Butte County

Biographies


 

 

 

 

MAJOR TIMOTHY HENRY BARNARD

 

 

     MAJOR TIMOTHY HENRY BARNARD.--A statesman who, while serving in the California Legislature, did much to advance higher educational interest, and particularly contributed to build up the State Normal School in which the citizens of Chico are so interested, is Major Timothy Henry Barnard, an American who went abroad in order to know the Old World and the better to appreciate the New.  He was born at Naperville, Ill. on December 29, 1846.  His father was Algernon Sidney, a farmer of Naperville, who married Miss Elizabeth Raynolds, of Rochester, N. Y.  The Barnards are an early New England family, and some of the most interesting chapters in American history are associated in one way or another with their name.

     Educated in the public schools and at Naperville Academy, Timothy Barnard enlisted in the Civil War in 1863, and served with honor under General Thomas, doing duty especially at Nashville, Tenn., where he had a position of trust in the commissariat.  At the conclusion of the war, Mr. Barnard came to Wisconsin, and began to contract in lumbering, putting in four or five years in the Green Bay country.  Then for a time, he was engaged in the lumber business in Michigan, and in each of these places he became favorably known through his enterprise and advanced methods.

     In 1872, Mr. Barnard moved still farther westward to California, and here he embarked in the Sierras with W. K. Springer, a well-known lumber man.  Then he farmed on the General Bidwell ranch, and after six years there opened a livery business, in 1879, in Chico, with J. J. Waste as a partner, their stable being on Main and First Streets.  After a while he bought out Mr., Waste and continued alone; and later he sold an interest to Mr. Weed.  They were burned out, however.  They then located on Salem and Second Streets, and built up a large and successful livery business.  Mr. Barnard eventually bought Mr. Weed’s interest and continued alone under the firm name of Barnard Livery Company, a firm that was widely known and enjoyed a large patronage.  So successful was he, in fact, that he incorporated the company and was president until his death.

     Major Barnard was elected to the State Assembly in 1891, and  from his first appearance there made his personality and influence felt.  He was one of the original committee of fifteen that started the movement to secure the Normal School for Chico, as has already been noted, and later he served for seven years as a Normal trustee.

     His death occurred on August 3, 1926, and his loss to the community was generally lamented.  He was interested in all movements to build up Chico and to help the city, concerning which he was always optimistic.  He was a Mason, a past master, and had the K. T. degree; and was a member of Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of San Francisco, and was also a prominent member of the Chico lodge of Elks.

     October 25, 1877, witnessed the marriage of Mr. Barnard at Nelson to Miss Anna R. McIntosh, the daughter of John William McIntosh, who was born in Greenup County, Ky., on July 16, 1825, and came to California in 1850.  He crossed the great  plains with ox-teams, and located at Diamond Springs, Eldorado County, where he engaged in mining.  In the fall of 1851, he returned east by way of Panama, sailing on the steamer Tennessee to Panama.  In 1852, he came with his parents and the family across the plains, and arrived in California on July 17 of that year.  The family located at Lone Tree Ranch, Colusa County, now Glenn County, where Mr. McIntosh was a farmer and stockman.  On November 4,1855, Mr., McIntosh married, at Red Bluff, Miss Elizabeth Molter, a native of Ohio, who came with her brothers across the plains in the early fifties.  She died on July 19, 1905.  After that Mr. McIntosh came to Butte County, where he was a farmer at Nelson.  Here he resided until he retired to near Santa Rosa where he died.  Three children born to Mr. and Mrs. McIntosh grew to maturity:  Louis Allen died in San Francisco, having been a mining man who resided in Chico; Anna R., the second in order of birth, became Mrs. Barnard; and Mary C. is Mrs. Stansell, of Chico.

     In 1910, the Major and Mrs. Barnard ad made an extended trip to Europe, and in 1913 they had crossed the ocean again and journeyed through the Orient.  Mrs. Barnard was brought up in Chico, and naturally feels a strong local pride in the place, and being enterprising and progressive, continues to follow the lead of the Major in aiding all movements for the upbuilding of the city and enhancing the welfare of its citizens.

     Two children blessed the union of Major and Mrs. Barnard.  Jessie is Mrs. Harry E. Nichols, and Dr. Harold Barnard resides at Sacramento.  He is a graduate of Cooper Medical College, San Francisco, and is now assistant superintendent of the County Hospital.

     Major Barnard was leading Republican and a director and vice-president of the Butte County Savings Bank at the time of is death.

 

 

Transcribed by Louise E. Shoemaker  March 05, 2008.

Source: "History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 779-780, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.


© 2008 Louise E. Shoemaker.

 

 

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