William S. Barnes was born in Woodstock, Vermont, May 11, 1808, and settled in Lower Albany July 23,1839. He was married to Miss Adaline Howe at Lowell, Mass., in 1830. The children of this union have been Frances D., born May 28, 1831; Lucia, born April 15, 1833, now dead; Sarah, born February 16, 1835, married and living in Vermont; Adaline, born April 1, 1839, married and living in Iowa; William Henry, born Septermber 12, 1841 living in Albany, Mary, born September 20, 1842, now dead; Louisa, born May 20, 1846 now dead; Charles S., born March 16, 1848, living in Albany.

The next year after Mr. Barnes’ arrival in Albany he erected the present Eagle Hotel using it for the first few years as a store and boarding house. In 1846 he opened the hotel, and it very soon became under his able management, the best known and most popular hotel in all this section of the country. Mr. Barnes was personally a very genial and popular man, and was honored by his fellow citizens and by the General Government with different Positions of trust. He was the first Supervisor of the township after its organization and was elected to the same position several times afterwards.

During his lifetime he was a prominent member of the Masonic Fraternity. His death occured on the 20th of July, 1872, and the funeral was attended by a large number of his Masonic brethren.

Bent & Wilson History of Whiteside County