Biographies
SPENCER BARFOOT
Destiny brought to
Mr. Barfoot an identification
with and a knowledge of three centuries. Concerning these he has only vague and
indistinct memories of the first, England, where he was born in 1834 and whence
he was taken to Canada at an age ere he had been trained to habits of close
observation. When seven years old he began his sojourn in Canada and there he
passed the years of boyhood and youth, there he married Miss Ellen Jordan, and
there he took upon himself the responsibilities incident to the maintenance of
a family. The third and last country of his residence and the land of his
permanent citizenship was the United States, where he engaged in farming near
Whitewater, Wis., and devoted the years of his strength and activity to the
securing of a competency. During his residence there he accomplished much for
the benefit of the community, for in his citizenship he avoided selfishness but
labored for the general welfare of all. By experience he became thoroughly
conversant with the best methods of conducting a farm. Intelligent oversight
was responsible for the uniformly excellent crops that he secured from the
cultivation of the soil. Eventually, desiring to enter upon an old age of
comfort and relaxation from farm cares, he disposed of his property in
Wisconsin and with his wife removed to Sacramento in 1903, joining some of
their family in this city, where six years later he was deeply bereaved by the
death of his wife, the devoted counselor of his days of labor and the beloved
companion of his later years of tranquil retirement. There were nine children
in the family of Spencer and Ellen Barfoot and all
are living except a son, Frederick. They are named as follows: John, Frank,
Will, Ebenezer, Earl R., Morley, Archie and Grace. Fair common-school
educations were given to the sons and daughter in their childhood and they have
become substantial citizens of their chosen communities. All are married with
the exception of Earl R. and Archie and they reside with their father at No.
3716 Magnolia street. The latter son is employed by
the Southern Pacific Company, while Earl R., who came to California during 1895
and for four years remained in the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad
Company, after a subsequent visit at the old Wisconsin home, returned to embark
in the hardware business in Sacramento. About 1911 he became interested in the
poultry business and since then he has become a specialist with pure-bred
chickens. While he favors Republican principles in national issues, he gives
his support in local campaigns to the men whom he considers best qualified for
the offices in question. With his father and brother he contributes toward the
maintenance of worthy civic enterprises and exhibits a public spirit that never
has been questioned. It is to the citizenship of such patriotic and progressive
men that Sacramento is indebted for her past progress and present standing.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 993-994. Historic Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.