Holmes, Walton H.

Married July 17, 1880.  Born March 20, 1852 in Bury, Lancashire England. Passed away March 21, 1940. Apprenticed to shipping firm G.H. Fletcher (who was one of the founders of the White Star line). Seven years at sea. Landed Portland, Oregon, Columbia River. Crossed the continent; returned to San Francisco; stayed 2 years. Worked for a railroad which fell into litigation. Receiver was contractor for C.P.R. Walton & his brother worked 5 years till 1885. He arrived in Merritt where he joined Alex Coutlee.  They purchased merchandise in Merritt which they brought to Granite Creek to sell. Holmes was one of the first prospectors at the Granite Creek gold rush in 1885. Walton owned the Mainland Company claim with Dan McKay, Donald Carlston and Al Tregillis.  It was a big producer for 3 years.   He took up Five Mile Flat (now known as Del Young Ranch) and worked in Princeton in the 1890’s.  He helped construct hotels and houses and the first sawmill at China Creek.  Hunting was popular and Holmes organized hunting parties, taking them to Ashnola to hunt big horn sheep.  In 1901, the Holmes family settled down on a ranch between Coalmont and Blakeburn.  At their homestead on the Blakeburn Road, they celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on August 3, 1930 with almost 200 people in attendance.  The party had been postponed due to the death of their granddaughter, Edna Eileen Ramsay.