Father: Sebina Barney, b.22-Jul-1802 Brattlebero, VT., d.30-May-1879 Waukesha Co., WI.
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Mother: Mary "Polly" Manderville-Barney, b.????, d.03-Feb-1890 Waukesha Co., WI. (daughter of Ephraim Washburn & Clarissa Roberts-Washburn.
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m.13-Mar-1854 to: Julia A. Washburn, b.03-Nov-1831, d.21-OCt-1913 (she was a 2nd-cousin of WI. State Governor Washburn).
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Nota bene: Julia's father was a cousin of, Elihu Benjamin Washburn, a former U.S. Secretary of State, and a member of a Maine political family that played a prominent role in the early formation of the United States Republican Party.)
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: George M. Barney - As Lord Macaulay has truly said, "The history of a nation is best told in the lives of its people." So in relating in a graphic manner the concise history of Waukesha County, we tell it in the lives of the authentic citizens, and such a gentleman is the one whose name heads this record. Mr. Barney can trace his ancestry back to three brothers. One came from England, one from Wales, and the other from Ireland. The historical story is told by one of the old Barney family, that the three brothers came to America on one of the three vessels, the "Mayflower," the "Fortune," or the "Anna." - Two of the brothers married Holland Dutch women in the Mohawk Valley. Mr. Barney of this article is a native of Adams, Jefferson County, of the old Empire State, born June 22,1825, being the only child born to Sebina and Polly (Manderville) Barney. The father was a native of historic Brattlebero, Vt., born July 22, 1802, and died May 30, 1879. The old Green Mountain State has furnished many of the sturdy pioneers who braved so many adversities in settling the territories. Mr. Barney was reared to the trade of a blacksmith. He with his parents settled in New York when but a small boy. Sebina Barney's father was known as Maj. John Barney, who was a soldier in the War of 1812. He was present at the insurrection or trouble well known in history at Sacket's Harbor. The former settled in the village of Adams, and while there was for six years a blacksmith, thence he went to Ellisburg, N. Y., where he remained until 1836. While in this place he met with a severe accident which occasioned the removal of three ribs. The accident was caused by the rolling of a log upon him. Our subject can well remember the incident. The operation was successfully performed by an eminent surgeon, and he recovered his normal health. While a blacksmith at Ellisburg he devoted some of his time to agricultural pursuits. He was a gentleman who was not polished as regards collegiate education, but by individual effort he has made himself a well informed man. He was a man of wonderful activity and strong convictions. His word was considered as sacred as his bond among his people. Mr. Barney came very near losing his life while at Adams. He had just erected his shop, and quite a number of journeymen were present. One of the journeymen had heavily loaded an old horse pistol to kill a cat, but being too much of a coward to Are it off himself, a passer-by volunteered to discharge it at a knot hole in the shop. The ball went wide of its mark and struck Mr. Barney in the shoulder. It was removed, being an ounce ball, but this disabled him for a long time from active duties, and he was never again able to take his place as official militiaman. In his political faith Mr. Barney was a stanch Jackson Democrat. He was a man who stood firmly upon those principles and measures best calculated for the good of the democracy. Mather's Mills, Jefferson County, N. Y., was Mr. Barney's last place of residence in New York. After the accident he passed the summer of 1835 at Saratoga Springs, which benefited him very much. Returning home he decided to try his fortune in the far west, and 111 the spring of 1836 he came on a prospecting tour, his objective points being Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin, selecting the latter and the same season purchased three eighties near Mineral Point, Wis., paying $1.25 per acre. The land was yet virgin and the closest inhabitant to his purchase was in the little hamlet of Galena, III., excepting the red men. He remained in the west six months traveling, returning to New York in the fall of 1836, and in May, 1837, with wife and child, George M., of this biography, started for the west, going first to Sacket's Harbor, ten miles from their home. At this point George M. and his grandfather stepped aboard the steamer "United States," while his parents were visiting friends in the village, expecting to go on the vessel also. The last bell sounded, the vessel moved away from the wharf, and the parents of George M. were left behind and had to be brought on board with a yawl. They touched at Rochester, N. Y., and there visited for awhile; they took a packet for Buffalo, then re-shipped on the old steamer, "Ben Franklin," for Detroit, and when the vessel came to Detroit she was so badly disabled in breaking the ice that there were only two paddles left on one wheel and three on the other, which necessitated very slow progress in travel. They remained in Detroit about twelve days visiting with Samuel Cole, his father's apprentice in New York in days gone by. Sebina Barney and his father left George M. and his mother in Detroit. The father went to Ft. Wayne, Ind., and Sabina to Paulding, Ohio, to visit. Returning to Detroit afterwards, Mr. Barney, wife and son, came on to Wisconsin, Milwaukee being their objective point. The lake was so very rough they could not land, and were compelled to go on to Chicago, afterwards returning to Milwaukee and landing in a yawl boat. This was in the spring of 1837. Milwaukee, the present beautiful metropolis of Wisconsin, contained but few houses, and these were of logs. The west part of the city was a tamarack swamp, and where the large depots and factories now stand, not a habitation was to be seen. The inn or tavern where they stopped was kept by Mr. Leland, and they remained but a short time. Mr. Barney was now ready to move his goods and merchandise to Mineral Point. To remove his household effects such a long distance would have been very costly, and as Mr. Barney says, was out of the question. The price for each load was quoted from $100 to $130 per load, to their destination. Just at this opportune time, Grandfather Barney came to Milwaukee to see where his son Sebina expected to settle in the territory of Wisconsin. There being no stage or transportation of any kind, they walked out to Waukesha, which was then known as Prairieville, and while there came across an old settler, Maj. Sylvester Pettibone. He had just erected a large house of his own and had an empty house; as his wife was so lonesome and homesick. Major Pettibone allowed him to have the house, rent free, and was glad to have Mr. Barney join them. The Pettibone farm adjoined the Smart estate. Living on the Pettibone farm but a short time, Mr. Barney bought a claim of three hundred and twenty acres for $313. The tract of land lay just south of the present village of Waukesha. They moved upon this claim in the spring of 1838, and the first habitation was the veritable log cabin home, about 16x18 feet in dimensions; a projecting roof on the south side formed a shed. The chimney was the old fashioned stick and mud chimney, the base of which was made of "hard heads." The roof was covered with oak shingles twenty inches in length. Mr. Barney says that many of the cabins around about them were covered with a "shake roof," the roof being held on by logs pinned with wooden pins. The experience of the pioneers with the "shake roof" was that they were compelled to set six milk pans on the bed to catch the water when it rained, and in the winter time the snow would sift through on the beds and floor and could be shoveled up with a scoop. When Mr. Barney's father first settled in Waukesha it had but a sparse population and was known as Prairieville, and the red men of the forest were plentiful. Remnants of the tribes of the Menomonees, Pottawatomies and Winnebagos had their lodges within a short distance of his home. The old Indian chief's lodge was staked a little south of the pretty little depot of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, near East Broadway, in the village. There were no school houses or churches when he first became a citizen of this county. The first meeting place for church services which were held in Prairieville was in a stable just south of the large burr oak tree south of the Bethesda spring, and Elder Griffin was the first minister to preach the Word of God to the people. The principal market was Milwaukee, and the people hauled their grain there with ox teams. There were no highways laid out at that time, and the settlers went the nearest way possible to the point desired. There were only four habitations in the village when Mr. Barney came to Waukesha County. There was a little store belonging to Solomon Juneau, of Milwaukee, who is well known all through the east and northwest as the Indian trader. Father Barney was appointed chairman of the Claim Committee selected by the pioneers, and served in that capacity several years. As for elective positions, he would not accept any office, but regarding the cause of education he was a man who did much for its advancement. Mr. Barney had a farm of two hundred acres in Ohio, which he disposed of, and also the one at Mineral Point, Wis., and made Waukesha his home as long as he lived. At the disposal of this property, Mr. Barney had about eight hundred acres of land. He located in Waukesha, purchased of Mr. Kimball sixty acres, to which he added eighty acres, and afterwards sold the tract to George Harding. February 18, 1855, the Waukesha County Bank was organized. William Blair was elected President; and Sebina Barney Vice-President, who was connected with tae bank from its organization until his death. It is a fitting monument to this day to such sterling men as the Blairs and Barneys, who helped plant the future financial prosperity of the village and county of Waukesha. Mr. Barney was a man who respected all religious and moral teachings. The mother of our subject was born in the romantic Valley of the Mohawk, January 1, 1802, the first day of the year, the first day of the month, and the first day of the week, and almost the first year of the nineteenth century. She died February 4, 1890. The parents are interred m Prairie Home Cemetery, where a beautiful granite monument marks their last resting place. Mr. Barney of this sketch was a lad of fourteen when he came with his parents to Wisconsin in 1837, eleven years ere the state was admitted into the Union. Truly, Mr. Barney may be classed as a pioneer, and has been an eye witness of the remarkable growth and development of this section of Wisconsin from a wilderness to one of the beautiful garden spots of the state. Great railroad systems have been thrown across the state in all directions; immense factories have been erected; and in fact all industries which go to make a great state have been perfected since he became a resident of Wisconsin. In quoted language, "the wilderness has been made to rejoice and blossom as the rose." Mr. Barney's education, primarily, was received in the common schools and supplemented by a short academic course in his native state. He is a man who has improved his spare moments as his well filled library will attest. For his avocation in life he has passed as an agriculturist and stock-raiser. Mr. Barney wedded Miss Julia A. Washburn, a second cousin of Governor Washburn, of Wisconsin. The nuptials were celebrated March 13, 1854, and to this marriage have been born ten children, six sons and four daughters. Seven are living, as follows: Sabina, of Waukesha; De Newton, at home; Henry, deceased, a farmer in Minnesota but who died in Portland, Oregon, his remains being shipped home; and Carrie B., the wife of A. H. Tingle, of Harlan, Iowa. He is a gentleman of municipal importance and a real-estate dealer. They have four children, named as follows: Wyatt Barney, John Barney, Gordon Barney, and Baby Barney. The next member of the Barney family is Milton W., a resident of Janesville, Wis., where he is engaged in the hotel business; Harlow F. is employed at the Industrial School of Waukesha; Nellie is deceased; Charles A. superintends the homestead; May is deceased, and Lottie E. The latter has been a student in the Union School of Waukesha for a number of years and is a graduate of the Spencerian Business College of Milwaukee; she is also a fine stenographer, and holds a teacher's certificate in Waukesha County. Mrs. Barney is a native of Industry, Me., and was born November 6, 1831. She is a daughter of Ephraim and Clarissa (Roberts) Washburn. Her father was a cousin of Elihu Washburn. She received an excellent education and was a teacher for ten years. Her mother was an accomplished lady. There were one son and five daughters in the Washburn family, all the daughters being teachers. Mr. Barney has always been a "Simon pure" Democrat, but has never been an office seeker in any sense of the word. His first Presidential vote was cast for Gen. Winfield Scott. He has taken a firm stand in the cause of education and believes that the universal education of the masses is the salvation of the country. Socially, Mr. Barney has passed through all the chairs of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows to the encampment. He belonged to the old No. 1 Encampment of Milwaukee. He was Deputy Grand Master of that order, his district extending as far north as Green Bay. This was about 1845, when he was an active member. Mr. and Mrs. Barney and family are respecters of religious and moral teachings, and he has done his part in the support of those benevolences. Their beautiful estate comprises one hundred and eighty-six and one-half acres of fine land, and lies within three miles of the village of Waukesha. There is an abundance of living water on the farm in the way of springs, and the Fox River passing through it, makes it one of the valuable stock farms of the county. The beautiful country residence of brick is one of the modern homes, and those who are fortunate enough to be greeted as friends by the Barney family are sure of that hospitality which is one of the characteristics of the New Englander. A few reminiscences of the early days, given by Mr. Barney, we will quote. He has shot many deer on his own premises, and in one fall killed thirteen on the winter wheat. In the fall of 1839, as will be remembered by many of the pioneers who resided near section 16, a terrible prairie fire broke out which threatened the whole surrounding country. All hastened to the rescue and fought it for thirty hours without a mouthful of food, their efforts being crowned with success. In the fall of 1837, Mr. Barney and a friend concluded to go to Green Bay on a hunting tour, and came upon the west side of the lake, killing a deer every day that they were out. They camped out among the Indians and shared their venison with them. A.C. Nickell and Dr. Cornwall, early pioneers, were "baching" on the land close to Mr. Barney's in pioneer style, and had a coop of chickens. One morning they arose and found plenty of feathers, but no chickens. Mr. Nickell concluded that a wolf must have visited the coop and mounted his horse and followed in hot pursuit; he caught the animal as she was going over the fence and dispatched her with his pocket knife. The biography of this sterling family, whose name adorns one of the streets old Waukesha, in honor of Sebina Barney, who was one of the founders of the bank, and who donated Barney Street to the village, will be read by many of the leading citizens of Waukesha County, and will be cherished by the descendants when the parents have passed away.

SOURCE: "Portrait and Biographical Record of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing biographical sketches and portraits...", pages 215-218.
Source [link]: http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/wch/id/47369
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CHILDREN (10 - six sons and four daughters):
i. Sabina D. Barney [FAG # 51885100], b.06-Mar-1855 Waukesha Co., WI., d.07-Jun-1933 Waukesha Co., WI.
ii. DeNewton Barney [FAG # 51885081], b.22-May-1856, d.20-Dec-1946.
iii. Henry Barney, b.~1858, d.???? Portland, OR. (it is said that his body was returned to WI.)
iv. Carrie B. Barney, b.~1860, d.????, m.???? to: A.H. Tingle, b.????, d.???? (of Harlan, IA.) Four children.
v. Milton W. Barney [FAG #51885097], b.22-May-1861, d.02-Apr-1919, WI. (resided Janesville, Rock Co. WI.)
vi. Harlow F. Barney [FAG #51885089], b.1862, d.1909.
vii. Nellie Barney [FAG #51885098], b.03-Mar-1864, d.29-Mar-1881.
viii. Charles A. Barney [FAG #51885079], b.20-Sep-1865, d.05-Feb-1861.
ix. May Barney [FAG # 51885095], b. & d.~1866 [infant] WI.
x. Lottie E. Barney, b.~1868, d.????.

Note: all of the children were born in Waukesha Co., WI.

Note: see also [link]: www.PrairieHomeCemetery.com
605 S Prairie Ave, Waukesha, WI 53186 / tel. 1-262-524-3540