Asaph Deming deceased, formerly a farmer on section 12, Lyndon Township, was born July 24, 1819, in Steuben Co. NY. In the fall of 1838, he accompanied his father Charles S. Deming to Whiteside County and the family settled in the township of Lyndon. Mr. Deming made a claim of land on section 12, on which he built a house and entered upon the improvement of his property. He was married Oct. 27, 1842 to Harriet B., daughter of Jirch and Betsey (Wickey) Barlow. MR. Deming was energetically interested in the improvement of his estate and in the prosecution of his agricultural affairs until the nation was startled by the advent of Civil War, and he took an earnest interest in the progress of events unti August, 1862 when he enlisted in Co B 75th IL Vol.Inf. and was mustered into service as a Corporal. He died at Murfreesboro TN, June 20, 1863. At home he had left his wife and five children. Before the expiration of the year three children were dead, leaving the mother with one son William Henry, who is living with her on the homestead. They are both members of the Congregational Church.
Ann Eliza, only surviving daughter, who was married in 1869 to Joseph D. Johnson, lives in Flushing Mich.
Hirch Barlow, the father of Mrs. Deming, was a pioneer of Whiteside County. He was born in Massachusetts, but went in your manhood to Pittsford, Vt. He was there married to Betsey Wicker, who was also born in Massachusetts. Mr. Barlow was a clothier by profession, and after his marriage he built a factory at Pittsford and engaged in the manufacture of woolen cloth. He also erected a linseed-oil mill, and a flour and saw mill on the same mountain stream. That part of the town is called "Pittsford Mills" to this day, and has its own local postoffice, taking its name from the business enterprises of Mr. Barlow.
About 1827 the woolen mill was burned, entailing a loss of about $8,000. The proprietor rebuilt and continued its management a few years. About 1838 his business became involved through the general shrinkage of values in the crisis of the year before, and as his wife had fallen into ill health, he went to Indiana, locating in Wabash County. In June of that year he set out on horseback for Illinois to seek a satisfactory location for a home. He was pleased with the outlook of Whiteside County and returned to Indiana for his family. In the winter of 1839-40 he came back, bringing with him a load of household fixtures, and rented a farm, which is now included in the city of Morrison. His wife was ill at the time and remained with her children who were living in Vermont.
In 1841 Mr. Barlow made a claim east of the present site of Morrison to which he removed. In 1848 he went to Indiana ona business errand, and died there at 74 years of age.
Mr. Barlow was a man of more than ordinary ability. While in Vermont he represented Pittsford in the General Assembly for two sessions. He and his wife were members of the Congregational Church.
From Portraits & Biographical contributed by Maggie Earl
