Book Excerpt 1:
"According to the best recollections, [George Barnett's] grand father was a native of Ireland, or at least, born a short time after the arrival of his parents in this country. It is thought that he only raised one son, James, . . . who married a Miss O'Connell, an Irish lady. He spent the principal part of his life in Pennsylvania, where he died. He raised a large family, as follows: Robert, George, James, Moses, John, Jane, Susan, Nancy, Rachel, and Margaret. These, after the death of their father, all came with their mother to Bourbon County, Kentucky. George . . . married while in Pennsylvania a Miss Delila Davis, a lady of Welsh lineage. As already remarked, they, with the principal part of their children, arrived in Illinois in 1828. They both died in this County, he in 1841 and she some five years later. Their remains rest in the Lebanon Graveyard near Indianola. He was a prominent and active citizen of Vermilion, and was one of its early representatives in the legislature."
(An Illustrated Historical Atlas Map of Vermilion County, Ill., 1875, page 38, in the biographical summary for George Barnett's son Robert E. Barnett)

Book Excerpt 2:
"George Barnett came here from Bourbon county, Kentucky, in 1828. He was a man of considerable experience in the affairs of the world, and had some means — enough to get a fair start in a new country. He had got tired of the influences of the institution of slavery, and, while not an abolitionist in sentiment, like many of the Quakers who came here at that time, was not so in love with the institution as to remain with it any longer. He had purchased a part of the farm of Mr. Bradshaw before removing here, and entered more after coming. He had a family of eight children. He came in those old-fashioned four-horse wagons of that day, bringing such goods and other things with him as he needed. He commenced farming operations. and soon engaged in raising stock, having bought the farm with especial reference to that business. . . . As fast as he could he got his land into blue-grass pasture. He was early elected a member of the legislature. Of his children, Albert and George are in Oregon; Robert E. lives on the place his father first purchased; James lived near Indianola, and died there; William died in Douglas county; the girls are dead, except Mrs. Morris, who lives in Edgar county. Indian wigwams were plenty in the timber when he came here; they were made of poles slanting up to a peak, and covered with bark and bushes."
(History of Vermilion County by H.W. Beckwith, 1879, page768, available online)

Additional Biographical Information.

George Barnett first appeared in the Tax Lists for Bourbon County, Kentucky in 1797. His brother Robert Barnett was in the tax lists the year before in 1796. Within a few years they each began purchasing land on the Hinkston Creek watercourse. On March 31, 1809, George and Robert each purchased part of one man's farm. On November, 10, 1829 George Barnett and his wife Delila sold 127 acres of land on Hinkston Creek for $1600.

Consistent with the first book excerpt above, George Barnett signed the marriage bonds in Bourbon County, Kentucky for his apparent sisters Nancy Barnett to marry John Henry in 1811, and Rachel Barnett to marry Aquilla Conaway in 1814.

George Barnett's will was written on February 8, 1842, six days before his death on February 14, 1842. The will stated that his wife was Delila Barnett and his children were:
George W. Barnett,
Elbert G. Barnett,
William R. Barnett (deceased),
Sarah (Barnett) Haywood,
Katherine (Barnett) Morris,
James D. Barnett,
John M. Barnett,
Robert E. Barnett.
In the will George also appointed his "son-in-law and friend" Thomas Haywood as executor.

The apparent siblings of George Barnett include: Jane (Barnett) Conaway, Rachel (Barnett) Conaway, and probably (but not definitely) Moses Barnett.

Sources and additional information are given on the WikiTree profile for George Barnett (Barnett-1794).