WALTER
BARNARD, SR., deceased, a representative citizen of Bloomington Township,
within whose boundaries he had lived for a period of about thirty years, was a
highly respected member of society, and successful in his farming and business
pursuits. The subject of this history was born in McLean
County, near Heyworth, Feb. 4, 1831,
and departed this life in Bloomington
Township.
He was
the son of Frederick and Mary (Canedy) Barnard, who came to this county as
pioneer settlers, and passed the greater part of their lives afterward in Bloomington City. Frederick Barnard was born March
6, 1799, and died in Bloomington,
Aug. 25, 1851. The mother of our subject was born Nov. 2, 1794, and died in
Bloomington.
Walter
Barnard, Sr., was the third of a family of six children, five of whom lived to
mature years. but only two of whom now survive, a son and daughter. Our subject
was reared on a farm with his parents, and there gained the experience which
afterward fitted him for successful operation in the pursuit of agriculture.
Aside from general farming he was successfully engaged in buying and selling
stock, and his good judgment enabled him to operate successfully and profitably
in this line. He was an upright business man, and a stanch adherent of the Republican party.
Our
subject was married in Bloomington,
on the 8th of April, 1860, to Miss Susan Lawrence. Mrs. B. is a native of Boone
County, Ind., born Feb. 24, 1839. Her parents came to Tazewell
County, Ill., when she was about
eight years of age, and located upon a farm, where the mother died. Her father,
in the spring of 1885, came to McLean
County, which remained
his home until his decease, which occurred on the 17th of July, 1885.
He was
a good man in every sense of the term, honest and industrious, and had a good
influence over all those with whom he associated. In politics he was a stanch
Democrat, and took an intelligent interest in all matters pertaining to the
welfare of his community.
Mrs.
Barnard was educated in Tazewell County, and received careful parental
training, remaining at home until she attained to womanhood, and after the
death of her mother until the second marriage of her father. She then left home
and supported herself until her marriage with our subject.
She is
a lady greatly esteemed in this vicinity, and is widely known for her kindness
of heart and generous womanly sympathies. Of her marriage with our subject
there have been born three children, one of whom, Peter J., who was born June
10, 1864, died Sept. 26, 1865; Lydia M., born April 1, 1861, is the wife of
Alex Robertson, and with her husband lives on the homestead of Mrs. B.; they
have two children Perl B., born Nov. 8, 1878, and Alex, Jr., Aug. 30, 1881.
Walter Barnard, Jr., is attending school, and makes his home with his mother.
Mrs. B., in her own right, possesses forty-seven
acres of valuable land besides the home which she occupies. She has been a
member of the Christian Church since seventeen years of age, and has carried
out in her daily life and conversation the principles of true religion.
Portrait and biographical album of McLean
County, Ill. : containing full
page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative
citizens of the county, together with portraits and biographies of all the
governors of Illinois, and of the presidents
of the United States. (Chicago:
Chapman Brothers, 1887), 254. Transcribed
by Judy Rosella Edwards. Please link to
this page if you find it useful – and drop us a note if you do!
