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History of Adair
County, Iowa, 1915.

Biographical.  Volume 2.

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Miss Minnie E. Barnett.

Miss Minnie E. Barnett, acceptably filling the office of county recorder, is well known in Adair county, where she has spent her entire life.  She is a daughter of J. W. Barnett, who was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, December 28, 1849.  His father was Joseph Barnett, who followed blacksmithing in Pittsburgh.  The family removed westward when J. W. Barnett was a small boy and arrived in Adair county in the '60s, before the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad was built.  Joseph Barnett purchased land in Lincoln township and followed blacksmithing in connection with farming.  He died upon his farm where he had long resided, enjoying the respect and goodwill of his fellow citizens.  His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Price, was a native of Belfast, Ireland, but was brought to the new world during her infancy and she, too, spent her last days in Iowa.

J. W. Barnett followed farming throughout his entire active life but removed to Greenfield in 1915 and is now living retired.  He carefully conducted his farming interests according to progressive, modern methods and he has always taken a deep and helpful interest in everything relating to the public welfare.  He has served as a member of the school board in his home district, acting as president of the board and also as treasurer.  Those who know him, and he has a wide acquaintance, entertain for him warm and enduring regard.  In 1877 he was united in marriage to miss Ann Belden, who was born near Galesburg, Illinois, May 22, 1857.  Her father, Joel W. Belden, was a native of Saratoga, New York, and removed to Knox county, Illinois, whence he came to Adair county in 1876.  Here he followed farming in Lincoln township.  He married Augusta Glyde who was born in England and was thirteen years of age when she came to America.  Mr. and Mrs. Belden passed away in the same year.  This family came to Iowa in 1876 and the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Barnett was celebrated the following year, the young couple beginning their domestic life upon a farm in Summit township.  Later they removed to Lincoln township and Mr. Barnett there carried on the work of tilling the soil and cultivating the crops until 1915, when he put aside business cares and took up his abode in Greenfield.

To Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Barnett were born nine children:  Minnie E., who is the present efficient county recorder;  Mary Augusta, the wife of George W. Eversull, who operates a farm in Lincoln township;  Bert J., who wedded Miss Nina Moore and resides on the home farm;  Nellie Sarah, who gave her hand in marriage to John H. Booher, a postoffice attache at Nebraska City, Nebraska; J. R., who makes his home near Billings, Montana;  Bessie, who is engaged in teaching in Montana and is now proving up on a claim near Billings;  Myrtle, who is also a teacher by profession and resides at home;  William M., who is engaged in farming;  and Angel D., who is now a senior in the high school and will become her sister's deputy in the recorder's office.

Miss Minnie E. Barnett attended the public schools of the county and following her graduation from the high school at Greenfield took up the profession of teaching, which she followed for six years in the rural schools.  In 1910 she pursued a commercial course in the Gem City Business College at Quincy, Illinois.  Later she served as bookkeeper in the office of the secretary of the State University of North Dakota and subsequently she engaged in teaching for a year.  She then became the candidate for the office of county recorder on the republican ticket and was elected in 1914 for a two years term.  She is now acting in that capacity and is giving general satisfaction by the prompt, capable and systematic manner in which she is discharging her duties.  She holds membership in Columbia Lodge, No. 6, Daughters of Rebekah, at Stuart, Iowa.  The Barnetts are members of the Methodist church and have long occupied an enviable social position in those circle where true worth and intelligence are received as the passports into good society.  Their influence has been a potent element along lines of material, social, intellectual and moral development.

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