Posted on: Henry Co. In Obituaries
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Surname: BARNARD, BALLENGER, JEFFREY, BENSON
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Obituary:
WILLIAM O. BARNARD
FORMER CONGRESSMAN
AND JUDGE, IS DEAD
William O. Barnard, age 86; one of New Castle's most distinguished citizens
a former Judge and an ex-congressman and dean of the Henry County Bar Association,
died this morning at 11 o'clock at his home, 131 North Tenth Street.
Judge Barnard had been seriously ill for the past week and his death had
been expected. He suffered a broken hip in a fall at his home last May
and never fully recovered. Up until the time of his injury he had continued
active in his profession.
He is survived by the widow, Mary V Barnard and four children, Paul Barnard
of Hagerstown: George M. Barnard, New Castle and Indianapolis attorney
and a former member of of the public service commision, and Ralph W. Barnard
of this city, an examiner for the building and loan division of the state
department of financial institutions, and Mrs Herbert Griffith of Santa
Monica, Cal. He is also survived by three brothers, L.C. Barnard of Winfield,
Kas, Dr P.C. Barnard of Parker, Ind. and J.N. Barnard of Daleville.
Funeral services will be conducted Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the
Friends church with the Rev. Robert Cope officiating. Burial will take
place in Southmound cemetery.
Judge Barnard was not only respected as a citizen of the community, but
had a distingushed career in politics and as a public official. As a lawyer,
prosecuting attorney, judge of the Henry circuit court and then a member
of congress. Mr Barnard distinguished himself as a capable and efficient
piblic official, always affable and courteous, especially to younger members
of the legal profession, and bore with humility his title as dean of the
Henry county bar, well earned through nearly 62 years as a member.
BORN NEAR LIBERTY
William Oscar Barnard, son of Sylvester and Lavina(Myer) Barnard was born
near Liberty, October 25, 1852. When two years old his parents moved to
Dublin and after two years' residence there the family located in Fayette
county, near Connersville where William spent the greater part of his boyhood.
In 1866 the family came to Henry county, locating in Liberty township and
after undergoing the usual hardships of other boys in those less modern
days, the embryo statesman entered the Spiceland Academy, where his life
was undoubtedly influenced by that leader, Clarkson Davis, whose character
and ability influenced many of the youth of Henry County.
After completing the course at the academy Mr Barnard became a school teacher
and after serving in several schools of the county became principal of
the school at Economy in Wayne county, and later taught in the New Castle
school.
TAUGHT BEFORE PRACTICING LAW
He gave up school reaching to read law in the office of James Brown who
later became judge of the circuit court. Mr Barnard was admitted to the
bar in 1877 and his first practice was in partnership with Captain David
W. Chambers. The sixtieth anniversary of his admission to the bar was the
occasion of a notable gathering in 1937 at the Friends church here when
attorneys and associates from over this section of the state met to pay
him tribute. One of his contempories attending the banquet was Henry U
Johnson of Richmond, about two years his elder and also a former congressman.
Judge Barnard and Mr Johnson, although of opposite political faiths were
close friends and for many years kept up a personal correspondence in which
both were wont to express themselves clearly and thoroughly on current
affairs, especially political.
While a young lawyer, Mr Barnard began his political career by serving
two terms as treasurer of the then town of New Castle. His next step was
to serve six years as prosecuting attorney. Part of this six year term
was prosecutor of Henry and Hancock counties and then as prosecating attorney
of the fifty-third judical circuit, Henry county, when the joint circuit
was dissolved and each became a separate court.
SERVED SIX YEARS AS A JUDGE
In the election of 1896 when he was 44 years old, Mr Barnard was elected
judge of the Henry circuit court and served six years.
In 1908 Judge Barnard was elected to congress from the old Sixth district,
succeeding James E Watson, who was a candidate for governor and who later
was returned to congress for a 14 year period as United States senator
Judge Barnard was defeated for re-election in 1910 by Finly H. Gray, who
sigularly enough was defeated in the election of 1938.
Judge Barnard despite his age was one of the "youngest" members of the
bar and until his injury last year hardly ever failed to visit the court
house at least once a day. He delighted to tell stories of the "old" days
for the benefit of the younger members of the legal profession. At the
same time he was always tolerant with a younger opponet in a case and many
are the instances where the judge's advice and council were sought by the
young men starting in the practice of law.
At one time Judge Barnard practiced law with his son, George M. Barnard
and later was in partnership with the late William E Jeffrey. The firm
again became known as Barnard and Jeffrey when George R. Jeffrey became
his law partner. In recent years Judge Barnard and Paul R. Benson were
partners, the firm being known as Barnard and Benson.
MARRIED 62 YEARS
The death of Judge Barnard broke a marriage tie of over 62 years. On December
22, 1876 Mr Barnard and Mary V. Ballenger, daughter of Nathan H. and Margaret
Hibbard Ballenger were united in marriage. Judge Barnard was an ardent
member of the Friends church; as is his wife, and the judge was always
interested in Earlham college and had served as a member of its board of
trustees and as an official of the Yearly Meeting of the Friends church.
Judge Barnard long was identified with the Henry County Building and Loan
Association. He was a member of the board of directors and had served as
vice-president many years. Mr. Barnard was a member of the Masonic lodge
and an honorary member of New Castle Rotary Club.