From PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF BOONE AND CLINTON COUNTIES, INDIANA published in 1895 by A. W. Bogan and Co.

Dr. Horatio D. Holmes of Scircleville, Clinton county, Ind., and the leading physician in the eastern part of the county, descends from good old Irish stock and a generation of American ancestors, his paternal grandparents coming from the Emerald isle in 1795.  After residing twenty years in Virginia, they went to Pulaski county, Ky., where they both died.  His grandfather was a school-teacher for thirty-five years after reaching America, and his ability is attested by the fact that he taught seven consecutive years in one district.  Col. John M. Holmes, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia November 4, 1796 and was reared on the home farm, and followed farming all his life to a greater or less degree.  His education was far beyond the average.  He married, in Kentucky, Jerusha Hill, daughter of John and Delilah (Cooper) Hill, the former of whom came from Kentucky to Clinton county, Ind., while it was yet a wilderness.  He was a minister of the Baptist church, and organized the Hill church, the first church of that denomination in the county.  Before coming to Clinton county, he had represented Pulaski county, in the legislature of Kentucky as a democrat.  Col. John M. Holmes, after marriage, remained  a few years in Kentucky and then came to Indiana, stopped a while in Jennings county, and then moved to Tipton county, where he entered 103 acres in the "green" among the Indians.  He was an active democrat, and was the first election clerk of Tipton county; later, he was elected county commissioner, and at the expiration of his term was re-elected.  Mrs. Holmes was a devout Baptist, and was very careful in rearing her children, of whom he had nine, viz: David, who died in Kentucky, an infant; Polly Ann, deceased; William; Amanda J.; John H.; James, deceased; Theodore; Telemachus Polk and Horatio D., twins.
Dr. Horatio Holmes was born in Tipton county, Ind. July 24, 1845.  He remained on the home farm in all twenty-two years, securing his education meantime.  At the outbreak of the Civil War he offered his services to his country, but on account of his youth, they were not accepted.  The family was represented, however, by his brother John who was wounded at Kenesaw Mountain and died from the effects of the injury; his brother William also did gallant service in the field.
Dr. Holmes commenced the practice of his profession, in 1872 at Hillisburgh, where he was very successful, but changed his location to Scircleville in 1887, where he has as large a practice as any physician in the county, outside of Frankfort.  He has a most valuable medical library and is a close reader of all the medical journals of the United States, and keeps well abreast with the progress of the profession.  He is a man of generous impulses, and was never known to refuse aid or advice to a sick family or person on account of poverty.  He is a member of the Masonic fraternity at Kirklin, and of Sugar Creek lodge, No. 321 I.O.O.F. in which he has filled all the chairs and which he has represented in the grand lodge.  In politics he is a stanch democrat, and is active in the support of his part.  The doctor was married January 1877 to Miss Charlotta Neal, daughter of Thomas Neal.  This lade was born April 1862, and is a member of the Baptist Church which the doctor liberally aids, as well as all the local churches.  Two children are the result of this happy union, and are Thomas and Iva.  The doctor and his wife stand deservedly high in the estimation of those who have the honor of being socially acquainted with them.