Barfoot, Cyrus F. 1858 - 1945

BARFOOT, DOUGHERTY, YARWOOD, TEE

Posted By: Bill Waters (email)
Date: 4/16/2014 at 11:05:27

Cyrus F. Barfoot, who for the past nineteen years has operated his father's property of three hundred and fifty acres on sections 19 and 30, Madison Township, was born in Decorah in 1858, a son of Benjamin T. and Jane (Dougherty) Barfoot, natives of Ohio. The father went to Freeport, Illinois, from that state and worked at the carpenter's trade for two years, moving to Decorah, Iowa, in 1855. He there resumed his former occupation and continued at it for a number of years, turning his attention to general farming in 1867. In that year he took up his residence upon one hundred and sixty acres of land in the northeast quarter of section 30, Madison township, a property to which he had entered claim January 15, 1856. This he set about improving and developing and also the quarter section adjoining, which he had entered July 16, 1861. He afterward bought more land and became an extensive property holder, owning at one time four hundred and thirty acres. This fine tract he continued to operate until 1894, when he retired from active life and moved to Decorah, where he resided until his death, which occurred April 2, 1912. He had survived his wife only a few weeks, her death having occurred on the 12th of March of the same year.

Cyrus F. Barfoot was reared at home and educated in district schools and the public schools of Decorah. He afterward took a course in a business college at Burlington, Iowa, and after completing it returned to his native city, where he served for four years as deputy in the county treasurer's office. At the end of that time he entered his father's employ and aided in the operation of the homestead from 1888 until 1895, m which year he bought his father's stock and machinery and rented the farm, upon which he has since resided. During the nineteen years he has operated this property success has steadily attended his well-directed efforts and it is now a well improved place, upon which is a neat residence, together with substantial outbuildings and all the equipment of a model farming property. He owns in addition one hundred and sixty acres of land in western Nebraska.

On the 27th of February, 1895, Mr. Barfoot was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Yarwood, a daughter of George W. and Maria (Tee) Yarwood, the former a native of England and the latter of Wisconsin. When the father came to America he settled first in New York and in 1855 moved to Winneshiek County, Iowa, where he purchased and improved a farm in Calmar Township, operating this property until his death in the fall of 1901. His wife survived him a few years, dying November 28, 1908.

Mr. Barfoot gives his political allegiance to the Republican Party and has always taken an active part in public affairs. He served as secretary of the school board for twelve years and is now in the seventeenth consecutive year of his service as township clerk, a position to which he has been elected nine times. He is a progressive business man and a practical farmer, who seems to recognize the value of every situation and to make the most of his opportunities. Through well directed and untiring efforts he has developed a model farm, which in its neat and attractive appearance is indicative of his life of industry and thrift.

Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark publishing Company 1913

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