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         HOMER Z. BARNES, deceased, was born at New Hartford, Conn., Jan. 14, 1832, and is a son of Zena and Flora (Goodwin) Barnes. His grandfather was a member of the State Legislature and a man of influence and prominence in the community where he resided. When our subject was quite young his parents emigrated to Huntsburg, Geauga Co., Ohio, several of his father’s brothers having settled in that vicinity. He was educated in the public schools, and was reared upon a farm, where he worked until he was twenty-five years of age. His marriage with Amelia A. Gould was celebrated at Painsville, Ohio, July 1, 1861. The lady is a daughter of Harris and Ataresta (Wright) Gould, her mother, who was born in the town of Chester, Vt., being descended from an old New England family, who afterward settled in Burton, Ohio. Her father, who was of English descent, was born in Canada, though reared in New York, and was a large land-owner. Mrs. Barnes was born at Burton, Ohio, and received her education in the High Schools of the State. After his marriage Mr. Barnes spent a year and a half at Huntsburg, and then went to West Liberty, Iowa, where he engaged in the grocery and grain business for three years. Having poor health he sold out, and went to Texas to engage in buying cattle. This did not prove a profitable move, as he was detained in the Indian Nation during the hot weather, on account of a law just then enforced, prohibiting the driving of Texas cattle through the States for fear of contaminating the native cattle with the fever. He consequently lost heavily, not only in money, but in health as well, which to him was a much more important consideration.

In 1867 Mr. Barnes went to Lansing, Mich., where he engaged in the lumber business. At the expiration of seven years he returned to Ohio for a short time, and in January, 1877, came to Columbus Junction, Iowa. He was engaged in the grocery business in this city until 1882, when, on account of failing health, he was obliged to abandon mercantile pursuits. During his residence of eleven years in this city he took an active interest in local affairs, and held the offices of Councilman and Mayor, and was serving his third term as Justice of the Peace at the time of his death, which occurred Jan. 14, 1888.

Mr. Barnes was one of the Trustees of the Normal School, which he had helped to organize, and politically, was a stanch Republican, an ardent supporter of the principles of that party. He was reared in the Congregational Church, and in his younger days was both a Mason and an Odd Fellow. Mr. Barnes was always a man of great will power and energy, and although an invalid for many years was active and hopeful, the prospect of death never seeming to cause him any alarm, and to the very last he seemed confident of a longer lease of life. Possessing superior natural ability and mental force, he won the respect and regard of all with whom business or pleasure brought him in contact. Had his physical condition equaled his . . .

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. . . mental powers, he would have made much more of his opportunities than was possible in the state of invalidism in which he was unfortunately placed. His estimable wife, who is a member of the Presbyterian Church, survives him, and is still a resident of Columbus Junction, where she is most highly respected and esteemed. She enjoys the distinction of having been one of the first two ladies elected to membership in the Board of Education in the independent district of Columbus Junction. Mrs. W. H. Gray, now deceased, and Mrs. Barnes were elected members of the School Board March 14, 1881, and entered upon the duties of the office on the 22d of the same month, doing efficient service. It was during their term of office that the present elegant school-house was built. Mrs. Gray died April 4, 1882, and was succeeded by Mrs. L. G. Murdock, who has since served two terms as County Superintendent of Schools of Louisa County. These ladies were zealous in their efforts to secure the very best educational advantages for the children of their district, and were eminently successful