Biography:

Dr. Kingsley Hulme Holmes was born in Chatham, Ontario on the 23rd of August, 1877.  Dr. Holmes was the second of 4 children born to Dr. Tecumseh Kingsley Holmes and the former Mary Elizabeth Taylor.  His father was a prominent family physician in Chatham and a well respected community leader.  Dr. Kingsley Holmes’ older brother Dr. Garnet Wolseley Holmes was born in 1874, his younger sister Edith Melville Holmes was born in 1883 and his younger brother Dr. Shirley Morrell Holmes was born in 1887.  Dr. Kingsley Holmes was educated in Chatham and graduated from Chatham Collegiate Institute before attending medical school.

Dr. Holmes received his medical training from The University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine.  He graduated M.B. in June of 1903.  After interning he joined his father’s medical practice in 1904. According to the 1928 Ontario Medical Registry, Dr. Holmes joined the College of Physicians and Surgeons on the 24th of June, 1904.  Dr. Holmes continued to educate himself in medical matters and world issues and traveled extensively to that end. His skill as a surgeon was sought after by many physicians seeking consultation.  He was Chief of Staff at the Public General Hospital from 1927 until 1929.

In 1907 Dr. Holmes along with his brother Dr. Garnet Holmes and Mr. J. A. Tremblay formed the Tilbury Town Gas Company.  They laid a pipeline from Chatham to Tilbury to supply natural gas to the Maple City Oil and Gas Company.

Dr. Holmes married Alice Greening on the 31st of January, 1912 in Chatham.  Mrs. Holmes was born on the 8th of January, 1884 in Dundas, Ontario the youngest of 3 daughters.  Her parents were Charles Cornelius Greening and the former Mary King Rosalind Barton and her sisters were; Mary Alicia Lynn Greening and Martha Blanche Greening.  According to the 1901 census the Greening family lived in Chatham.  Her father’s occupation was listed as manufacturing.

Dr. Holmes was listed in the 1913 Bell Telephone Directory.  His address was listed as 422 King Street and his phone number was 576.

Dr. and Mrs. Holmes had 3 daughters; Mary, Bonnie and Donna.

Dr. Holmes enjoyed playing tennis and he was elected President of the Chatham Tennis Club in October of 1922.  He belonged to the Chatham Golf and Country Club and he was a member of the Chatham Rotary Club.

Soon after his parents and older brother (Dr. Garnet Holmes) died, Dr. Kingsley Holmes became ill while planning a trip to the Mediterranean and Egypt. He was in Detroit, when he had suffered a case of appendicitis.  He went to Grace Hospital and had surgery, but died on the 5th of February, 1931.  Dr. Holmes was interred in the mausoleum at Maple Leaf Cemetery in Chatham.

Mrs. Holmes married Arney F. Henry of New York in July of 1935. She died on the 22nd August, of 1966 and she was buried at Maple Leaf Cemetery in Chatham.  At the time of her death, she resided at 448 King Street West in Chatham.   Her second husband Arney Henry had predeceased her.

*Dr. Kingsley Holmes was the 4th member of his family to die within the preceding 6 months.  His brother Garnet had died on the 9th of August, 1930, his mother had died on the 5th of October, 1930 and his father had died on the 25th of December, 1930.

**Dr. Holmes’ father Dr. Tecumseh Kingsley Holmes and his brothers, Dr. Garnet Wolseley Holmes and Dr. Shirley Morell Holmes all appear on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.

Tombstone Photo Credit: Anne F.