Ira BARNES was born 26 May 1840 in Illinois, USA. He married Mary Katherine KNIBBS 14 May 1881 in Brodhead, Green County, Wisconsin, USA. He died 28 May 1920 in Aberdeen, Brown County, South Dakota, USA. Mary Katherine KNIBBS, daughter of John KNIBBS and Amelia Ann BLODGETT , was born March 1859 in Rock County, Wisconsin, USA. She died 06 April 1947 in Aberdeen, Brown County, South Dakota, USA.


Children of Ira BARNES and Mary Katherine KNIBBS are:
1. John Knibbs BARNES, b. 16 February 1882 See John Knibbs BARNES & Agnes Irene LEVERS
2. Arthur BARNES, b. 1885
3. Phillip BARNES, b. 1889

Marriage Notes for Ira BARNES\Mary Katherine KNIBBS:

From The Weekly Wisconsin, 15 Jun 1881:
Married
Brodhead - May 14, Ira Barnes and Miss Katie M. Knibbs

Other Marriages/Unions for Ira BARNES:
See Ira BARNES & Mary Elizabeth SMITH


Notes for Ira BARNES:

Also known as: Katherine H

The LDS tell us that Ira was the son of James and Lydia Barnes.
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We first see Ira in 1850, living at Spring Valley, Rock County, Wisconsin:
James Barnes 47 Farmer New York
Lydia Barnes 38 New York
Polly Barnes 21 New York
William J Barnes 14 New York
Bessy A Barnes 7 New York
Ira Barnes 9 Illinois
Eunice Barnes 8 Illinois
Alonzo Barnes & Illinois
Lavancha Barnes 5 Wisconsin
Fanny Z Barnes 3 Wisconsin
James Barnes 25 Farmer New York
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We see Ira in 1870, living in the village of Brodhead, Green County, Wisconsin, with his wife and son Marzo. They were living with several others in the boarding house of a Catharine Conet, a widow from Hesse Damstadt, Germany:
Ira Barnes M 35 Cabinet Maker New York
Eliza Barnes F 25 Wisconsin
Marzo Barnes M 2 Wisconsin
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We can see Ira in 1880, living with his parents and two children living at Brodhead, Green County, Wisconsin. He's identified as a widower.

James Barnes Head Mar 76 NY Retired Farmer RI MA
Lydia Barnes Wife Mar 74 NY Keeping House RI RI
Ira Barnes Son Wid 40 IL Furniture Merchant NY NY
Marzo Barnes GSon 12 WI At Home IL WI
Ruth Barnes GDau 5 Dakota IL WI

Unfortunately, we don't yet know any further details about Ira's first wife, other than she was born in Wisconsin, USA.
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I believe from the obituary of Ira's second wife's mother (Amelia Knibbs) that Ira and his second wife Mary Knibbs were living in Aberdeen, South Dakota in 1887 when Mary's mother died at Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa.
Tragically, Ira's mother also died in January 1887 and Ira was unable to attend her funeral at Broadhead, Wisconsin on 5 January because he was at his mother-in-law Amelia Knibbs' death bed with his wife.
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In 1889-1890, Ira was living in Aberdeen City, Brown County, South Dakota and had sisters-in-law Harriet and Helen B Knibbs living with him as boarders.
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We see Ira in 1900, living at Aieolet Avenue, Aberdeen, Brown County, South Dakota:
Ira Barnes Head Mar 60 Grocery Mechant Illinois
Catherine Barnes Wife 41 (married 19 years) Housewife Wisconsin
John K Barnes Son 18 at School Wisconsin
Ruth J Barnes Daur 25 Kindergarten Teacher South Dakota

Ira's son Clark was iving in the house next door.
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In 1905, Ira appears in the South Dakota State census. He was living in Aberdeen, Brown Conty, and gave hois occupatin as Manager Barnes Crock Company.
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We see Ira in 1910 living at Aberdeen Ward 4, Brown, South Dakota:
Ira Barnes Head Mar 69 Illinois
Katherine H Barnes Wife Mar 51 Wisconsin
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In 1920, we see Ira living at Brown, South Dakota:
Ira Barnes Head Mar 79 Illinois
Katherine M Barnes Wife Mar 60 Wisconsin
Dortha Luker 35 Wisconsin
Bernice Farnam 28 South Dakota
Margurite Blair 26 South Dakota
Aggrues Sawyer 28 Kansas
Anna Lindblom 30 South Dakota
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We understand from an obituary for Ira's mother-in-law Amelia Knibbs, that Ira was "a gentleman highly esteemed". Other items have identified that he seemed to be an active and well respected member of the community at Aberdeen, Brown County, South Dakota.

From the Early History of Brown County, South Dakota by Miss Helen Bergh:
The greatest civic enterprise of its day was the erection of the Grain Palace in 1893. It stood at Main Street and Fifth Avenue covering half a block with a seating capacity for 1600 persons. The work was all done by citizens, who gave labor or pledges of money. It was an ornate structure devoted to conventions, entertainments and an annual fall display of agricultural products. One of these was denominated as the state fair. At this annual exposition the festivities were presided over by the Grain Lady known as the Queen of Aberdeen. She was wholly garbed in grains and grasses, on her head a crown of the same. Her left hand held flowers and upon her wrist was poised a live pigeon. Grain Palace sentiment was brought to the point of action by a committee consisting of Rev. F. A. Burdick, Ira Barnes, George Schlosser, Robert Moody as president and C. F. Easton, treasurer.

On January 7, 1899, Senator Lawson, often thought to be the father of the Northern Normal and Industrial School, proposed a bill for the creation of the school in Aberdeen; the bill went through many revisions and it would not be until March 2, 1899 that the new school would exist on paper; however both a site and funding were still needed. In 1900 Aberdeen had the fastest growing population in northern South Dakota and supporters for the building of the School began to organize in greater numbers.

Wealthy Aberdonians quickly responded and started to donate their land for the school; responding to the demand to pick a site, the Aberdeen City Council created a committee of twenty-five individuals responsible for choosing the location. The committee was comprised of the well-to-do individuals of Aberdeen, including Ira Barnes, W.F.T Bushnell, C.F. Easton, F.W. Brooks, Ed Askew, B.C. Lamont, William Tennant, W.G Bickellhaupt, James Lawson, and Andrew Melgaard.
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Our gratitude goes to the members and volunteers at Find A Grave web site for recording the details, in memory of Ira.

Sources for Ira BARNES:

  1. 1900 US Federal Census,
  2. findagrave.com,
  3. 1870 US Federal Census,
  4. 1880 US Federal Census,

Notes for Mary Katherine KNIBBS:

Also known as: Katie M or Kate or Kathrina Mary

From the Milwaukee Daily Sentinel, (Milwaukee, WI) July 02, 1878:

PORTAGE
Commencement Exercises
Our city schools closed for the summer term Friday. Commencement exercises of the high school were held in the Courthouse in the afternoon, consisting of orations and essays. Seventeen young ladies and gentlemen graduated. Their names are Misses Mary Barden, Katie and Nellie Knibbs, Susie Wells, Susie Whitelaw, Loa Kennan, Martha Karch and Rachel Buttrey. The gentlemen were Fred Turner, Fred Cole.


Note that Mary was known at Katie and her sister Helen was known as Nellie.
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The History of the City of Portage, Columbia County tells us that Kathrina Mary Knibbs and her sister Helen Blodgett Knibbs both graduated from the Portage High School in 1878.
Under the careful management of teachers and officials, the class of '78 were very encouraging and satisfactory. The graduates were Mary Ellen Borden, Rachael Ann Buttery, Joseph Francis Gallagher, Loa Brown Kennan, Kathrina Mary Knibbs, Thurlow Wheeler Maine, Isabella Jane O'Neill, Lillie Elenor Schneider, James Horace Wells, Susy F. Whitelaw, Grant Robinson Bennett, James Alfred Cole, Martha Ann Karch, Helen Blodgett Knibbs, Bennet R. Lewis, Bernard Joseph McMahon, Louis Oscar Pfaff, Fred Jackson Turner and Susan Elizabetyh Wells.
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At some time between August 1878 and December 1879, Mary was appointed to the Third Ward Second Primary School.
PORTAGE
From August, 1878, to December, 1879, the only changes in teachers to note are the appointment of Miss M. Karch to the First Ward High Intermediate, Miss Kate Knibbs to the Third Ward Second Primary, Miss Rachel Buttrey to the First Primary of the Second Ward, and Miss Filie Collipp to take charge of the new primary class in the basement of the high-school building.

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We know from her mother's obituary that Mary (or Katie as she was known) married a man named Ira Barnes, a "gentleman of high esteem".
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I've also read that in the late 1880's there were a number of women who were early members of the Aberdeen Library Board, among whom were Mrs. Rudolphus Burgitt, Miss Mott, Mrs. J. H. Perry, Mrs. Charles Fisher, Mrs. Ira Barnes, Mrs. Louis Lager and Mrs. R. N. Jewett.
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In 1925 Catherine was living in Aberdeen, South Dakota, aged 66, a widow, with her occupation given as Housekeeper.
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In 1930, she was still living in Aberdeen City, South Dakota:
Catharine Barnes Head Wid 71 Wisconsin
Clara Sullivan Roomer UnM 40 Nurse Iowa
Vera Lighthall Roomer UnM 48 Teacher Iowa
Florence A Kroeger Roomer UnM 36 Teacher Minnesota
Grsace E Clement Roomer UnM 35 Teacher Minnesota
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She also appears in the 1935 South Dakota State Census, living at Aberdeen, Brown County.
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In 1940, we see Catherine living at Aberdeen City, Brown, South Dakota, on 6th Ave. S.E.:
Katherine M Barnes Head 81 Wid Wisconsin
Clara Sullivan Lodger 50 UnM Nurse Iowa
Emma Wahl Lodger UnM 36 Clerical North Dakota
Grace Clement Lodger UnM 45 Teacher Minnesota
Velma Ackels Lodger UnM 33 Secretarial Work Nebraska
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Catherine was still living in South Dakota in 1945, aged 86.

See an extract from the South Dakota State Census from 1945.

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Our gratitude goes to the members and volunteers at Find A Grave web site for recording the details, in memory of Catherine.

Sources for Mary Katherine KNIBBS:

  1. 1880 US Federal Census,
  2. 1860 US Federal Census, as Mary Cath 
  3. 1900 US Federal Census,
  4. 1905 South Dakota State Census, gave State and County of birth 
  5. History of City of Portage, Columbia County,

Notes for Arthur BARNES:

I've conjectrured that Arthur was born at Aberdeen, Brown County, South Dakota, USA, and not Wisconsin.
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Our gratitude goes to the members and volunteers at Find A Grave web site for recording the details, in memory of Arthur.


Notes for Phillip BARNES:

Our gratitude goes to the members and volunteers at Find A Grave web site for recording the details, in memory of Phillip.