Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-01-14
ALBA COUPLE Are
MARRIED 40 YEARS
Mr.. AND MRS. A. r. BARNES GEL
EBRATE TWO ANNiVER-
SARlES.

Abba, Jan. 13.-Thursday January
-, Mr.. and Mrs. A. r. Barnes receiver
the congratulations of their friends
lover two important events in tneir
lives. Mr.. Barnes rejofced in the tact
that he had reached his list birthday,
born Jan. IL, 1910. and 40 years ago
he was married to his wife, who was
Miss Fanny, ]. Sales, born in Burl1ng-
ton, and the daughter of Col u. y:
Sales, prominent pioneer citizen OF
that city. She was a successful ana
popular teacher in the public schools.
Mr.. Barnes came with his parents 10
Abba, July 8, 1854, and on Octoper
10th, Of the same year, his fatner
printed the Abba Independent Press
the first paper printed in Abba, and ne
carried the papers around the village.
Before coming to Abba they resided at
Brookville, Ind, and his father was
foreman of the Brookville, American.
owned by G. F. Clarkson, and he and
his brother learned the Fart preserva-
tive" along with Richard and James =.
Clarkson. In 1859 he published the
Abba Weekly Republican, and on De-
cember 20, 1859, sold the paper to j..
T. Young, now deceased. He went TO
Eau Claire, Wis, the spring of 1860. to
study law with an uncle, but soon be-
came the foreman Of the printing Of
flee, and at the breaking out Of the
war he enlisted in the first company
organized in the town, and which be.
came CO. c, 9Th Wisconsin Infantry,
known as the Live Eagle regiment.
He served his three years enlistment
and came back to Abba. He was en-
ployed in printing offices in Des
Moines and Abba.
In 1869 he was appointed postai
clerk on the c. B. & @. from Burling-
ton to the terminus of the road at Al
ton, and on to Council Bluffs, and later
from Chicago to Burlington, and was
in charge of the crew that made the
first run of the fast mail between Chi
cago and Burlington, and served l.
years. He continued his residence at
Abba. In 1884 he resigned, and two
years later he was prevailed upon 20
take the management Of the Abba
Union, succeeding Hon. j. T. Young
and Hon. NJ. NJ Walden, and was ed
itor and manager of the paper for 10
years. He made the paper a true rep
resentativeso of the progressive town. u
it's best citizenship, and did not hest
tate to speak the truth Of all men, IT.
respective of conditions or politics on
Oct 1, 1901, he sold the plant to j. w.
Johnson for consideration Of $4,000,
which seemed a large sum at the time.
but he now regards it as the mistake
of his life, in view Of the increased
population and wealth Of the city and
county Mr.. Barnes took an active part
in politics and attended all republican
caucuses and conventions. He was
postmaster Of Abba during Harrison's
administration. He is a charter mem
Der of Orman Post G. A. r.; held the
office Of commander for two terms and
has represented the "boys' of the
sixth district in six national encamp-
ments Of the G. A. r. Mrs. Barnes has
Won a warm place in the hearts Of
all people, by her CHEEKY, happy man
ners They have three children living:
Horace, of the Republican,; Mrs. F. G.
Ingram, of Abba, and Ruby, now Of
Norwich, N. Y. One daughter, Martha,
died in 1898.