WI BIO - Lafayette Co - BARNES, Henry
Commemorative Biographical Record of Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and 
Lafayette, Wisconsin, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and 
Representative Citizens, and of Many of the Early Settled Families. Chicago: 
Beers, 1901, pp 206-207 

Henry BARNES, a retired farmer of Shullsburg, Lafayette County, Wisconsin, 
was born in Leicestershire, England, 07 November 1823, a son of Thomas and 
Ann (HOSSEN) BARNES, and a grandson of John BARNES, all natives of the "tight 
little isle." Thomas BARNES and wife were the parents of ten children, all 
now deceased except our subject: John, Mary, Susan, William, Ann, Elizabeth, 
Sarah, Eliza, Lucy, and Henry. Henry BARNES received his education in the 
neighboring schools of his native town and earned his livelihood at various 
employments until he was twenty-seven years of age, when, in 1850, he boarded 
a sailing vessel for New York. He came to Wisconsin the same year, and 
engaged in mining for some time. He then purchased as tract of wild land 
from the Government and determined to take up farming as his life work. At 
first he erected a small house, which a number of years later was replaced by 
a commodious dwelling, with all modern improvements. He cleared this farm, 
and made all needed improvements as the years passed by, until he had one of 
the finest farms in the county, 200 acres in extent, making his home thereon 
for over forty years. In 1890 he rented this place, and purchasing a home in 
the town of Shullsburg, moved there to pass the balance of his life at ease. 
His property has all been acquired through his own efforts, and he now 
possessed of an abundant competence, and is ranked among the substantial 
citizens of his town.

In September 1852 Henry BARNES was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth 
PARR, a daughter of William and Sarah (NORTON) PARR, who were natives of 
Leicestershire, England. Five children of William PARR came to America: (1) 
Sarah, wife of John RODDAM, of Shullsburg; (2) Mary, wife of Michael BODDY, 
of Illinois; (3) William, who now resides in British Columbia; (4) Edward, 
who first located in California, and now makes his home in British Columbia; 
and (5) Elizabeth, Mrs. BARNES. Mrs. Elizabeth (PARR) BARNES was born in 
1821, and grew to womanhood in England, where she obtained a good education, 
and was for a time engaged successfully in Sunday teaching there. In 1851 
she came to Wisconsin, where her culture and refinement have drawn around her 
a choice circle of friends.

Three children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. BARNES: (1) Sarah A., 
born in Shullsburg [Lafayette County, Wisconsin] in 1859, married James 
MILLS, who died in 1880, and in 1883 she married William MILLS [related to 
James?], a farmer; she has two sons, Henry MILLS and Walter MILLS, by her 
first marriage. (2) Mary E., born in 1861, married Thomas BROWN, who now 
manages the BARNES homestead, and has eight children, Marie (born in 1877, 
who now makes her home with her grandparents in Shullsburg, and lightens the 
burdens of their increasing years with her loving ministrations), Annie, 
Henry, Grant, Mary, Myrtle, Sherman, and an infant, unnamed. (3) Lucy, born 
in 1864, died at the age of twenty-five years. The Republican party has 
always found in Mr. BARNES an unfaltering adherent and he never fails to keep 
thoroughly posted on party work. Both Mr. and Mrs. BARNES have been 
attendants of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years. Mrs. BARNES 
being particularly interested in the Sabbath school, in which she was for 
many years a teacher.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly