Adoniram J. Holmes
Encyclopedia
Adoniram Judson Holmes a Republican
, was the first U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 10th congressional district
.
, Holmes moved with his parents to Palmyra, Wisconsin
, in 1853. He attended the common schools, and entered Milton College
of Milton, Wisconsin
, but left in 1862 after the outbreak of the Civil War
, to enter the Union Army
. He served in the 24th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment
, until the close of the war.
After the war he completed his studies in Milton College. Returning to Janesville he studied law and was admitted to the bar
, but afterwards took the full course from the University of Michigan Law School
, graduating in 1867. He and commenced practice in Boone, Iowa
, in 1868. In 1880 and 1881, he was the mayor of Boone. He also served as member of the Iowa House of Representatives
in 1882 and 1883.
Iowa received a tenth and eleventh seat in the U.S. House as a result of the 1880 Census. The Iowa General Assembly
created the new 10th congressional district from counties in the old 4th and 9th congressional districts, including Boone County, where Holmes lived. In 1882, Holmes won the Republican nomination in the new district, and won the general election. After serving in the 48th United States Congress
, he twice won re-election, serving in the Forty-ninth
and Fiftieth
Congresses. However, when running for a fourth term in 1888, he was challenged in the district convention by future U.S. Senator Jonathan P. Dolliver
. After 110 ballots in the district nominating convention, Dolliver won. In all, Holmes served in Congress from March 4, 1883 to March 3, 1889.
After his defeat, Holmes went to work for Congress. He was chosen as Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives in the Fifty-first Congress
, at the urging of Congressman David B. Henderson
of Iowa's 3rd congressional district
. He then resumed the practice of law in Boone, where he served as county attorney from 1896 to 1899. He died in Clarinda, Iowa
, and is interred in Linwood Cemetery of Boone.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, was the first U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Iowa's 10th congressional district
Iowa's 10th congressional district
Iowa's 10th congressional district existed from 1883 to 1933, when Iowa sent eleven congressmen to the United States House of Representatives. The district, known as "The Big Tenth," covered large areas of north-central Iowa.-Makeup:...
.
Biography
Born in Wooster, OhioWooster, Ohio
Wooster is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Wayne County. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio approximately SSW of Cleveland and SW of Akron. Wooster is noted as the location of The College of Wooster...
, Holmes moved with his parents to Palmyra, Wisconsin
Palmyra, Wisconsin
Palmyra is a village in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States, along the Scuppernong River. It was named after Palmyra, Syria, an oasis city mentioned in the Bible. The name means "sandy soil." The population was 1,766 at the 2000 census...
, in 1853. He attended the common schools, and entered Milton College
Milton College
Milton College was a private college located in Milton, Wisconsin. Founded in 1844 as the Milton Academy, it closed in 1982. Its campus is now part of the Milton Historic District....
of Milton, Wisconsin
Milton, Wisconsin
Milton is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 5,090 at the 2000 census .-History:The city was formed as a result of the 1967 merger of the villages of Milton and Milton Junction...
, but left in 1862 after the outbreak of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, to enter the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
. He served in the 24th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment
24th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 24th Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 24th Wisconsin was organized at Milwaukee, Wisconsin and mustered into Federal service August 15, 1862. The regimental adjutant was Arthur MacArthur Jr....
, until the close of the war.
After the war he completed his studies in Milton College. Returning to Janesville he studied law and was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
, but afterwards took the full course from the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
, graduating in 1867. He and commenced practice in Boone, Iowa
Boone, Iowa
Boone is a city in and the county seat of Des Moines Township, Boone County, Iowa, United States. It is the principal city of the 'Boone, Iowa Micropolitan Statistical Area', which encompasses all of Boone County. This micropolitan statistical area, along with the 'Ames, Iowa Metropolitan...
, in 1868. In 1880 and 1881, he was the mayor of Boone. He also served as member of the Iowa House of Representatives
Iowa House of Representatives
The Iowa House of Representatives is the lower house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 100 members of the House of Representatives, representing 100 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 29,750 for each constituency...
in 1882 and 1883.
Iowa received a tenth and eleventh seat in the U.S. House as a result of the 1880 Census. The Iowa General Assembly
Iowa General Assembly
The Iowa General Assembly is the legislative branch of the state government of Iowa. Like the federal United States Congress, the General Assembly is a bicameral body, composed of the upper house Iowa Senate and the lower Iowa House of Representatives respectively...
created the new 10th congressional district from counties in the old 4th and 9th congressional districts, including Boone County, where Holmes lived. In 1882, Holmes won the Republican nomination in the new district, and won the general election. After serving in the 48th United States Congress
48th United States Congress
The Forty-eighth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1883 to March 4, 1885, during the last two years...
, he twice won re-election, serving in the Forty-ninth
49th United States Congress
The Forty-ninth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1885 to March 4, 1887, during the first two years...
and Fiftieth
50th United States Congress
The Fiftieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1887 to March 4, 1889, during the third and fourth...
Congresses. However, when running for a fourth term in 1888, he was challenged in the district convention by future U.S. Senator Jonathan P. Dolliver
Jonathan P. Dolliver
Jonathan Prentiss Dolliver was a Republican orator, U.S. Representative, then U.S. Senator from Iowa at the turn of the 20th century...
. After 110 ballots in the district nominating convention, Dolliver won. In all, Holmes served in Congress from March 4, 1883 to March 3, 1889.
After his defeat, Holmes went to work for Congress. He was chosen as Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives in the Fifty-first Congress
51st United States Congress
The Fifty-first United States Congress, referred to by some critics as the Billion Dollar Congress, was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
, at the urging of Congressman David B. Henderson
David B. Henderson
David Bremner Henderson , a ten-term Republican Congressman from Dubuque, Iowa, was the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1899 to 1903...
of Iowa's 3rd congressional district
Iowa's 3rd congressional district
Iowa's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that currently covers an area from Des Moines to the western outskirts of the Cedar Falls-Waterloo Metropolitan Area to the western outskirts of the Cedar Rapids area and to Lucas and Monroe counties .The...
. He then resumed the practice of law in Boone, where he served as county attorney from 1896 to 1899. He died in Clarinda, Iowa
Clarinda, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 5,572 in the city, with a population density of . There were 2,180 housing units, of which 1,928 were occupied....
, and is interred in Linwood Cemetery of Boone.