The Oskaloosa herald., 1912-04-25
John R, BARNES DEAD
Pioneer Citizen, Business Man and
Banker Passes Away.

Died, of the results of paralysis af-
ter lingering illness covering peri.
cd of several years, at the family
home, No. 400 North Third street. at
$3.50 o'clock a. M, Monday, April %,
1912 John II. Barnes, aged rs years.
nesday, April "a, 1912. from the late
residence. Interment in Forest GENE.
| terry.
John r. Barnes was one of the best
known pioneer business men of Ma.
haska county. He was an early resi-.
dent in Scott township and has been
ACTIVELY engaged in business in Oska-
loosa and Mahaska county until re-
Gently when failing health compelled
retirement. He was cashier of the Ma
haska county, State Bank and one OF
the organizers of the institution IN
1883, member of the old time well
known clothing house of Boyer d
Barnes, and from time to time was
otherwise connected. He, at one time
had an interest in the Oskaloosa
Wooden Mills, located at the corner
of B avenue and A street. He has
been a resident of MahaSka since
1855. Almost every resident of the
county has heard of OF. has known
John r. Barnes, for his name has been
synonymous with the development
and advancement of county and town.
He has been in responsible positions
almost without number. He was
county treasurer of Mahaska for two
years, being elected to the office in the
fall of 1877 and previously served two
terms, four years, as county commits
sioner" 1868 to 1872. He was elected
a member of the local school board
and rendered faithful service in that
capacity. He was connected with the
Mahaska County Agricultural Society
and stood for what was best for the
city and the community In general.
He was born in Stark county, Ohio,
August 10, 1882. The parents, An
drew and Eleanor (Robertson) Barnes
natives of Pennsylvania, did not come
to. Iowa until after the son settled
I'm Scott township. Soon after compile.
ton of his educational work at Mt.
Union college, he came to Iowa and
engaged In farming. In 1853 he en-
tered into partnership with Doctor Z.
A. Boyer and they operated mercan.
tile business for number of years
at Rochester, on the Des Moines river.
which place was to have been the
county seat of Mahaska county. With
the decline of business at this place
the store was moved to Belle Foun'
tain, and then in 1871 to Oskaloosa,
where. for years, the house of Boyer
C Barnes was one of the chief head
quarters for county and town.
John R. Barnes was married Decem.
Der 81, 1858. in Mahaska county, to
Miss Mary r. Boyer, daughter of DIR.
Boyer and a sister of f. ID. Boyer.
Eight children, five sons and three
daughters, came to the union. Those
surviving are Edmund A., Andrew T.,
Doctor Fred L., and John r., Jr., OF the
mercantile firm of Barnes and Darnell
and all residents of the city or county,
Nellie, Mrs. |. w. Clendenon, and
Mamie, Mrs. Bert Lackey. of Phila-
delphia. The deceased was a man
who commanded the highest respect
in the locality in which he lived. He
was known as careful and conserya-
tive man, but progressive and OF keen
foresight and infallible judgment. He
was a member of the Presbyterian
church and was Inflated with the
Legion of Honor. Hosts of friends
and acquaintance will be grieved to
learn of the death and passing of this
old pioneer and the family has the
sympathy of all in their bereayment.