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| Henry came to America in 1850 with his adopted family, Christian John and Fredericka Will. He was only 9 at the time. I have not found his natural parents yet. In his adopted family therewas Christian the father, Fredericka the mother, and Mary the sister. They were from Schwerin Mecklenburg, Germany. When they arrived here they went to Dundee Twp, section 19, Monroe Twp (Co.?) and settled. Christian was a farmer and Fredericka a homemaker. Henry went to school for a time. Then in 1868 he went to Tecumseh and worked for various people on their farms. He cleared trees and sold the wood for stove wood and sold it by the cords for heating. He wrote a diary for one year that tells about his stay in Tecumseh. He also mentions that he did the clearing with men like Charley Haynes and others. Henry would work for their farms and they would feed and keep his sleeping quarters. And I am sure that is how he met his sweetheart, Arsula Dibble. He has mentioned in the diary that he worked for Chaucey Dibble on occasion. Chauncey lived in Ridgeway. He is one of the earliest settlers to the village. In September of 1870 Henry and Arsula got married by Henry L. Hayward, with S.B. Dibble, and Margaret Smith as their witnesses. They took residence in Ridgeway. I am assuming they lived with Arsula's parents for a while, I have found no record of anything stating otherwise. Then in the fall of 1871 Henry and Arsula bought property in Section 20 Ridgeway Twp, there they built a home, barns, and they had three children, whose names are Beatrice, Estella M., and Ervin. Beatrice went on to marry William E. H. Miller. Estella M. went on to married Arthur Mapes but she had gotten sick and died young. Ervin C. married Daisy Riggs, and then Lela Retan. Ervin owned and operated the Barneys Garage in Ridgeway. He also kept a bee hive and sold the honey. Henry was a busy man. He worked a farm, served as postmaster of Ridgeway Twp for a while, and was a supervisor and Drain Commissioner of the township. He loved America and it showed.In August of 1913 Arsula, his wife, died at home with her family by her side. Henry stayed for awhile but then went to live with his son. He didn't like being so far from his home so he came back and lived with his daughter Beatrice in Adrian, until his death in July of 1944. They had a very good life. |
Ervin Barnes' gas station, 1930, Ridgeway Twp. |
Near Pail of Gasoline Starts Fire in Garage Special to the Telegram RIDGEWAY, Dec. 4 - A lighted match dropped near a pail of gasoline started a fire in Barney's Garage Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. The quick work of Stuart DeRouise with a hand extinguisher kept the flames under control until the Ridgeway fire truck arrived and the fire was quickly extinguished. The damage amounted to about $25. Workmen at the garage had been cleaning bearings in the pail of gasoline. 1931 |
at Ridgeway and Steal Small Amount of Cash Special to the Telegram RIDGEWAY, Mich. Jul 3 - Thieves broke into the Barnes Garage some time last night and obtained between $10 and $15 in cash and a small quantity of candy, cigars and cigarettes. Entrance was gained by breaking a back window into the main part of the building and prying a board from the partition into the office. Sheriff's deputies are investigating the robbery, but up to noon today had no clues as to the identity of the thieves. |