of Menard and Mason Counties
By T.G. Onstott
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CHAPTER XXXIX Page 361 In looking over our field for a live, energetic, get up and dust man to set for his picture, we only had to move south across the iron bridge less than a mile, where we found the subject of our sketch in a nice farm house, half hidden among the shade trees. J. Alonzo Barnes was born at Canton, October 8, 1852. His father was a cooper by trade. When Lon was four years old his father moved to Farmington, in the same county, and lived there several years. In 1859 the family moved to Kansas. The following year was the great drought and the people left in great numbers. Many came back east to visit their "wife's relations." Lon's father settled for a while in Peoria. He well recollects seeing the first soldiers leave for the seat of war on a steamboat, and his patriotic heart was stirred by the fife and drum. Not liking the city life we next find him on the raw prairie in Hancock county, where he learned to farm. Here he learned to love farming, a business he now follows. And now comes a dark shadow, which was probably the turning point of his life. His mother died, his father broke up housekeeping and Lon went to live with his uncle, Alonzo Barnes in Prairie City. Our hustler never went to school after he was fourteen years of age. His uncle tried to have him go but as he was working for $20 per month he did not think he could afford to go as he worked on his uncle's farm, which joined Prairie City. In 1871 after the great Chicago fire, at the age of nineteen, he got a job on the night police force in Chicago for six months. He can relate many thrilling scenes and episodes that occurred during his sojourn in Chicago. His uncle, thinking it was a poor place for a young man to live, sent for him to come to Prairie City, and learn the tinner's trade and do the work for his hardware store. Young Barnes gladly accepted the offer. His uncle took great interest in his welfare, and was all to him that a father could have been. Lon had now arrived at the age of twenty-four and began to think himself a man, and that he ought to do as his father and grandfather had done-get himself a wife. Being on a visit to some relatives in Mason county he wooed and wed Miss Sarah E. Bowser in November, 1876, but still worked in Prairie City for one year at his trade. He then moved to Mason county, where he now lives, on a farm of one hundred acres of fine land to which he has added two hundred and twenty acres, having bought the Walker farm which joins Forest City. His farm now consists of three hundred and twenty acres and could not be bought for less than $100 per acre. It is well divided into small fields and is in a high state of cultivation. It is well stocked; we suppose he has thirty head of horses of all ages, and machinery enough to start an agricultural store. He is always on the lookout for the best machines adapted to farming and keeps them well housed and in good order. Mr. Barnes is now in the prime of manhood and well deserved the name of hustler. He does not say "go boys," but "come boys." He is very public spirited and it always ready to do more than his part. He takes an active part in School District No. 1 and also in the M.E. Church in Forest City, though not a member takes a great interest in its welfare. For a number of years he has been chorister, and his place is seldom vacant. He is very decided in his opinions on all questions both in church and state, and free to express an opinion. We think he can visit the World's Fair and see more, and ask more questions in the same length of time than any man in the township. Mr. Barnes has a large heart and is ever ready to assist the sick and needy and would take all his teams out of the field to attend a funeral.
Mr. Barnes has had six children born in his home. Miss Hattie, the eldest, is a young lady just blooming into womanhood, two boys and one girl have gone "Where the flowers forever bloom He is well posted on all public affairs, both church and state and ready to work for the moral improvement of the community.
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