George Frederick Julius Barnsback (1781-1869)
Veteran of the War of 1812; Farmer; Plantation Owner
Illinois Representative
George Barnsback (German spelling was Berensbach) was born in
Osterode, Germany, July 25, 1781. He came from a highly respected
family, and had received a thorough education. He worked for a
commercial house, and without the consent of his parents, gave up
his position and embarked for America in 1797. He landed in
Philadelphia, a lad of sixteen years. He moved to Kentucky, where he
worked for a plantation owner. After a stay of two years, he became
homesick and embarked for Hamburg. He was shipwrecked in the English
Channel at Dover, barely saving his own life. His reception at home
was joyous. He returned to Kentucky in 1802, rented a plantation,
and erected a distillery.
Mr. Barnsback was a tall man of powerful build, with “features
betraying energy, and maintained an imposing appearance to his end.”
He was a man of “more than ordinary intelligence and character.”
Mr. Barnsback married in 1808 to Mary Ann Minter (1787-1879). They
had the following children: Jacob J. Barnsback (1808-1861); George
J. Barnsback (1810-1839); William J. Barnsback (1813-1872); John J.
Barnsback (1815-1903); Thomas Julius Barnsback (1817-1880); Hannah
Mariah Barnsback Gillham (1819-1879); Mary Ann J. Barnsback
(1824-1839); Julius August Barnsback (1826-1899); and Isabella Jane
Barnsback Job (1829-1849). Among his descendants were some of the
leading citizens of Madison County.
In 1809, Mr. Barnsback came to what is now Madison County. He served
two years in the ranging service, during the War of 1812.
In 1824, George went to Germany for a visit, and returned to the
United States in 1825. For six years he lived in St. Francois
County, Missouri, where he purchased a plantation. He owned slaves
at that time, but became utterly disgusted by slavery and freed
them. He returned to his old farm in Madison County in 1830, six
miles southeast of Edwardsville. There he constructed a cog-wheel
horse mill, and planted a nursery, and devoted his time to
agriculture.
After his second trip to Germany, several of his nephews accompanied
or followed him to America. All settled in the vicinity of their
uncle, and one of them, Julius L. Barnsback, became a Justice of the
Peace, and was a man of much importance and influence in the county.
Julius moved to Edwardsville, where he engaged in the commercial
business. Julius was the first German ever naturalized in the courts
of Madison County.
Mr. Barnsback served as Representative in the Fourteenth General
Assembly (1844-46). After returning from Springfield, distributed
his salary among the poor of Madison County. He wrote a letter to
the courts which stated:
“Herewith I present you with the sum of one hundred and fifty
dollars [$5,943.68 in 2023 money] in auditor’s warrants, which I
wish you to appropriate towards the relief of the poor of the
county, in such a manner as you may deem the most proper.”
According to the History of Madison County, 1882, George was “very
accurate, and insisted that obligations to him were strictly
fulfilled, but was just as conscientious in his dealing with others.
He never charged more than one half of the legal rates of interest
on money due him. This explains the fact that when he died, May 25,
1869, at the age of 87 years, he did not leave great wealth, but
with it he left to his descendants the grand legacy of an
incorruptible and excellent man.” Mr. Barnsback was buried in the
Oak Lawn Cemetery in Glen Carbon.
Sources:
History of Madison County, 1882.
Alton Telegraph, February 17, 1865
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