A fine body of land to the extent of 180 acres comprises the homestead occupied by the lady with whose name we introduce this biographical record. Elizabeth Township has for a long period enjoyed her society, and she has uniformly had the most pleasant intercourse with its people. She may be properly numbered among the pioneers of Northern Illinois, of whose growth and development she has been an interested witness, and, by a life of womanly worth, contributed much to its social and moral progress.

Mrs. Barnes is a native of Derbyshire, England, and was born June 19, 1819. Her parents were Thomas and Hannah (Haslem) Statham, also of English birth and parentage. When she was a child of nine years they emigrated to America, and until 1842 were residents of New York State. In the fall of that year they came to this county, and the father for a time operated as a renter on the Burton farm in the southern part of Elizabeth Township. Later, he removed to the farm now occupied by his son, John T., in Elizabeth Township. At this latter place both parents died – the father in 1851, and the mother in 1866.

To the parents of Mrs. Barnes there was born a large family of children, nine of whom survive. The eldest, a daughter, Ann, is the wife of Thomas Knox, of Whiteside County, this State; Ellen, Mrs. Barnes, is the next eldest of those living; Elizabeth, Mrs. Chisly, is a resident of Elizabeth Township; Mary is the wife of John Eadie, and Hannah, Mrs. Harkness, is a widow; both of these are also residents of Elizabeth Township; Sarah became the wife of Frank Pierce, of Woodbine Township; of John T. mention has already been made; Martha, Mrs. Ephraim Storey, resides in Carroll County, Ill.; and Maria lives with her daughter in Elizabeth Township.

Reared to mature years under the parental roof, Mrs. Barnes was carefully trained to habits of industry and economy. Her educational advantages were somewhat limited, but she grew up in a healthy atmosphere and was fitted to become the presiding genius of a good man’s home. Her marriage with Mr. James Barnes was celebrated under the parental roof April 2, 1844. This gentleman was a native of Ireland, and born in September, 1819; there being only a few months difference between his age and that of his bride. He emigrated to America when a boy, and lived in Pennsylvania until reaching man’s estate. When first coming to the Northwest he spent some time in Wisconsin, whence he removed some time in the forties to this county. He was at times engaged in mining but mostly followed agricultural pursuits. He visited California twice, once during the gold excitement of 1850, and later as a soldier, being about one year in the army, his regiment being stationed mostly on the frontier in California. Upon receiving his honorable discharge, he returned to this county, but enlisted a second time, in June, 1866, and was sent to Richmond, Va., where he died from cholera in August following. Mrs. Barnes receives a pension of $12 per month from the Government.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Barnes located in Hanover Township, of which they were residents until 1861. In that year they settled upon the farm where Mrs. Barnes now lives. It was then mostly covered with timber, and there was involved in its clearing and cultivation a large amount of labor. There is living with Mrs. Barnes her son James, who is the owner of 220 acres of land on section 17, Elizabeth Township. The other children were named respectively: Joseph, John, Sarah (now the wife of Thomas Knox, of Nebraska), Frank, and Mary. Three died unnamed in infancy.

Mr. Barnes, politically, was a sound Republican, and a man who kept himself well posted upon matters of interest. He exerted no small influence in his community, where his industry and energy were appreciated at their full value. He was conscientious and careful in both his public and private life, and is kindly remembered even outside of his own family by scores of friends.

Transcribed & Contributed by Carol Parrish Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889), p. 787