Nathaniel Barber, born in Chenango County, New York, in 1809, and his wife Mary (Pearsall) Barber, born in New York in 1814, spent a year and a half in Pennsylvania before coming west to Dixon, Illinois, in 1838. That September they crossed into the Black Hawk Purchase and took up 160 acres three miles southeast of Grand Mound, in what became Orange Township, and built the farm to 240 acres. They had ten children, and the 1911 history sketches three sons who stayed in the county: William R., born at the fort at Dixon in 1838, who farmed 260 acres and later served six years as mayor of Grand Mound; A. E., born on the homestead in 1845; and George W., born in 1848, whom the history calls one of the earliest white children born in the county. By 1911 A. E. had retired and his son Clarence was running the farm. Every fact below is cited to a public-domain Clinton County history.
Where the family starts
Nathaniel Barber and Mary (Pearsall) Barberborn 1809Most recent in our records
Clarence Barberborn 1871Tap a name to jump to that person.
Settled in Orange Township in 1838
Farmer and hog breeder; mayor of Grand Mound
WILLIAM R. BARBER.
The subject of this sketch has seen more than the allowed number of years, and has during the most part of that time engaged in active work on his farm, which has well repaid him and has been to him the source of much pleasure. He has always found much attractiveness in farming and the cultivation of crops and caring for stock, and has found that they are as paying in a monetary way as any occupation could well be expected to be. In his life he has also gained for himself many friends, who have been attracted by his worth and capabilities.
William R. Barber was born in the fort at Dixon, Illinois, January 1, 1838. son of Nathaniel and Mary (Pearsall) Barber. His father was born in Chenango county, New York, in 1809, and his mother in that state in 1814. They moved to Pennsylvania in 1835, remained there one and one-half years, and in September, 1838, came to Dixon, Illinois. On September 3, 1838, they moved to Iowa to what was known as the Black Hawk Purchase, three miles southeast of Grand Mound, in what is now Orange township. They took up one hundred sixty acres, to which they added until the farm consisted of two hundred forty acres, and here they died. They were the parents of ten children, four of whom are living. In politics Nathaniel Barber was in early life a Whig, later a Republican, and held several township offices. He was a prominent and respected farmer of the township.
William R. Barber attended the district schools, first attending in a log school house, then in a brick, and finally in a frame. Early he took up farming and stock raising and as an extensive hog breeder. He owned two hundred sixty acres of land, but has sold eighty of this to a son. In 1902 he retired from active farming and came to Grand Mound, where he owns a fine and commodious residence, and has since lived. He is a stockholder in the Peoples' Savings Bank, and in the gas company, of which he is. manager. In politics he is a Republican and has held the offices of justice of the peace, school director and constable in Orange township, and has been mayor of Grand Mound for the past six years. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Barber was married on August 18. 1860, to Mary E. Norman, who was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, March 30, 1841. the daughter of Jnlin and Mary (Allison) Norman, natives of Virginia, who came to Scott county. Iowa, in 185 1, settle-don a farm and kept a ferry on the Wapsipinicon river. Here John Norman died; his wife died in Mr, Barber's home in Clin-
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
Mr. and Mrs. Barber are the parents of nine children, Elmer E., May M. (dead), Howard (dead), Lillian (dead), William C. (dead), Albert P., Ida May, Minnie Pearl and Nellie Blanche.
Mr. Barber is one of the most respected and esteemed residents of Crand Mound, and has always had the interests of the community\ much at heart. He has ever h'ved a life of honor and uprightness.
Among the foreign-born citizens who have taken up their residence in Clinton county, building up highly creditable reputations and have distinguished themselves by right and honorable living, is George Homrighausen, who, for a period of thirty years, has been prominently identified with the agricultural life of Spring Rock township, and who is now living in retirement in his beautiful residence in Wheatland. He has for several decades been regarded as one of the strongest. factors in the western part of the county, being a man of sound sense and ripe judgment and always willing to do his full share in bettering the general condition of his community.
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Farmer, Orange Township
A. E. BARBER.
One who is interested in the history of Clinton county could spend a few hours very pleasantly talking with A. E. Barber, a well known and successful farmer of Orange township, for he has spent his life here and has grown up with the county, his individual career and the history of his locality being interwoven. He has come down to us from the days of the first settler and has played well his part in the general work of transforming the country from a wild prairie to what is today, one of the choice agricultural sections of the Union. Improvement and progress may be said to form the keynote of his character and he is a man whom to know is to accord the fullest respect, for his life has been without the shadow or suspicion of underhanded dealings.
Mr. Barber was born March 27, 1845. on the old Barber homestead in Orange township, Clinton county, being the son of Nathaniel and Mary (Pearsall) Barber, mentioned elsewhere in this work.
He grew to maturity on the home farm and when but a lad was put to work in the fields, attending the neighboring schools during the winter months, and he has made general farming and stock raising his life work, succeeding well at both, and, having accumulated a competency through his habits of thrift and good management, he has retired from active work, leaving the management of his fine farm to his son.
On December 24, 1868, Mr. Barber was united in the bonds of matrimony with Celia M. Phillip, who was born in Illinois, the daughter of Oliver H. and Mary (Robinson) Phillip, who spent their early lives in New York state and were married there, then moved to the state of Illinois, later coming to Clinton county, Iowa, where Mr. Phillip bought a farm, becoming well established and lived many years in Orange township. Mr. Phillip's death occurred in 1868, he being survived thirty years by his wife, who died in 1898.
To Mr. and Mrs. Barber one child has been born, Clarence, whose birth occurred on January 28, 1871.
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Farmer; one of the county's oldest native sons
GEORGE W. BARBER.
One of the successful and well known farmers of the western part of Clinton county, and a man who richly merits the high esteem in which he is held owing to his life of integrity and industry, is George W. Barber. He has done much to advance the material and general interests of his locality and has, by his persistent labors and excellent management, developed one of the best farms of his township.
Mr. Barber was born in Orange township. Clinton county. Iowa. March 18, 1848, of a sterling old pioneer family, and here he has spent his life, witnessing the country grow from its wild, unimproved state to its present opulent condition, and he has taken his full share of the burden of development, being justly proud of his native community. He is the son of Nathaniel and Marv Ann f Pearsol) Barber, a full sketch of wlinm is tn be found on another page of this work.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
Mr. Barber has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and has been successful, owning now a valuable and well improved farm of one hundred and seventy acres. He has a pleasant home and good outbuildings and is in comfortable circumstances, ranking among the substantial citizens of his community. Besides general farming, he carries on stock raising, always keeping good stock of various kinds.
On March 23. 1869. Mr. Barber was married to Belinda Guy, a native of England and the daughter of John and Susan (Taylor) Guy, who were born in England, where they spent their early lives and from which country they came to America in 185 1 and settled in Massachusetts. This family came to Clinton county, Iowa, in 1865 and settled on a farm in Orange township and here became well established. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Barber, namely: Susan M.. born December 9, 1869. married Julius Hahn, and they have two daughters, Leone H. and Lulu Belle: Bruce G., born May 31, 1880, is living at home assisting his father with the farm work.
Politically. Mr. Barber is a Republican, and has always taken a lively interest in whatever tends to promote the general good of his county in all lines. He and his wife are pleasant people to meet and they have scores of warm personal friends throughout the county.
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops in the early 1900s. We pick up from there and trace your line down to you and back as far as the records go, into a written book with every source cited.
All sources are public domain. Facts only. We follow set rules to leave living people out (how).
Other family lines from the same county: