Will Holmes

Submitted by Donnie Pickard

Democrat, June 18, 1915, Page 1
Letters From the People
Helped to Build County's First Jail
Fairbanks, Ark., June 11th 1915
Editor Democrat

Clinton, Arkansas

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 the 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 County, Tenn., in 1837. My father moved his family to Searcy County, this state, in 1844, and five years later, 1849, we moved to this good old county. I was 12 years old and it has been my home every since, making me a continuous citizen of Van Buren County for 66 years.

My first home in the county was 12 miles northwest of Clinton, on what is now known as the Couch farm. We were living there when the war came up in 1861, my father enlisting in the army. I remember helping my father, Ben Holmes, my uncle, Week Holmes, and Jess Barnes build the first jailhouse ever built in Van Buren County, and it was built of hewed logs. Some time after this my father was elected county treasurer. He couldn't 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 reasonable good health, but can't see very well, and not able to work. I love everybody and especially the older ones, such as Wilson Pate, Bill Pate, James H. Fraser, Bill Peel, Ant and Smith Bradley, and many others I could mention but don't want to encroach on your space too much. With best love and respect to the Democrat's edition and readers, and to all citizens of this grand old county and state.

I am,
Yours very Truly,
Will Holmes