Edwin R. Barron, merchant of McGregor, was born in Woodstock, Grafton County, N.H., May 22, 1829. His parents, John V. and Laura (Robbins) Barron, were natives of New Hampshire and members of the Baptist church. They have a family of nine children, seven sons and two daughters, two sons living, viz.: the subject of this sketch, and Charles H., a wholesale grocer of McGregor. Edwin R. worked on his fathers farm attending school until sixteen, taught school until seventeen, when he began clerking in a store of general merchandise at Meredith, N.H.; clerked here one year, then at Concord, N.H., two years, then clerked in Meredith Village, then came to McGregor, arriving here in the spring of 1856. He formed a partnership with Samuel and Jerry H. Merrell, and bought of Jones & Bass, and continued partners until 1861, when Mr. Barron bought the interest of his partners in the store, and has continued in business here ever since. Mr. Barron married Miss Helen M. Gordon, Sept. 2, 1862. She was born in New Hampton, N.H., and was the daughter of J. Calvin Gordon and Miss Sally Robinson. Mr. and Mrs. Barron have had one son, viz.: Earnest G. Barron. He died September, 1864; the mother died April 2, 1864. She was a member of the Baptist church, she was a sister of the Rev. A. J. Gordon, of Boston, Mass. Mr. Barron is a Mason and a member of Bezer Lodge, A.F. & A. M., No. 27; McGregor Royal Arch Chapter Mason and K.T. Mr. Barron has always taken an active interest in the schools or anything that promised progression to the town. He is one of the old settlers and enterprising representative men of McGregor. In politics he is rather independent, voting always for the best man. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 966-67 |