Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-04-20
JOHN N. BARBouR--A sketch.

say Of him as fsrfnerP'
Well, sir. you shall see. II you have
your usual good luck in borrowing |
and reading this weeks paper, before
the man who subscribes for it does,
as you have been in the habit Of do.
ing for several years. We are sorry
10 expose you so, but you deserve II,
and some day we win sketch you.-
And how will you look, subscribing
for the Cincinnati Dollar Weekly. and
borrowing the American every week?
Great farmer you art--mighty clever
man too. over hs isf7.
JouS NJ. BARBOUR is as fine q spool.
men of an Irishman as ''iver came
over" We speak now Of bis mortal
corpus. He is about five feet nine in
ches in height, and viii weigh not far
from 1876. we guess. II Is well for
him that he belongs to the temperance
society. and Ia never seen about a dog
gerry. or distillery, or brewery, or his
rubicund face would tell ofsome hab.
its not now as popular as formerly.
even among his countrymen.
Bot what Of him as farmer? He
owns alargc farm in Springfield town
ship. but |. will DO q long time before
he win take premium "for the best
cultivated farm" There Is. however,
much TO commend in his mode Of far
ming. In the first place. though his
fences and gates. and barn yard, and
door yard. are not as good as Mr..
Bridy's, they are above mediocrity:
and his homestead Is an inviting place
in summer. But Mr.. Barbour's fault
Is tho fault Of too many. He has too
much to do--too large a farm. and too
many Of them. to ever make o premi-
um farm Of any.
The farm on which Mr.. Barbour
resides, and which Is worth not less
than $40 per acre, was for many
years. In the early settlement Of the
county. deemed hardly worth enter
ing. The land Is flat and was swan
by. But an Irishman. accustomed &c
boggy land at home" knows how "a
subdue swamps and marshes. The
history Of the opening Of that farm. and
the adjoining one, would be interest
ing. but too long. II is enough to say
thatby drains, and under drains, th'
rich ponds" that for years promised
20 be useless, now constitute Of III,
most fruitful farms in the county
One day last summer. when everybody
was suffering from excessive drought
wechanced to pass (not without call
ing. however, for that would be hare
TO do about dinner time. his farm
There was q freshness in his fields tina
we had not seen on any Of the bottom
land, and we hesitate not to say thai
such land. thus improved. Is better
than any bottom land in the valley
Barbour is q pioneer in under
draining in this county. II any pro
ceeded him In this valuable improve
ment, we are not apprised Of the fact
Others may have begun nearly stimuli
taneously. but we think he is entitled
to the mead Of setting good exampl
In a good work.
But Mr.. Barbour's forte Is in III
improvement ofstock. Some twent
years ago. or more. wealthy an
enterprising Englishman by the nam
Of Whitehead settled in White Waite
township. Tie brought with him
few sheep and cattle Of impro'
ed breeds. These were much admit
ed by the lovers Of the beautiful
among whom was John NJ. then
yOangish old bachelor.
But we need not tell how Il WI
done or why IL was done; but IL is
fact. that his visits became frequel
and interesting. and he finally ente
tered intoa partnership with one
the daughters that has proved pro
fiable one. in many ways.
Thus connected with the family,
had better opportunity of indulgir
in his love OF fine stock. After fe
years residence in this county. M
w. returned 10 England, and brougl
over some Of the best animals ever In
ported tothis country. ofthis import
ton. we think Mr.. B. has yet mar
cattle. and sheep-at least of their in
mediate issue. And ifthis notice
the ex president. should direct tho a
tention OF those who are seeking goo
stock. to his farm. hey will adm
that we have not been too partial
saying that his stock is second TO MOI
in the county. His attention, howe
or, has been chiefly turned to catt
and sheep. On the chicken questio
he is perfect cid fcgy, not having
half dozen Of the improved breeds
on his whole farm. unless he has me-
ded. in this respect recently. Sorl
for him, but he is an Irishman, ar
we can do but little with him.
Mr.. Barbour's theory, in referen'
to fine stock. is worthy Of note.-
Though not Indifferent to the breed