Marin County Biographies

AI BARNEY

Transcribed by Betty Wilson

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


            The subject of this sketch, whose portrait will be found 
in this work, was born in Genoa, Cayuga county, New York, on May 26, 1804, where 
he resided until he attained the age of eight years, when his family moved to 
Niagara county, twenty-two miles east from Buffalo, New York, then counted in 
the Far West, the portion wherein they settled being now known as Erie county.  
Here he attended the Winter schools, and at the age of nineteen undertook the 
charge of a school, which he continued for about seven years.  While thus 
engaged Mr. Barney neglected not his own advancement but studied industriously 
at the dead languages and in time became proficient in both Latin and Greek; 
about this time he also commenced the study of medicine, a pursuit he followed 
until he arrived at the age of twenty-eight years.  At this period of his life 
he was dispatched by his brother-in-law to Washington, to attend a certain 
business in Congress, which having effected he settled in Baltimore in the year 
1829.  In 1830 he closed his business with his brother-in-law, and in that year 
moved to Frederick county, and a short time thereafter to Frederick City, in the 
State of Maryland.  In 1833 was appointed to the office of Justice of the Peace, 
a position he filled with eminent capability for ten years, and in 1844 was 
elected County Surveyor, officiating in that capacity until 1849, in which year 
he came to California as Vice President of Baltimore and Frederick Company, a 
history of which association will be found in these pages.  On September 10, 
1849, Mr. Barney arrived in San Francisco, after a tedious voyage, and, with his 
confreres, at once established the undertaking for which they had made the 
arduous journey.  In April, 1850, he visited the mines, in company with three 
others, and at about fifteen miles from Stockton commenced operations in quest 
of the yellow metal.  These he prosecuted until the end of September, when, not 
having been very successful, he return to San Francisco.  Mr. Barney then 
removed to San Rafael.  When at the mines in 1850 the county of Marin was 
organized; but after a service of four months Doctor Shorb, the County Judge, 
resigned, and Mr. Barney was appointed by the Governor in his stead.  He was 
elected to that position at the ensuing election, and held the office thereafter 
for a lengthened period of seven years.  Shortly before the expiration of his 
judgeship Mr. Barney purchased a ranch, about two miles from San Rafael, 
embracing the Coleman valley and all that portion of the Murphy rancho lying 
east of the Petaluma road, where he resided for two years.  He next, in company 
with his son, Jerome A. Barney, established the well-known publication, The 
Marin County Journal, continuing the paper until 1872, when the present 
proprietor, S.F. Barstow, became the purchaser.  During that time Mr. Barney was 
elected County Superintendent of Public Schools, but on selling the paper he 
retired from public life.  At the ripe age of seventy-six Mr. Barney preserves 
his years with remarkable vigor.  In him is to be found a gentleman of vast 
experience and much erudition.  While on the bench he was accredited an 
impartial judge, and to-day he is honored by all, and respected throughout the 
county.  Married, May 3, 1831, Sophia Ann Rigby, by whom he has a family of nine 
children.  Their names are:�Alexander, Luther, Jerome, Augustus, John W., 
Charles S., Ruth Anna, and Sophia Ann.  John W., Charles S., and Ruth Anna are 
now living.
 
History of Marin County, California; Including Its Geography, Geology, 
Topography and Climatology; by J. P. Munro-Fraser, Historian; Alley, Bowen & 
Co., Publishers, San Francisco, California, 1880