West Liberty History 1838-1938

Source: One Hundred Years of History
* Commemorating a Century of Progress in the West Liberty Community * WEST LIBERTY, IOWA
ENOS AND CHARLOTTE BARNES

Enos barnes, born in 1796, died 1878, a native of Rutland County, Vermont, and his wife, Charlotte Bagley, born 1796, died 1881, in the fall of 1838 came from Knox County, Ohio, to the Iowa Settlement and purchased land for $1.25 per acre on section 12, the present site of West Liberty. They had a family of six boys and three daughters, all of whom settled in and about this vicinity.

The only descendants living in West Liberty now are Byron W. Barnes and family; Mrs. Iva L. (Barnes) Templeman and daughter Irene; Mrs. Olive (Wagner) Hazlett and her sister, Mary Wagner.

From the diary of Enos Barnes the following is taken: Aug. 1855, corn 35¢ per bu.; oats,25¢ flour 4¢ per lb.; potatoes 25¢ per bu.; fresh pork 5¢ per lb. and wood $2.24 a cord.

In 1856 potatoes were 50¢ per bu.; wheat $1.10 per bu. In 1857 oats were 80¢ per bu.; eggs 12 1/2¢ a dozen; lard 15¢ a lb.; pickled pork 12 1/2¢ a lb.; and ham 15¢ a lb. In Jan. of 1858 eggs were 8¢ a doz.; butter 15¢ a lb.; and corn 20¢ a bu. In March 1859, corn was 75¢ per bu.; oats, 40¢ but in December oats went down to 25¢ flour was 3¢ a lb.

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