the spring of 1864 enlisted in Company G, One Hundred Fifty-third Illinois Infantry, and served his country faithfully until the close of the war, being, for about eight months, orderly under Brevet Brig.-Gen. A. M. Dudley. He was honorably discharged at Springfield, Ill., September 21, 1865, then returning to Rockford, where he built the first livery barn erected in that place, and there he continued to successfully conduct business until 1869, when he removed to Story County, Iowa. However, in the fall of 1865, he had come thither, and purchased a farm, and his parents permanently located here the same year. Mr. Banks spent the year 1869 on his farm, after which he opened a drug store at Iowa Center, but eight years later removed to Nevada, and for one year acted in the capacity of city marshal. He has always been an uncompromising Republican in his political views, and in 1880 was elected sheriff of Story County, and so ably did he discharge his duties that he was twice re-elected to that position, and time showed the wisdom of the people's choice. He is now extensively engaged in the breeding of fine horses, in partnership with Jay A. King, and in March, 1889, they purchased "King Onward" of Lewis Bros., of Kentucky, at a cost of $1,500, when he was only seventeen months old. He was sired by "Onward" (whose time is 2:25 1/4), by "George Wilkes," time 2:22. His dam was " Mist," her time being 2:29 1/2, and he is a full brother of "Advance," with a record of 2:24 1/2 Besides this fine animal, for which they were offered $5,000 in the spring of 1890, they have eleven thoroughbred brood mares. Mr. Banks is a Mason, and a member of Lodge No. 99 of Nevada, and he also belongs to the M. W. of A., and the G. A. R. He is a man of family, having been married in 1861 to Miss Sarah E. Rice, a native of Illinois, by whom he has five children: Edith L., Howard A., Arthur, Jay K. and Alma.
Ira Barnes is agent for the St. Paul & Kansas City Grain Company at Zearing, Iowa, but was born in Erie County, Ohio, in 1832, being the eighth of nine children born to the mar riage of Ira and Eunice (Tuttle) Barnes, who were born in York State in 1790, being also reared and married there. They were among the first to locate in Erie County, Ohio, their settlement there being before it was surveyed, and here they spent the rest of their lives, dying in 1876, at the age of eighty-six years. Ira Barnes attained his twenty-first year in Ohio, his youth and early manhood being spent in tilling the soil and attending the common schools, but in 1853 he removed to Wisconsin, and was married in that State, in 1860, to Miss Ettie M. Warren. In 1861 he joined Company B, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry, and served until the close of the war, being in the following engagements: Port Gibson, Champion's Hill, the charge of Black River Bridge, Vicksburg, Fort Blakeley, besides a number of engagements of less importance. He served with different commands, and at the close of the war returned to Wisconsin, where he remained until 1872, at which time he located in St. Charles, Ill., remaining there four years. He then came to Iowa, and has been engaged in his present business since 1878, the duties of which he discharges in a very creditable manner. He has always been a Republican in politics; is a member of the G. A. R., Andrew Patton Post No. 239, of Zearing, and in his religious views is a Methodist. He and wife are the parents of four children: Cora (now Mrs. William Patton, of Zearing), Katie, Harry and Warren. Mr. Barnes' brothers and sisters are as follows: James, Grant, Lorenzo, Farwell, Ellen, Wealthy (now Mrs. M. Prentiss, of Sandusky County, Ohio), Burton and Nelson.
George M. Barnes is the leading harness dealer and manufacturer of Nevada, Story