Mr. Barrett was a native of Jefferson County, Ohio, a son of one of its early pioneer families, and he was born July 28, 1835. His parents were Willis and Elizabeth (Huff) Barrett, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Pennsylvania. Amid the pioneer scenes of Ohio he grew to manhood, and received a limited education in its early schools, which he afterward extended by reading as he was always fond of books. In 1855, in the opening years of a strong and manly manhood, he came to this county and here he met the woman who afterward became his wife. For some nine years after his marriage he farmed as a renter in Brimfield Township, and in 1857 he invested his carefully saved earnings in a farm of his own, the same on which his widow now resides. In the course of a number of years he placed it under fine cultivation and improved it into one of the most desirable farms in the vicinity, its three hundred and twenty acres yielding under his judicious management an ample income.

In his death the county and township list a citizen who had ever been zealous in promoting their welfare. In his domestic relations he was a kind and loving husband and wise and tender father, and to those outside of his household he was an obliging neighbor, and the entire community united with his family in sorrow for their bereavement. He favored everything that could in any way push forward the best interests of his adopted township. Politically he was always stanch in his support of Republican principles. He served the township as School Director and proved to be a valuable official while acting in that capacity. He came of sterling stock and his father was a gallant soldier in the war of 1812.

Mr. Barrett was very fortunate in selecting as his life companion, Miss Lovina J. Ramsey, to whom he was united in marriage November 17, 1857. Her parents were Robert and Cornelia (Shaw) Ramsey, natives respectively of Brooke County, Va., and Chenango County, N. Y. Her paternal ancestors were of Scotch-Irish and her maternal progenitors were of Scotch-English blood. Her grandfather, Samuel Ramsey, was a Revolutionary soldier and was a prisoner at Ft. Washington, and was one of the seven who were released by the British. He emigrated to Virginia and that was the origin of that family in that State. When Mrs. Barrett was fifteen years old she came with her parents to Illinois, they first locating in Brimfield Township, where they resided a number of years and finally moved to Elmwood Village, where the father died February 23, 1890, lacking but one month of being eighty-six years old. He came of a long-lived race and his mother attained the venerable age of ninety-two years before her death. Mrs. Barrett’s mother departed this life May 25, 1881. Her father had been twice married and had a family of six children of whom the following three are living: Mary E., wife of Frank E. McCurdy of Belle Plaine, Iowa; Laura V., and Mrs. Barrett. Mr. Ramsey was one of the early pioneers of this county and was well and favorable known throughout this region. In early life he was a Whig but became a Republican after the formation of the party. Mrs. Barrett was reared in this county though she was a native of Jefferson County, Ohio, where she was born June 3, 1836. She received as excellent education, laying its foundation in the common schools, and for one term attended a seminary in Virginia. Her union with our subject was blessed to them by the birth of twelve children, of whom the following eight are living. Ella, wife of Frank E. Hickok, of St. Paul, Minn.; Ephraim L.; Addie L., wife of J. E. Powers of Gilman, Iowa; Harry R., a resident of Millbrook Township; Robert R.; Hubert E.; Minnie and Maud.

Mrs. Barrett was a very efficient helper to her husband and her wise counsel and active co-operation were of great value to him in the accumulation of his property. She still resides on the old homestead and is held in true respect and high esteem by all who recognize the genuine worth of her character.