WILLIAM H. BARNDS, Supervisor of Buckeye Township, is a native of Danville, Montour Co., Pa., where his birth took place May 26, 1840. His father, Charles Barnds, a native of Lycoming County, learned the trade of a carpenter when a young man, and followed it in his native State until his death, which took place in Montour County in the spring of 1851. In that vicinity also the mother, formerly Miss Mary Elizabeth Rishel, was born and reared, in that part of Columbia now included in Montour County, and where she still resides. The maternal grandfather of our subject was a blacksmith by trade, but also carried on farming, and spent the last years of his life in Montour County.

The subject of this biography was a boy eleven years of age when he was deprived of a father’s care. A year later he set out in life for himself, employing his hands at whatever he could find to do. During the winter seasons he attended school, working nights and mornings for his board. When seventeen years of age, not being satisfied with his condition or his prospects in the Keystone State, he emigrated northwest to this county, where he was first employed as a farm laborer, and afterward supplemented his education by an attendance at Beloit Academy, Wis. In the winter of 1860-61, he taught school in Buckeye Township, this county, and the following summer was employed on a farm. The outbreak of the late war decided his future movements for a few years, as he enlisted in Co. A. 46th Ill. Vol. Inf., serving as a Union soldier until February, 1866. With his comrades he met the rebels in some of the most important battles of the war, including the fight at Shiloh, the sieges of Corinth and Vicksburg, and many of the later engagements which carried consternation into the rebel ranks, and decided the victory of the Union troops. Mr. Barnds fulfilled his military duties in a faithful and praiseworthy manner, and at the close of the war, with his comrades, received his honorable discharge. He then resumed farming in this county, locating first on land belonging to his father-in-law, and afterward purchasing forty acres on section 6, Buckeye Township, which he cultivated successfully until 1882, when he purchased his present farm. This lies on sections 6 and 7, and includes a fine set of frame buildings, with good fences, excellent grades of stock, and all the other appliances of the modern and progressive agriculturist. The premises are kept in admirable order, and indicate at once the thrift and industry of the proprietor.

One of the most important events in the life of our subject was his marriage with Miss Hannah C. Hartzell, which took place at Cedarville in Buckeye Township, Jan. 28, 1864. Mrs. Barnds was born near Danville, Montour Co., Pa., Jan. 31, 1843, and is the daughter of John and Mariah Hartzell, natives of Northampton County, Pa., and now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Barnds are the parents of eight children, five of whom survive, namely, Edwin G., Ermina L., John C., William L. and Winifred J. In politics Mr. Barnds is Republican.

Contributed by Carol Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888)