosting, encouraging, and participating in farming. As a farmer he was a success. He also boosted the schools, the churches, in fact everything that tended to the improvement of the rural sections. For a while he was a lecturer for the Farmers' Union. He was a hearty supporter of all our denominational agencies and institutions. He always boosted the Baptist state paper, having been a regular subscriber almost all his Christian life. He was also among the first to contribute to the Louisiana Baptist Orphanage, and spoke many a time in its behalf.
He was a regular attendant at our state conventions, Bible Conferences, and always at his own association. And whether at these or on a business, a social, or a pastoral call, he was a dispenser of sunshine. How we missed his cheerful face, his happy spirit, and hearty handshake at our assemblies, after he went away.
Dr. E. O. Ware said of him: "He was a friend to every Baptist cause, and always looked forward with hopefulness. He was one among the few decidedly optimistic men in our ranks. He always wore a cheerful countenance." He served as moderator of associations, on many important committees, aided in ordaining several ministers, and helped to found a number of churches, Dubach being among the number. His children's names are: Addie, (Mrs. W. H. Wise, deceased); Leon, Georgetown, La.; Florence, (Mrs. E. C. Goodwin, Delhi); Mabel (Mrs. T. B. Bryan, Downsville); and Carey of West Monroe.
He died December 20, 1926, his wife having died September 17, 1926.
-- J. P. Durham and John S. Ramond, Baptist Builders in Louisiana, p. 83. Shreveport: Durham-Ramond, Publishers, 1934
HOLMES, ELD. L. N., ex-State President, and ex-National Chaplain of the Farmers' Union, Bernice, La. — The subject of this sketch, Eld. L. N. Holmes, resides on his farm near Bernice, La. He is the son of H. W. Holmes, Sr., who moved from the State of Alabama to Louisiana in 1855, when Eld. L. N. Holmes was born on the 25th day of June, 1856. His father early enlisted in the Confederate army,* leaving the subject of this sketch to the care of his mother and older brothers. His mother died in 1862, when young Holmes went to live with his aunt. The boyhood days of young Holmes, when he ought to have been in school, were spent on a farm, owing to the fact that there was no school for him to attend, the Civil War having disorganized society and broken up the schools of his -State. He, however, attended a country school for a few months during winter; the balance of his education was secured by study at night by the light of a pine knot fire. He with fifty of his neighbors organized a Farmers' Club in Lincoln Parish. This organization was later merged with the Farmers' Alliance, and L. N. Holmes became an active organizer in the Alliance. In 1904 he joined the Farmers' Union, and was one of the moving spirits in the promotion of the work in his State. April 4, 1905, he was elected the first State President of Louisiana. He was also elected National Chaplain at the formation of the National Union at Texarkana, in which capacity he served until the Fort Worth meeting in 1908. He has been an ardent admirer and is a persistent supporter of the Union cause ever since its introduction. He is a strong and faithful member and officer.
--Charles Simon Barret, The Mission, History and Times of the Farmers' Union, 1909
*Military and family records show that H. W. Holmes enlisted in the Union Army, not the Confederate Army, and that he enlisted after the death of his wife in 1862.
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