Samuel Charles Barnhart 1856-1951

BARNHART, ARBOGAST, ARBAGAST, BESAW, FREDERICK, WEIR

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 7/5/2013 at 11:06:35

S.C. Barnhart, 94, passed away at the home of his son Claude in Backus, Minnesota, Friday evening, July 20, 1951. He had been ill for a few months and died of complications incident to old age. Old friends here, who knew him for so many years, regretted to learn of his death.

The remains were brought to Graettinger and the funeral was held Monday afternoon at the Methodist church with the Rev. Arthur Rasmussen officiating. Burial was in the High Lake cemetery.

Samuel Charles Barnhart was born in Monroe county, Illinois, October 8, 1856 – several years before the start of the Civil War. Had he been spared until next October he would have been 95 years of age.

His early life was spent with his parents in Monroe county, Illinois, where he grew to manhood. He was united in marriage to Mary Lena Arbogast on October 20, 1881, in Jersey county, Illinois. The young couple engaged in farming, first in Illinois and then in Iowa, coming to Iowa in 1906. He continued farming until 1916 when the family moved to Graettinger. Mr. Barnhart then began working on the railroad and held this position for a number of years. After the death of his wife September 3, 1941, he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Charles Weir, for five years, and then with the other children spending the past two years with his son Claude at Backus, Minnesota.

Mr. and Mrs. Barnhart were the parents of seven children. One died in infancy. He is survived by three sons and three daughters. The sons are Claude and Walter, of Backus, Minnesota; Charles of Minneapolis. The daughters are Mrs. Ed Besaw, of Wallingford; Mrs. H.M. Frederick of Emmetsburg; and Mrs. C.E. Weir of Graettinger. There are 19 grandchildren, 43 great grandchildren, and 6 great great grandchildren.

Mr. Barnhart was a very fine gentleman and had a host of friends here, among those who knew him during the years of his health and strength. He was a member of the Methodist church since 1910. He lived to a ripe old age to enjoy the love and companionship of his sons and daughters. The Time extends sympathy to them and to the grandchildren in their sorrow. (Graettinger Times, Graettinger, IA, July 26, 1951)