In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1846, Allegany County
From Biographical and historical memoirs of Story County, Iowa (1890)
George M. Barnes is the leading harness dealer and manufacturer of Nevada, Story
A*- County, Iowa, and although he was born in Allegany County, N. T., December 21, 1846, he has been a well-known resident of Nevada, Iowa, since February, 1870. His parents, Orlando and Salorna (Moon) Barnes, were born in York State, and the former is still living at the age of seventy-two years, being a resident of Grant Township, Story County, Iowa. His wife died here in 1884 at the age of sixty-six years. Of a family of eight children born to them, the subject of this sketch is seventh in order of birth, and seven of the family are now living, R. J. Barnes having died while serving in the Rebellion. George M. Barnes was reared on a farm in New York until he was ten years of age, at which time he moved with his parents to Illinois and settled in Sheffield, Bureau County, where he was given the advantages of the common schools. At the age of fourteen years he was apprenticed to the harness-maker's trade at Sheffield, and continued to work at this calling until 18G3, when he enlisted in Company C, Sixty-sixth Illinois, and served until the close of the war, being honorably discharged July 13, 1865. He was in all the battles in which Sherman's army participated from the 9th of May, 1864, until the final surrender. He then returned to his old home in Illinois and resumed his trade, but becoming dissatisfied with his location he came to Iowa in 1866, and until 1870 was a resident of Marengo. Since that time he has resided in Story County, and has built up an excellent business for himself in Nevada. He has a complete line of harness, saddles, etc., and is also extensively engaged in the manufacture of these articles, and finds a ready sale for them throughout the county. He has been engaged in this business for about thirty years, and as far as enterprise, push and honesty are concerned, has few superior. He was married December 7, 1882, to Miss Josie Hefler, a native of Iowa.
He has one child, Ada E. He belongs to Nevada Lodge No. 99, A. F. & A. M., and also belongs to the G. A. R., two of his brothers who served in the late war being also members. He is one of the substantial, law-abiding citizens of the place, and is looked up to and respected by his fellow-men.
As printed in Biographical and historical memoirs of Story County, Iowa (1890). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1890. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.