BARTON, William A. - 1890 Bio (1840-1911)

BARTON, GINN, GILLHAM, BARTHOLOMEW, SPEAR

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 7/28/2007 at 12:55:19

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 463-464

William A. BARTON, one of the old settlers of Jefferson County, whose home is on section 33, Buchanan Township, is a native of the Buckeye State. He first opened his eyes to the light of day in Muskingum County, Ohio, May 14, 1840, gracing the union of Alex and Susan (GINN) BARTON. His father was born in County Fermanagh, Ireland, on the 23d of April, 1804, and in 1820, when a lad of sixteen years, he bade good-bye to the Emerald Isle, and with his parents, two brothers and three sisters, set sail for America. After a long and tedious voyage of sixteen weeks they reached the shores of the New World, and made their way to Muskingum County, Ohio, where the boy Alex grew to manhood. He married Miss GINN, who was born in Athens County, Ohio, about 1815, of Irish parentage. Both the paternal and maternal grandparents of our subject spent the remainder of their lives in the Buckeye State, and were believers in the Protestant doctrine.

The parents of William A. BARTON were married in Athens County, but located in Muskingum County, where the mother died in 1840, leaving three children -- Jane, wife of William M. GILLHAM, a resident of Summerville, Ore.; James G., a Methodist minister belonging to the Southern Iowa Conference; and William A., of this sketch. The father, having obtained $1,200 worth of land warrants, determined to come to Jefferson County, Iowa, to locate the same, but before he had accomplished his plans he contracted a severe cold. At that day bleeding was thought to be the cure for all ailments, and Mr. BARTON underwent that treatment, but the cut was made too deep and destroyed an artery. Mortification set in, and it was seen that the arm must be taken off, which was accomplished with a shoe knife and hand-saw. It was not until 1853 that he finally made a location in Iowa. In that year he purchased land in Cedar Township on credit, but his sons assisted him in his labors until his farm had been paid for and he was placed in comfortable circumstances. His death occurred in Oregon on the 9th of December, 1889. He had served as Township Trustee, as Clerk and as Justice of the Peace in Ohio, and was also Trustee of Cedar Township. A respected and valued citizen, his death proved a loss to the community in which he made his home. In his religious convictions he was a Methodist, but his wife held membership in the Baptist Church.

In the usual manner of farmer lads our subject was reared to manhood, and that he might assist his father, who was disabled, in securing a comfortable home, he remained under the parental roof until twenty-six years of age, aiding in the farm labor. On the 10th of April, 1866, having determined to make a home for himself, he chose as a life companion Miss Agnes BARTHOLOMEW, their wedding being celebrated on that day. The lady was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., January 17, 1840, and is a daughter of Thomas and Agnes (SPEAR) BARTHOLOMEW. Of the eight children born of that union, three died in childhood, and the living are: Sue M., Thomas A., William E., Minnie A. and Harry R.

Both Mr. and Mrs. BARTON are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically, he is a Democrat. His farm, consisting of one hundred and eighty acres of arable land, situated on section 33, Buchanan Township, yields him a good income, for his fields are under a high state of cultivation and receive all the care required to make them yield abundant harvests. His stock is also of good grades and his home, with all its surroundings, indicated thrift and enterprise. He has lived for thirty-five years in the county and is a member of the Old Settlers Society.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.