George Barnett Biography

George Barnett

George Barnett, who is one of the active and prosperous farmers of Bennezette township and one of the influential and
representative citizens of this locality, was born in Dubuque county, Iowa, September 21, 1851. He is a son of Longridge and Sarah (Lowen) Barnett, natives of England, the father having been born and reared in the vicinity of London and the mother being a native of that city. Longridge Barnett came to America in 1845 and settled in New York, whence after a short time he moved to Pennsylvania and there engaged in farming. He afterward came west to Iowa, locating in Dubuque county, where he remained until 1866. In that year he moved to Butler county and for thirty-four years thereafter was prominently connected with agricultural interests of this locality. When he disposed of his holdings here he moved to Nebraska, where he spent the last years of his life.

George Barnett accompanied his parents to Butler county in 1866, when he was fifteen years of age, and he aided his father in improving and developing the farm in Bennezette township. After reaching maturity he remained upon the homestead for a short time, but in 1873 purchased a farm on section 11. This comprised one hundred and sixty acres and Mr. Barnett cultivated it for a number of years, making it a valuable and productive property. About 1883 he moved to Vancouver, Washington, and there spent four years in the lumber business, moving from that city to Portland, Oregon, where he conducted a sawmill and engaged in the manufacture of lumber for some time. He later returned to
Vancouver and was connected with a large lumber manufacturing company there as a log buyer for four years. In 1895 he returned to Iowa and, settling in Butler county, bought the property upon which he still resides. He owns a well improved farm of three hundred and twenty acres in sections 22 and 27, Bennezette township, and upon this has erected substantial buildings and set out a grove of forest and pine trees, which forms an excellent windbreak for his buildings. In connection with general farming Mr. Barnett is also a stock breeder and dealer, keeping a herd of thirty
head of pure-blood and high-grade Aberdeen Angus cattle. He raises also Duroc Jersey hogs and heavy work horses. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company of Aredale and was one of the promoters of the Bennezette Telephone Company, of which he is president.

Mr. Barnett has been twice married. He wedded first, on November 25, 1883, Miss Elvira J. Alexander, who was born and reared in Canada, coming to Butler county when she was eighteen years of age. She passed away in 1899, leaving one son, Clarence E., who is aiding in the operation of the home farm. On the 13th of January, 1900, in Bennezette township, Mr. Barnett married Mrs. Katie (Reed) De Armoun, who was born and reared in the vicinity of Dumont. Mrs. Barnett has one daughter by her former marriage, Eula, who is now the wife of E. C. Miller, a farmer of Bennezette township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Barnett have been born four children, Raymond R., Ruth R., Florence May and Alice
Cora.

Mr. Barnett gives his political allegiance to the republican party and stands high in its councils, having served as delegate to numerous county and state conventions and having held various positions of public trust and responsibility. He has rendered excellent service on both the grand and petit juries and is now in his fifth term as assessor, discharging the duties of this office in a creditable and able manner. He and his wife are members of the Wesleyan Methodist church, of which Mr. Barnett has been trustee for years, and they are people of exemplary character, highly esteemed and respected wherever they are known.