Georgiana Klingle Holmes

Georgiana Klingle Holmes (November 4, 1841 - April 22, 1940) was an American poet and painter. She founded the Arthur's Home For Destitute Boys and the LaRue Holmes Nature Lovers' League, both in memory of her sons, who died young.

Early life

Georgiana Klingle was born on November 4, 1841, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of George Franklin Klingle (1796-1840), M.D. and Mary Hunt Morris (1812-1897). Mary Hunt Morris was the daughter of William H. Morris and Catherine Tiers of New York City. She descended from Lewis Morris, of Morrisania, Pennsylvania, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Once widow, Mary Hunt Morris Klingle married John Haas, of Philadelphia, who raised Georgiana Klingle as his daughter.

Georgiana Klingle Holmes, Portrait of Mrs. Laura Klingle, circa 1875

She wrote poetry using the pen-name "George Klingle", which touched many hearts. Her collection of poems entitled "Make Thy Way Mine" (New York, 1876) was made after repeated letters from interested strangers in different parts of the country. That collection was followed by "In the Name of the King" (New York, 1888). At the death of her second son, LaRue, she founded the LaRue Holmes Nature Lovers' League, for which she was active in various schools, travelling by horse and buggy between 1915 and 1925 to give talks on nature.

She died on April 22, 1940, and was buried at Fair Mount Cemetery, Chatham, New Jersey.