The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1901-01-31

fitness. A Biographical sketch will
not be without it's interest, and
illustrates the fact that any young
man may provide certain future
for himself by intelligent farming.
Henry Barnett's father was born
in France and was a conscript in the
army of the Great Bonaparte. He
was taken prisoner by Wellington
at Waterloo and sent to Canada,
where he remained until his ex-
change. He Immediately removed
to Athena, n. Y. where he married,
and when the subject of this sketch
was four years of age his parents
moved upon farm in Jefferson
county, IN that state, where his
father died. Young Henry, at the
age of fourteen, moved to Lewis
county, n ", forty miles from any
considerable settlement, then woods
teeming with deer, bear, panther,
wild cat and wolf. At the age of
twenty-one he married Miss Laura
Scott, with whom he has lived
happily ever since. -Four children
were born to them before they
moved west, and with this young
family he came to Wisconsin, and
arriving at Milwaukee, then a small
frontier town, he purchased yoke
of oxen and a wagon, and loading
his family and personal effects soon
arrived at Fond du Lac, where there
were but five small frame houses,
where now is a prosperous city.
Thence he went to Campbellsport, in
the town of Ashford, fourteen miles
farther into the wilderness, and the
first year assisted in building mill.
He purchased 24O acres of land and
was foremost in organizing town
ship, and was elected one of the
supervisors. Special attention was
given to laying roads, both town
ship and county, in which work Mr..
Barnett was very active. 1t may
be remarked incidentally that he is
now and always has been an advo-
cate of plenty of good roads.
He was appointed one of the
trustees to build Baptist church,
and assisted in erecting in turn
churches for the Methodists, Luz
therans and Roman Catholics, and
also hall for the Good Templars.
He has always taken an active part
in advancing all enterprises calcu
lated to improve public morals.
Four of the adjoining towns
united in organizinga Farmers Fire
Insurance Company, he being one
of the twelve original incorpora-
tors, and during the first year It's
capital increased to 100000, and
the company is still in existence,
doing prosperous business. 1t
decreased the cost of insurance to
one-fourth of what had been paid.
Ten children were born to Mr..
and Mrs. Barnett, of whom eight
are living-three sons and five
daurhters-two in Iowa, two III
Washington state, one In W lscon-
sin. one in Chicago, one in Grand
Forks. one in San Pedro, Cal.
MIR. Barnett sold his farm in
Wisconsin in 1884 and removed to
Minnesota, purchasing 600 acres of
farming land in the township of
Ashley, and 200 acres of timber in
Kandota. He divided the Ashley
tract into three good farms, which
he improved and worked, bringing
.he,, FL y" +" on ev""llent stat" Of
cultivation, making good profit
every year for more than ten years,
when he sold all his landed posses
sions and retired, purchasing
good home in this city, which he
now occupies. He is now in his
eighty-third year, as hale, hearty
and vigorous as most men twenty
wears Younger, and his wife, who is