HENRY H. BARGER
Henry
H. Barger, successfully engaged in general farming and
stock-raising upon two hundred acres of land in Lucas, his
native county, was born in Union township, November 22, 1860. He is a son of
James Madison and Anna Eliza (Willmore) Barger, natives of
Rockbridge county, Virginia, the former born in 1823 and the
latter in 1825. Their
marriage occurred in 1844, and ten years later they came
overland to Iowa, settling in Union township in pioneer times. Here both passed
away, the father dying August 28, 1882, and the mother January
20, 1904. Ten
children were born to their union: John W., whose birth occurred on the 7th
of March, 1845, and who died on the 5th of
November, 1912; Mrs. Jane E. Courtney, who was born in April,
1847, and who is now residing in Orange, California; Josiah
A., whose birth occurred December 12, 1849, also of Orange,
California; Eli D., who was born August 5, 1851, and who died
in 1908; Isaiah, who resides in Warren township; George W.,
who was born on the 6th of June, 1856, and who
resides in Colorado; Virginia A., who was born May 16, 1858,
and died at the age of nineteen years; Henry H., of this
review; Jasper N., who was born March 7, 1863, and who is now
a resident of Plattsmouth, Nebraska; and Mrs. Elva Anderson,
who was born February 21, 1867, now a resident of Kansas City,
Missouri. The
five eldest children were born in Virginia and the remainder
are natives of Iowa.
Henry
H. Barger was reared upon his father’s farm in Union township
and from his childhood assisted with its operation, becoming
at an early age thoroughly familiar with the best agricultural
methods. When he
began his independent career he naturally turned his attention
to the occupation to which he had been reared and since that
time has been engaged in farming and stock-raising, being
today numbered among the prominent and successful
agriculturists of his native township. He owns two hundred
acres of land lying on section 1, 11 and 12 and has made
substantial improvements upon this property, erecting good
barns, granaries and outbuildings and installing the necessary
machinery. His
stock-raising interests claim a great deal of his attention
and, being capably conducted, are an important source of
income to him.
Mr.
Barger has been twice married.
He wedded first, in 1885, Miss Mary E. Skidmore, a
native of Jackson township, who died in Union township,
leaving two daughters: Mrs.
Alma Terhune, who was born July 23, 1886, and who is now
living in Woodburn, Iowa; and Mrs. Eva Melvin, who was born
April 17, 1890, and who is now residing in Derby. In 1897 Mr. Barger
was again married, his second union being with Miss Alice
Cottrell, born near Indianola, Iowa, October 8, 1876. She is a daughter
of Benjamin Franklin and Eliza (Hampton) Cottrell, both of
whom have passed away, the mother dying in January, 1913. In the Cottrell
family were four children, Vinton, Robert, Rhoda and Alice,
the wife of the subject of this review. Mr. and Mrs. Barger
have four children: Lola
Fay, who was born October 20, 1898; Zella Marie, born March
27, 1900; Hal Edwin, born April 24, 1901; and Gerald Henry,
born June 11, 1906. All
are attending public school in this locality.
Mr. Barger gives his
political allegiance to the democratic party and has served as
a committeeman for a number of years. He is interested in
the cause of education and is doing able and effective work as
a member of the school board.
He is a man of high integrity and force of character,
enjoying in large measure the friendship of those with whom he
has been brought in contact, and his life of well directed
activity has gained him a creditable place in local
agricultural circles.