William Kossuth Barnes (1850-1932)

BARNES, NEWTON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 7/7/2024 at 17:46:28

From Story City Herald February 4, 1932 (page 6)

OBITUARY
Wm. Barnes

William Kossuth Barnes, a son of Henry and Armina Barnes, was born in Burlington, Wis., Sept. 15, 1850. He received his early education in the state and in 1865 came with his parents to Story county, locating on a farm south of Gilbert. After coming of age he worked at the trade of blacksmith, locating at Ames, where on Sept. 26, 1874, he was united in marriage to Florence August Newton, who preceded him in death 11 years ago.

To them three children, Harley, John and Hattie, were born, all of whom survive. Of his four brothers and two sisters who came to Iowa at the same time, only one brother, Fred M. Barnes of Los Angeles, Calif., survives him.

The industrious habits of his youth remained with him all his life, during most of which he worked at his trade, operating shops successively at Ames, Kingsley, Holstein, Ida Grove and later, for many years at Gilbert. He was skilled in many departments of his trade and enjoyed a wide reputation for the excellence of his work.

Much of the time, apart from labor, was devoted to reading, in which he had a discriminating taste and covered a wide range of subjects, concerning which it was his delight to converse with his friends.

Possessed of a hopeful philosophy of which no adversity or misfortune was able to deprive him, his life in Gilbert makes appropriate the ancient lines: "He lived in a house by the side of the road, and was a friend to man."

The funeral was held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, in the Congregational church at Gilbert, with Rev. J. P. Himmel in charge.