Barcroft, Russell A.

BARCROFT

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/26/2021 at 15:53:54

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.756

RUSSELL A. BARCROFT
R. A. Barcroft, who is one of the prosperous farmers and stock raisers and feeders of Greenfield township, owning and operating a well improved and valuable farm of six hundred and sixty acres, is numbered among the old settlers of Iowa , dating his residence in this state since 1864, and in Warren county since 1882. He was born in Holmes county, Ohio , March 8, 1861 , a son of John R. and Susan F. ( Ankeny ) Barcroft, both of whom were natives of that state, the father having been born in Harrison county. John R. Barcroft was a man of exceptionally good education and was a lawyer by profession. He first engaged in the practice of law in Ohio , but in 1864 he removed to Iowa and located in Mahaska county, where he practiced law for eighteen months and then removed to Des Moines , where he continued to follow his profession for a number of years. He later bought land in this county, and opened up the farm where the son now resides, making this his permanent residence for some time, while still maintaining his law offices at Des Moines. Eventually, however, he returned to Des Moines to reside, and there he died on the 20th of January, 1901. His wife survives him and now resides in the capital city. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Barcroft were born four children, namely: R. A., of this review; J. K., a resident of Alexandria , Louisiana ; Mary, the wife of George E. King, a financier and capitalist of Des Moines ; and Hattie, the widow of James M. McCaughan, and also a resident of Des Moines.
R. A. Barcroft was reared and educated in Des Moines. In early manhood he came to the farm and took charge of the place and has since engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has built two good residences, barns and the necessary outbuildings, and has the place well fenced. In connection with the raising of grains and cereals he has made a business of raising high grade stock and fattens for the market from three to five carloads of cattle and hogs annually.
In 1899 Mr. Barcroft was married in Des Moines to Miss Mary Wright, a daughter of John P. Wright, who was a native of Indiana and is now deceased. Politically Mr. Barcroft has been a lifelong republican. He has served as delegate to numerous county conventions but has never sought nor desired public office. Mr. Barcroft has been a resident of Iowa for nearly half a century and has witnessed the growth and development of Des Moines , Indianola, Polk and Warren counties, and is regarded as one of the best known, progressive, public-spirited citizens of this section.