Biographical History of Pottawattmie Co., IA

AMUEL BARSTOW is a native of Muskingum County, Ohio, born August 18, 1829, five miles north of Zanesville, the son of Samuel and Alvira (Woodruff) Barstow, natives of Maine and Ohio respectively. The mother died May 5, 1840, and the father died at Farmington, Illinois, in 1867. They had a family of seven children, of whom only five still survive: Warren H., deceased in Illinois; George W., of Licking County, Ohio; Willis, of Cleveland, Ohio; Samuel, our subject, Anthony H. deceased; Martha, wife of W. Spaulding, residing in Tecumseh, Nebraska; Stephen, of Farmington, Illinois; and Sarah A., deceased in infancy. Mr. Barstow was again married, this time to Mary L. Jet, of Ohio, who died in 1889, at Farmington, Illinois. By this marriage there were seven children, namely: Judson, who died in Andersonville prison after having been wounded at the battle of Chickahominy Swamps. He was first taken to Libby prison, thence to Andersonville, where he died of abuse and neglect; Elvira, deceased, wife of M. W. Spaulding, of Tecumseh, Nebraska; Henry, deceased in Illinois; Eliza, a resident of Farmington, Illinois; Ann, deceased; Milton deceased; Ross, a resident of Farmington.

Samuel Barstow, Jr., our subject, was reared in his native county, and remained at home until he had attained his majority. He was brought up to farm life, and received his education in the old log schoolhouse of those days. September 19, 1853, he removed to Fulton County, Illinois, where he remained a short time, and then removed to Peoria County, working at whatever presented itself, farming being his principal occupation. He was married November 24, 1853, to Miss Eleanor A. Caulson, daughter of William S. and Hephzibah (Eno) Caulson, natives of England and New York respectively. The mother, born in Michigan in 1804, still resides in the State of Washington, near Olympia. The father died in 1844, at the age of forty-three years. They had a family of ten children, of whom seven still survive: Hannah T., wife of Ambrose Clark, of Union County Oregon; Sarah Ann, widow of J. W. Clark, residing in Mills County, Iowa; William P., deceased in Mexico; Mary O., deceased, was the wife of Charles Davis, of Exeter, Nebraska; Eleanor A., the wife of the subject of this sketch; Jakie, a resident of California; Imle E., of Cordelan Mines, ldaho; Emeline, widow of J. S. Sherwood, of the State of Washington; Henry S., also of Washington. Eleanor, the wife of our subject, was born in Peoria County, Illinois, near Peoria city, January 29, 1832, where she was reared and married. In the fall of 1855 they came to Iowa, and located in Mills County, where Mr. Barstow purchased a pre-emption right of raw prairie, with no improvements whatever. Here they made their home for eight years, and improved eighty acres. In 1863 they returned to Illinois, where they spent one year, and then returned to Iowa, spending four years in Mills County; returned to Peoria and spent one year, and again returned to Mills County. In April, 1872, they located on their present farm of forty acres, on the southwest quarter of section 31, Lewis Township, Pottawattamie County. Here they at once commenced improvements, erected a small residence, 16 x 21, and one and a half stories high. They made their home here for several years, when they removed to their present residence. Mr. Barstow has added to his first purchase until he now has 160 acres of finely improved land, the most of which he has done himself. When they landed in Iowa they had nothing but pluck and energy, but by close application they have secured for themselves a comfortable home. He devotes himself principally to farming and stock-raising. Politically he is a stanch Republican, taking an active part in all of the political work of the county. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace and Road Supervisor, and while in Mills County he was chosen as Supervisor of the county two terms. Mr. and Mrs. Barstow are members of the Christian Church, of which he is an ordained elder.

They have five children: James M., born September, 1854, a practicing physician of Council Bluffs; Roseltha, wife of Joseph Stoker, residing in Mills County; Alice J., born January 20, 1858, the wife of Edward P. McIntyre, of Harrison County, Iowa; Hepsie E., born September 16, 1865, is a teacher in the public schools of Council Bluffs; Elvira, deceased; Guy E., born July 28, 1873, is at home.

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This page last updated: Friday, 01-Jan-1999 08:55:46 MST.