William R. Barber

As printed in 1911

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.

Mr. Homrighausen was born in Germany in 1854 and is the son of Johann and Elizabeth (Puchs) Homrighausen, both born in the fatherland," where they were reared, educated and married, and, in fact, spent their entire lives, the father being an extensive farmer for that country, owning over two hundred acres of land. They were members of the Evangelical church and thrifty, honest people.

George Homrighausen grew to maturity on his father's farm in Germany where he assisted with the general work about the place, attending the neighboring schools during the winter months. As is the custom in his native country, he served in the army for a period of two years, in Castile. He had so frequently heard of the numerous opportunities in the United States awaiting young men of thrift and ambition that he resolved to cast his lot here. Accordingly he emigrated in 1880. coming direct to Wheatland, Chnton county, Iowa, and began farming in Spring Rock township, where he acquired one hundred and twenty acres of land, which he worked in such a manner as to lay by an ample competence for his declining years, and in 1906 he retired to make his residence in Wheatland, in which town he erected a modern, commodious and attractive dweUing.

Mr. Homrighausen was married in 1884 to Mrs. Katherine (Keller) Schneider, who had first married Johanas Schneider. She was born in Germany and reared there, receiving her education in the public schools. She came to America alone, while yet single, in the year 1869. also comm direct to Wheatland, Iowa. By her first marriage she became the mother of the following children: Ann, Joseph, Amil, Rudolph and Henry. Her last union has been without issue.

Mr. Homrighausen is independent in politics, preferring to vote for the man rather than the party, and in religious matters he and his family are members of the Reformed church.

As printed in Wolfe's history of Clinton County, Iowa (1911). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.