Pehr G. Holmes

Pehr Gustaf Holmes (April 9, 1881 – December 19, 1952) was a United States representative from Massachusetts.

Pehr Gustaf Holmes
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 4th district
In office
March 4, 1931 – January 3, 1947
Preceded byGeorge R. Stobbs
Succeeded byHarold Donohue
Member of the
Massachusetts Executive Council
7th Councilor District
In office
1925–1928
Preceded byJohn Addison White
Succeeded byWalter E. Schuster
38th Mayor of
Worcester, Massachusetts
In office
January 1, 1917 – January 5, 1920
Preceded byGeorge Merrill Wright
Succeeded byPeter F. Sullivan
Member of the
Worcester, Massachusetts
Board of Aldermen
Member of the
Worcester, Massachusetts
Common Council
Ward 6
Personal details
Born(1881-04-09)April 9, 1881
Forshaga Municipality, Värmland, Sweden.
DiedDecember 19, 1952(1952-12-19) (aged 71)
Venice, Florida U.S.
Political partyRepublican
ChildrenG. Everett Holmes[1]
Residence(s)27 Holden Street, Worcester, Massachusetts[2]
OccupationManufacturer[2]

Early life

Holmes was born in Mölnbacka in Forshaga Municipality in Värmland, Sweden. In 1886, when he was 4 years old,[1] Holmes immigrated to the United States with his parents, who settled in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Education

Holmes attended the Millbury Street School public school until he was 14.[1]

Business career

When he turned 14 Holmes left school and went to work for the Reed and Prince Manufacturing Co. of Worcester where he "tended machines".[1] Holmes also worked at the Brunell Electroplating plant, where he learned the business of Electroplating. In 1909 Holmes established his own Electroplating firm, the Holmes Electrotype Foundry.[1]

1916 ad showing Holmes Electrotype Foundry in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Holmes also engaged in the banking and insurance business.

Public service

Worcester Common Council and Board of Aldermen

Holmes was elected member of the Worcester Common Council from Ward 6.[1] In 1913 Holmes became a member of the Worcester Board of Aldermen, serving as its president.[1]

Mayor of Worcester

Holmes was inaugurated mayor of Worcester on January 1, 1917,[3] he served as mayor until January 5, 1920.[4]

Massachusetts Governor's Council

Holmes served as a member of the Massachusetts Executive Council, Seventh Councilor district from 1925[2] to 1928.

Caricature of Holmes from 1917, when he was the Mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts.

United States House of Representatives

Holmes was elected as a Republican to the 72nd United States Congress and to the seven succeeding Congresses from (March 4, 1931 – January 3, 1947). Holmes was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1946 to the 80th United States Congress.

Holmes returned to Worcester and his electrotype business. Holmes died in Venice, Florida; his interment was in the Old Swedish Cemetery in Worcester.

Sources
  • United States Congress. "Pehr G. Holmes (id: H000741)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  • Members of the House who were born in foreign countries
  • Swedes of Greater Worcester Revisited (by Eric J. Salomonsson, William O. Hultgren, and Philip C. Becker. Arcadia Publishing. 2005)

Notes
  1. McFarlane, Clive (October 29, 2008), Thief steals history with weathervane, Worcester, Massachusetts: Worcester Telegram & Gazette
  2. Howard, Richard T. (1925), Public Officials of Massachusetts 1925–1926, Boston, MA: Commonwealth of Massachusetts, p. 35
  3. Holmes, Pehr G. (1917), Inaugural Address of Honorable Pehr G. Holmes: Mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts : January the First, Nineteen Seventeen, Worcester, Massachusetts: Commonwealth Press, p. 1
  4. Sullivan, Peter F.. (1920), The Inaugural Address of Hon. Peter F. Sullivan: Mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts : January Fifth, Nineteen Hundred Twenty, Worcester, Massachusetts: Commonwealth Press, p. 1
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