BARNES, William G. (1841-1927)

BARNES, FERGUSON, KLINGMAN, MILLER

Posted By: Hancock Co Genealogical Society
Date: 1/28/2024 at 13:31:25

W. G. Barnes Passed Away Tuesday A. M.

W. G. Barnes died at his home in Garner yesterday morning after long illness, at the age of 85 years, 6 months and 5 days. It was several weeks since he had been able to be out, and for some time there had been no hopes for his recovery, owing to his advanced age and failing strength. The funeral will be held from the Methodist Church Thursday morning at 10:30, conducted by Rev. C. H. VanMetre.

William Greenfield Barnes was born in Winchester, Scott County, Ill., October 14, 1841. He was of Prussian ancestry, his father having been a native of that country. He lived in the same neighborhood until the call for volunteers in April of 1861, when he enlisted in Company G, 15th Illinois Infantry. He was captured near Atlanta and spent six weeks in Andersonville prison.

He escaped from Andersonville by bribing a Confederate officer, and being allowed to be taken from the prison among the dead bodies of his comrades, and returned to his regiment at Raleigh and marched with it to Washington. He was mustered out in September, 1865.

He was married July 3, 1866, to Minerva Ann Ferguson, and to this union three children were born: Charles, who died in February of 1916, Ina May Klingman who lives at Brownsdale, Minn., and Fred who has always lived with his father.

The family came to Garner in 1899 and bought the farm west of Garner which was the home of Mr. Barnes until 1920, when he moved to town, Mrs. Barnes having died in 1908. In 1920 he moved to Garner and this has since been his home.

Mr. Barnes leaves one brother, Theodore, who lives at Grand Junction, one half brother whose home is at Watlams Grove and one half sister, Mrs. Rose Miller of Lena, Ill. He also has a number of grandchildren, one of whom is C. E. Barnes of Garner, also a number of great grandchildren.

Mr. Barnes was a prominent farmer in this locality for some twenty years, owning one of the fine farms. He was a member of the Masonic lodge and took a leading part in the work for many years. As a young man he became a member of the Methodist Church, though he never transferred his membership to the local church.

Mr. Barnes had many friends and kept up his activities until his declining years made it necessary for him to retire.

source: Garner Signal, Garner, Iowa, 20 April 1927, page 1, column 7