My Genealogy Hound

ALPHA BARNES, a prominent owner of farming land, the proprietor of a vineyard, fifty acres in extent, and a genial and companionable gentleman, is a son of James and Amanda (Noble) Barnes, and was born in Portland town, Chautauqua county, New York, on the property where he now resides, June 9, 1823. His people had long been residents of the State of New York, having lived in the central and eastern part of that State for many years. James Barnes was born in Rome, Oneida county, N. Y., May 5, 1796, and came to this county in 1818 with an ox-team, settling in Portland where he took up one hundred acres of land, but not being suited with it he sold it and bought the farm on which his son now resides. He was a hard-working, energetic man and cleared a large farm from the forest. Politically Mr. Barnes was a whig and republican. He married Amanda Noble in 1818, a native of Oneida county, who was born June 4, 1798, and they had four children. Mr. Barnes died January 19, 1864, aged sixty eight years; his wife followed him April 21, 1884, having become an octogenarian.

Alpha Barnes was reared on the farm which is now his home. The education which has since carried him through life was received in the public schools. He has always been a farmer and has added to the original homestead of his father’s, until now he is the owner of five hundred and sixty acres — fifty acres are set to vines. He has been postmaster at Prospect Station for more than twenty years.

December 22, 1847, he married Sarah L. Bigelow, a daughter of Thomas and Jerusha Bigelow. She was born in Verona, Oneida county, Nov. 7, 1823. Her father came to Portland town when she was but two years old. Mrs. Barnes died May 30, 1889, aged sixty-six years. To Alpha and Mrs. Barnes were born three children, one son and two daughters: James T., born February 3, 1852; Eva J., born June 30, 1855; and Hattie L., born May 3, 1863. Eva J., married Edgar Scrivens, a farmer of Portland town. They have two sons, Alpha and Archie. Hattie L., is the wife of George Mawhir (see his sketch), they have one child, Bert. James T. married Eva L. Webster, daughter of Samuel and Lydia Webster, March 25, 1874, and lives with his father. He is a farmer, but also buys and ships grapes. He commenced this business in 1887 and shipped the first car load of grapes from Westfield. Apples also receive his attention, of which he has shipped a large quantity. He built an oil refinery on his farm, and ran it with profit for a number of years and is now trading in oil, together with other extensive business interests, in addition to his farm. He is a republican. Samuel Webster was born at Warsaw, N. Y., March 6, 1806, and was married to Lydia Hall (born March 5, 1814) on November 19, 1830.

Alpha Barnes is a good citizen, is a kind and gentle neighbor and has the respect and esteem of the entire community. In politics he is a republican.