Bethel Holmes

Man Of War with Ray Van Tassel: When we lived in Indianapolis, we attended the Kentucky Derby for 9 years. Mama & Dad were visiting us in 1945 and attended with us. Dad met his Holmes cousins from Kentucky where his father was born. Van wanted his photo taken with the famous retired race horse Man Of War. He got a photographer to go to Calumet Farms & had this picture taken. The stable had hardwood floors and was as clean as a house! My son Pieter took me to see the movie "Seabisket" last Sunday and we thought we would post this old photo.

When Papa took me up to the Holmes Ranch, I usually stayed at Uncle Ira's because there were more kids there. We slept on the side porch, several in a bed. Uncle Ira took over the ranch in 1896 & started planting fruit trees in 1910, the first commercial orchard in Mt Vernon. He is in the History of Placer Co (1924) a native son of California pioneers John Holmes & Clarissa Laine. He married Annie Griffin Oct 7, 1907 & they had 7 kids. Sons Vernon & Robert became partners with Uncle Ira developing 70 acres in fruit sold at the California Fruit Growers Exchange in Newcastle. Uncle Ira died March 6, 1954.

Sometimes in the summer, I stayed with Aunt Alma & Uncle Charlie & slept on a cot under a tree. I liked her. My sisters didn't stay there much. I would stay for a couple of weeks. When she saw us arrive, she'd go out & get a chicken for dinner. Dessert was whipped cream cake. They had hogs but no cows. They had working horses to pull wagons when they picked the plums. Alma was 45 when she had Sheldon. He was my age. She married Charles Holtz November 23, 1907. She took care of her mother-in-law, Granny Holtz, who was blind. She was real happy to have us visit her. Aunt Alma died December 26, 1959.

Our only photo of Aunt Ellen (left). Grandma Holmes, Ellen's daughter Dell & Grandaughter Ardene. Aunt Ellen was the oldest, born in Iowa. She was 4 when they came to California by Ox team. I didn't really know her. Her house seemed big to me. The well was on the porch. Ellen Holmes married John Hawk. They had Carl, Adelle, & Earl Hawk. She died March 1, 1920. All the Holmes liked to go camping. Once, at Cisco Grove, Grandma Holmes went up with Aunt Alma, Uncle Charlie, & Sheldon. I slept in the tent with Grandma & everyone else froze. They were on cots without enough blankets & the wind came up under them. Ardene was a bit older than me. She died last year.