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In the fall of 1857 he immigrated to Decorah, and engaged at his trade, carpenter and joiner, till in 1869 came on to his present farm of 81 acres, which is well improved and worth $45 per acre. He also makes a specialty of bees, having about 50 swarms at present. He married Miss Julia Shank, in Va., Oct. 5, 1854; they have nine children, Laura V., John H., Edward G., Hattie N., Susan E., Joan J., Sidney E., Grace M. and Robert C., and have lost two, Albert P. and Charles W. He is a member of the M. E. church.

J. R. Booth, P. O. Decorah; proprietor of the Winneshiek Paper Mills at Freeport, was born in Montgomery County, New York, in 1827. His early life was spent in a woolen mill. In 1854 he came to Warren, Illinois, where he served as station agent for the I. C. R. R. Co., and afterwards at Galena and Beloit, Wisconsin, at which latter place he subsequently engaged in the manufacturing of sash, doors, blinds, etc. In 1871 he established the firm of Booth, Hinman & Co., an extensive paper mill company, in which he continued until 1880, when he disposed of his interest there and came to Decorah, and purchased the Winneshiek paper mills, which are now worth about $35,000. Mr. B. resides in Decorah, His present wife was Minerva Leonard, a native of Roscoe, Illinois. He has two children, one by a former wife.

H. A. Baker, of the firm of H. A. Baker & Bros., dealers in general merchandise, was born in Crown Point, Essex County, N. Y., in 1842. He moved with his parents to Iowa in 1858. He was engaged for a time as clerk in McGregor, and in 1862 established himself in his present business at Ossian. Mr. Baker has been state representative two terms, and in 1881 was elected state senator. He married Eliza Webster, a native of Ind.; they have four

sons.

Hon. Benj. T. Barfoot, P. O. Ridgeway; farmer, section 19, Madison township; son of James and Jane (nee Purvis) Barfoot, his parents being of Scotch descent. He was born March 11th, 1830, in Wayne County, Ohio. While he was quite young his parents moved to Holmes County, in the same state. In early life he learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, at which he was engaged several years. In the spring of 1853 he came to this county, first locating at Freeport. In 1855 he moved to Decorah, continuing house building until 1868, when he moved to his present farm, having purchased the same in 1861. Mr. B. was very

successful in the pursuit of his trade, and has been equally so in farming, now owning 430 acres of land two miles southeast of Ridgeway, situated on a beautiful prairie commanding an extensive view of the country for miles around. He makes a specialty in stock, horses, hogs, etc., having some very fine Hambletonian horses. Mr. B. is a man of pleasant and agreeable social qualifications being well informed in contemporaneous events, the

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leading journals and literature of the day having a place in his library. He has filled most of the offices of his township, also assisted in taking the United States of 1880, and the same year was a candidate for representative in the state legislature on the republican ticket, but was defeated on account of his known temperance proclivities, the free whisky and beer element being in the ascendancy in his district. He was married to Miss Jane Doherty, of Ohio, April 25th, 1850. Their children are Andrew W., J. Scott, Louisa J., Cyrus F., Enos F., Albert F. and Mary A.: they have lost one daughter, Minerva.

E. Blackmarr, retired farmer, was born in 1819, in Saratoga Co., N. Y. In 1835 he removed to Huron Co., Ohio, and was en- . gaged at farming there until 1850; he then moved to DeKalb Co., Ind.; remained there three years; then came to Io., locating in this Co. In 1854 he bought land in Hesper tp., on what is known as Looking Glass Prairie. In the following year he moved to the village of Burr Oak, and conducted what was known as the Burr Oak House one year; then returned to farming, which he continued until he sold out in 1866, and again moved to Burr Oak and engaged in the mercantile business, carrying general stock. He remained in this business nine years, sold out in 1875 and retired from active business. Mr. B. was postmaster several years, has filled various offices in the tp., and is one of its most respected citizens. He was married in 1840 in Huron Co., Ohio, to Miss A. Washburn, and they have four children, Louisa, Byron, Oliette and Melvin.

E. H. Betts, farmer, section 33; owns 80 acres of land valued at $30 per acre; was born in Portage Co., Ohio, in 1830, where he lived until nineteen years of age, when he removed to Ill. with his parents, remaining there until 1856, when he moved to Winneshiek Co. His parents were Samuel and Mahala Betts. He was married in 1854 to Miss Olive E. Rogers, of Geauga Co., Ohio; they have three children: Arthur, now in Dakota; Evangie, and Clara H. Mr. Betts has been a member of the County Board two terms, and a justice of the peace several years.

Richard Barnes, merchant and farmer, Fremont, was born in Addison Co., Vt., in 1827; remained on the farm of his parents until 1854, when he came to Io. and settled in this Co. The first year he resided in Decorah, and then came to this place, before the tp. was organized. He entered a quarter section of land, proved up and obtained patent; he owns now 230 acres in sections 23 and 27, including 50 acres of timber. He now rents the farm, which is well improved. He served on the County Board of Supervisors in 1865 and 1866, and was afterwards elected in the fall of 1881 to the same office on the Republican ticket. In 1873 he opened business in the building now occupied by J. S. Daskam, remained two years, then went back to the farm, and in the fall of 1880 returned to the village and bought the stock of merchandise

of D. A. Fifield, having already owned the building. He carries a good assortment of general merchandise, does a good business and owns residence and property in town, where he resides. He was married at Trumbull, Conn., to Mary M. Middlebrook, and has four children, Edward, Carrie, E. Frederick and Florence.

Robert Burrows, farmer, Bluffton township; was born in Suffolk, England, in 1824; came to the United States in 1836 with his parents, who settled in Monroe County, New York, and engaged in farming. In 1840 they moved to Canada West, now the province of Ontario, and engaged in farming for 12 years. Robert B. then came to Iowa and settled in this township and entered a claim on government land, improved the same and now owns 280 acres in sections 1 and 2, all under fence, mostly under cultivation, and well stocked. He has built a good residence, barns, etc., on the southwest quarter of section 1.

Hogen H. Barlo, farmer, P. O. Decorah; owns 246 acres of land in section 34; was born in Norway Oct. 20th, 1842; immigrated to the United States in 1866 and located on his present farm. He was united in marriage with Ann Hogenson in March, 1867. Mr. B. is a member of the Lutheran Church.

Levi G. Burton, farmer, Fremont township; was born in Crawford County, Penn., in 1838. In 1854 he came with his parants to this county. His father pre-empted 120 acres on the northeast of the village. He remained with his parents until 1862, when he enlisted, at Frankville, in Co. K, 38th Io. Inf., under Capt. Allen. They were afterwards consolidated with the 34th Iowa and served to the close of the war. He was at the siege of Vicksburg, Yazoo City, Fort Morgan, and the siege and assault of Blakely; was mustered out with the regiment at Houston, Texas, August 15th, and discharged at Davenport, Iowa, September 5th, 1865. He returned to this place and purchased the land he now owns and resides upon; has improved the same, erected a fine residence and substantial farm buildings, and has the farm well stocked with good graded cattle and hogs; has six head of horses. He was married in 1867 at Decorah to Miss Lucetta J. Kendall, and they have three children, Alma May, Edna and Nellie. He was a member of the board of township trustees several years; and is a member of the I. O. O. F., Cresco Lodge, No. 150. John and Benjamin Burton, his brothers, enlisted in Co. K, 38th Io. Inf. Benjamin died at Barancas, Florida, March 31st, 1865, in the service, and John returned from the war and was discharged at the same time as Levi G.

Swen H. Borlog, P. O. Decorah, farmer, section 1, Calmar tp.; owns 213 acres of land valued at $35 per acre; was born March 18th, 1830, in Norway, and came to the U. S. in 1854, first locating in Dane County, Wisconsin, where he remained till in 1861 he came to this county and located on his present farm, in 1862.

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