J. B. Barger (1887)J. B. Barger, farmer, was born in Breckenridge County, Ky., February 2, 1814, one of seven children — two living — of Jacob and Elizabeth (Seaton) Barger. The father, born in Pennsylvania in 1784, was the son of Geo. Barger, of Germany, who, on account of religious persecution, became a pioneer of Breckenridge County, Ky. The father was poorly educated, and married in 1809, and in 1815 came to Shawneetown, when, after several years as carpenter, he spent the remainder of his life as a farmer He was a trustee of Shawneetown for some time, and died in 1847. The mother, a native of Kentucky, was born in 1787 and died in 1860, a member of the Baptist church. She was a half sister of Gen. McClernand, and her mother was an early pioneer of Gallatin County. Our subject was educated at Shawnee and engaged as clerk and in flat-boating. In March, 1834, he married Louisa M., a daughter of John Carter, who was born in Kentucky about 1814. She died in 1861, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Two of their seven children are living: George and Jacob. In l847 President Polk commissioned him as postmaster at Shawneetown, and in 1850 he was elected sheriff, serving two years, and also some time as deputy. From 1854 to 1856 he was bookkeeper of the State Bank of Illinois. In 1836 he was elected county clerk, which position he held for twenty-six years, at the end of which time the citizens presented him, as a recognition of his faithfulness, a gold headed cane. Since his official life closed he has lived in retirement. He has always been a Democrat, and is a Mason and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Besides town real estate, he owns the old homestead of 258 acres. [1887. History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin and Williamson Counties, Illinois. Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Co., 525.] is maintained by Jon Musgrave. © 1998 You are our 1257 visitor — thanks for stopping by! |