CLASS OF 1871

Judge Lewis Ward Holmes died at his home in Keene, N. H., March 13, 1919. The son of Lewis and Sarah (Clark) Holmes, he was born in Readsboro, Vt., April 25, 1848, but spent the greater part of his life in Keene, where he attended the public schools, including the high school. He fitted for college at Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, N. H.

After graduation he studied law at Keene, with Wheeler and Faulkner, was admitted to the bar in 1874, and practiced there until 1882, when he resigned as city solicitor to take a position as examiner in the Pension Office at Washington, D. C. In 1888 he returned to Keene to become clerk of courts for Cheshire county and judge of the local municipal court. He continued to hold the clerkship until the time of his death, but in April, 1918, having reached the "age limit", retired from the position of justice of the municipal court. A staunch Republican in politics, he was clerk of the state senate in 1881, a representative to the legislature about ten years later, and one of the aldermen of Keene in 1894.

The same qualities which greatly endeared him to his classmates, drew hosts of friends to him through life. He was a most companionable and entertaining man, well read, keen of wit, quick in repartee, kind hearted, just, direct and forceful in his conversation, fearless and outspoken in his opinions, and an excellent judge of human nature.

Familiar with court proceedings and details, he held the high esteem of judges and members of the bar, while as justice of the municipal court he was painstaking, without favoritism, and an excellent judge of evidence.

October 2, 1879, Judge Holmes married Miss Helen E. 'Barlow of Springfield, Vt., who survives him, with three sons, Dr. Robert W. Holmes of Keene, recently returned from service in France; Thomas B. Holmes of Graphite, near Ticonderoga, N. Y., mining engineer; and Edward B. Holmes, mining engineer of Rio Janeiro. Brazil.