Ellis BARLOW

BARLOW, MORROUGH, GORST, BEST, SEISINGER, APPLETON, YOUNG, BONNER, WALTERS, BROWN

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/26/2011 at 01:40:43

BIOGRAPHY - ELLIS BARLOW.

Of that English stock which forms a large, useful and important element in the citizenship of Cerro Gordo county is Ellis BARLOW, an agriculturist who has lived in the county since the spring of 1878 and who now resides on a twelve-acre property in the south part of the town of Clear Lake. He was born in Lancashire, England, October 4, 1848, and is the son of James and Elizabeth (MORROUGH) BARLOW, who came to America in the spring of 1849 and located on a farm in Dane county, Wisconsin, about twelve miles from Madison. The father entered land and resided upon it up to the time of his death, in 1908, at the age of eighty-six years. The mother died some forty-four years previously. The family was Episcopalian in denomination.

Ellis BARLOW was the only child of his parents. He was reared and educated in Dane county, Wisconsin, and received his training as a farmer from his father and in the school of actual experience. When he began to think of starting out in life independently he choose Cerro Gordo county for his location and although he began with practically nothing but his two hands and much enthusiasm he has been very successful. In the year of his arrival he located on a farm of eighty acres, to which he later added one hundred and sixty acres, and this farm of two hundred and forty acres in Cerro Gordo county he improved and still owns. This he operated until about six years ago, when he bought his present home in Clear Lake. He owned at one time four hundred and eighty acres.

On October 30, 1887, Mr. BARLOW was united in marriage to Miss Sarah GORST, a native of Dane county, Wisconsin, born August 10, 1846. Her parents were English and she accompanied them to this county in 1878. The birth of eight children has blessed this union (six of whom are living), as follows: William, (deceased) born in Wisconsin; James, born in Wisconsin and residing on his father's farm; Cora, now Mrs. George RAW, of Clear Lake; Thomas, a farmer in this county; Ida, now Mrs. Fred BEST, of Mt. Vernon township; Edwin, deceased; Ella, now Mrs. George BEST, residing on a farm in the locality; and Eva, now Mrs. J. E. SEISINGER of Mason City.

Mrs. BARLOW was a daughter of Thomas and Mary Ann (APPLETON) GORST, residents of Liverpool, England, who came to America in April, 1846, and located on a farm in Dane county, Wisconsin. The father died January 14, 1886, at the age of sixty-seven years and the mother, March 16, 1907, at the age of eighty-eight years. They were the parents of the following children: Martha, (deceased); Mary, now Mrs. YOUNG of Minnesota; Elizabeth, (deceased); Fannie, now Mrs. BONNER of Clear Lake; Robert, living in Wisconsin; Thomas, living in Reedsburg, Wisconsin; Helen, (Mrs. WALTERS), living on the old homestead; Martha (Mrs. BROWN), of Areno, Wisconsin; and James, of Areno, Wisconsin.

Mr. BARLOW is a man who takes an interest in local matters and he has served in various township offices. He has been successful in his operations and he is a self-made man.

NOTE: Ellis BARLOW died in 1927, and his wife Sarah died in 1932. They were interred at Clear Lake Cemetery.

SOURCE: Wheeler, J. H. History of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. Vol. II. Pp. 649-50 Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago. 1910

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2011