Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 955
WILLIAM H. BARSBY

William H. BARSBY, a farmer of section 6, Lincoln Township, came to Harrison County in the autumn of 1884, and bought two hundred and eighty acres, upon which he now lives. It was wild land at the time and cost him $10 per acre. He at once commenced improving it, by turning over the virgin sod, built a house 22x24 feet, one story and a half high, also a barn thirty-four feet square, cribs and other out-buildings, and set out an orchard of two hundred trees.

Our subject was born in Winnebago County, Ill., and is the son of Thomas and Jane WOODWARD BARSBY, natives of England, who had a family of fourteen children, of whom he was the youngest. The following are their names: Elizabeth, Mary A., deceased, Ebenezer, Charles, Albert, Mary A. (deceased), an infant deceased, Ellen, Edward, William, and two who died in infancy.

Our subject lived with his parents until he was sixteen years of age, when he went to Dakota, and there tried to make a home for himself, but failed on account of a two years' grasshopper raid, after which he returned to Illinois and farmed two years, and then went to Janesville, Wis., where he studied telegraphy. He remained there six months and received his diploma. He followed that profession four months and then returned to farm life, and two years later removed to Crawford County, Iowa, where he rented land for six years, and then came to this county.

He was married July 21, 1881, to Fannie MORSE, daughter of Henry MORSE, a native of New York State, who had a family of twelve children, our subject's wife being the oldest. The children were: Fannie, Henry, Elizabeth, John, Frank, William, Anna (deceased), Eddie, Reuben, Freddie, Roscoe and Grace.

Mr. and Mrs. BARSBY are the parents of four children--Thomas H., born August 25, 1882; Charles W., September 12, 1884; Ray. R., October 9, 1886; and Walter C., November 9, 1888.  Mr. and Mrs. BARSBY are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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