McDonough ILGenWeb

BARLEY, Elias A., a retired farmer of Macomb Township, McDonough County, Ill., now living in Macomb, was born in Marion County, Ind., February 1, 1842. His father, William Barley, was a native of Virginia, and his mother, Emeline (Adsit) Barley, was born in the State of New York. His paternal grandfather, John Barley, was a native of Maryland, and his grandfather on the maternal side, Elias Adsit, was a New Yorker. William Barley and his wife moved to Warren County, Ohio, when their son, Elias, was an infant. The latter was the second of three children born to them. In his boyhood, the subject of this sketch enjoyed the advantage of the common school, and worked on a farm in Ohio until 1873, when he came to McDonough County. There he rented a farm of 160 acres in Macomb Township for two years. This he afterward purchased and cultivated it until 1892. At that period retiring from active labors, he moved to Macomb and bought a home on East Carroll Street. He had previously sold his farm and purchased another of 160 acres nearer Macomb. He was a diligent and careful farmer, and his labors brought forth satisfactory results.

Mr. Barley was married September 1, 1863, to Elizabeth Hadden, a native of Warren County, Ohio, where she attended the public and high schools. Eight children resulted from this union, as follows: Carrie (Mrs. W. H. Allen), of Ohio; Bessie (Mrs. William Newland); Lee; Georgia; John; Catherine; Winifred (deceased); and Fred. Politically, Mr. Barley is a Republican. He served the public as School Director of Macomb Township for ten years, and was Road Commissioner for eight years. After his removal to Macomb, he represented the Second Ward In the City Council three years. In 1899 he was elected City Supervisor, and was re-elected, his time expiring in April, 1905. Fraternally, he is connected with the I. O. O. F. In all the relations of life, Mr. Barley has been faithful and dutiful, and he is now enjoying the comfortable retirement merited by a career of industry and probity.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, page 822, extracted 19 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass.