WILLIAM BARNER, a native-born citizen of Galena, is proprietor of one of the best equipped photographic studios in the city. He is very skillful as a photographer, and ranks among the most talented men of that profession in this part of the West. He is also an artist of rare merit, as is shown by the exquisite finish of his spirited crayon, oil, and water-color portraits. He has gained an enviable reputation both as a photographer and an artist; his work is well-known throughout the county, and his patrons are among the best people.

Our subject is of American birth but of German descent. His father, Christopher Barner, was born in the village of Rheinbach, Province of Saxony, Germany, Sept. 13, 1820. His father, Henry Barner, was born in the same place, and his father, Sigmund Barner, great-grandfather of our subject, is supposed to have been born in the same province and he there died at the venerable age of ninety years. The grandfather of our subject served in the Prussian army, and fought against Napoleon in the battle of Elau. He lost his health in the army, and never engaged in any active business after his retirement from military service. He died in 1830, at the age of fifty-three years. The maiden name of his wife was Dorothea Weidner, and she was also a native of Saxony. To them were born seven children, two of whom came to America; the father of our subject, and his sister Christina who married Christian Barner, and lives in St. Louis County, Mo. The father of our subject was ten years old when his father died. He attended school until he was fourteen, and then served three years to learn the trade of tailor. He then did journey work until he was twenty-one, when he joined the Prussian army, and served three years steadily, and then as a reserve. After that he worked at his trade until the rebellion of 1848-49, when he was called out to serve under Emperor Wilhelm. In 1850 he received a soldier’s pass that enabled him to leave his native country, and he came to America, setting sail from Bremen in the month of May, and landing in New York on the 20th of August, after a voyage of more than sixty days. He found himself in a strange country, poor indeed in pocket, as he had but five francs, but rich in pluck. He found employment as a tailor in New York for a short time, and he then proceeded to Hartford, Conn., from whence he went to St. Louis in the fall of the same year, going by rail to Buffalo, thence by lake to Sandusky, from there by rail to Cincinnati, where he embarked on the Ohio for the voyage down that river, and up the Mississippi to his destination.

The railway from Sandusky to Cincinnati was a primitive affair, the rails being made of wood, with straps of iron nailed on top. When Mr. Barner arrived in St. Louis he had spent all his earnings in paying for fare and board. He soon found employment there, however, at his trade, so that he did not have to suffer materially. He remained in that city until March, 1852, and then, after spending a few weeks in Ft. Madison [Iowa], he came to Galena to take up his residence, and has since become a prominent citizen of the place. There were no railways in this part of the country at that time, and all transportation was with teams or by the rivers, and as many as a dozen steamers could be seen at the dock at one time in those days. Mr. Barner found employment at his trade, and did journey work for two years, and then commenced cutting. In 1860 he commenced business for himself, and continued very prosperously until 1876, when he closed out, as he was called to public life, having been elected to the office of Sheriff. He served for two years in that capacity, and was Justice of the Peace for two years. In 1882 he was appointed Surveyor of the Port of Galena, and held that office until the change of administration.

Mr. Barner was married, in St. Louis, in 1851, to Luzetta Barner, who was born in Westphalia, Prussia, and they have two children living – William and Louisa. The latter is the wife of J. B. Crawford, of Galena. Since coming to Galena Mr. Barner has proved an invaluable citizen, and his life as a business man and as a civic officer is without stain. He is a man of great stability of character, and possesses strong, intelligent convictions, and a good fund of general information. In politics he is a sound Republican, casting his lot with that party on its formation, voting for its first Presidential candidate, Gen. John C. Fremont, and has staid (sic) with it ever since.

William Barner, of this sketch, was born in Galena, July 9, 1852, and he received a liberal education in the excellent schools of this city, graduating from the High School in the Class of ’67. He early manifested a decided talent for portrait painting, and, after leaving school, he went to Chicago to take lessons from F. J. Wallace, a noted portrait painter in that city. Our subject proved an apt pupil, and under the instruction of his master made rapid progress in the art, and became very proficient, not only in crayon, but in oil and water colors. After leaving Mr. Wallace’s studio, Mr. Barner established himself in his chosen profession, and his delicate handling of his subjects and nice execution procured him many admirers and customers. He worked at his painting steadily until 1876.

In 1881 our subject opened a photograph gallery, which he has managed successfully since. Galena may well be proud of her talented son, who is well-known, and is held in high consideration in this city of his birth. Socially, he is identified with the K. of P., being a member of Saxon Lodge No. 62; and in politics he is an ardent supporter of the Republican party.

Transcribed & Contributed by Carol Parrish Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889), p. 576