Worden G. Barnaby, agent for the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad atHudsonville, is numbered among the progressive and popular young business men towhose influence Ottawa County is largely indebted for its present prosperity. Heis the son of Samuel G. and Olive M. (Chamberlain) Barnaby, natives of New York,who were married in that State. Subsequently they removed to Pennsylvania andconducted agricultural pursuits in Potter County. The year 1862 witnessed theirarrival in Michigan, and for three years they sojourned in Kalamazoo County.Thence they came to Ottawa County, where the father now makes his home onsection 32, Georgetown Township. His wife departed this life in 1865. She was adevoted member of the Baptist Church, with which he is now identified, having informer years been a Sunday-school Superintendent.

Our subject is the only member left of his father’s family, with theexception of his brother, Glenn A., who married Miss Carrie, daughter of John N.Waite (of whom see sketch presented on another page of this volume). GlennBarnaby is a resident of Minneapolis, Minn. The senior Mr. Barnaby is a man ofbroad intelligence and liberal views, and is one of the most prominent andinfluential citizens of Ottawa County, having for years been closely connectedwith its growth and progress.

Born in Potter County, Pa., October 10, 1858, the subject of this sketchreceived his education principally in the neighboring school. He has gained hisbest education, however, in the school of experience, by self-culture and closeobservation. At the age of fourteen he began to be self-supporting and for atime was employed in a grocery store, where he gave his services in exchange forhis board and clothes. He continued thus engaged until 1879, his salary beingmeantime increased as he acquired a thorough understanding of the business.Afterward he accepted the position of night operator at Watervliet, where heremained for three years, and in the interval gained a complete knowledge ofthat line of railroad work.

In 1884 Mr. Barnaby located at Hudsonville, accepting his present position asagent for the Chicago & West Michigan Railway Company, and has since servedin that capacity. He was married, in 1886, to Miss Lizzie A., daughter of NelsonR. and Lucy F. (Spencer) Bonfoey, and a native of Watervliet, Michigan, havingbeen born in that city February 28, 1867. Her grandparents came to Michigan inan early day and settled in Berrien County, being numbered among the pioneers ofthe vicinity of Watervliet. Nelson R. Bonfoey was born in Richfield, N. Y.,February 18, 1827, and married Lucy F. Spencer, who was born in Atwater, Ohio,on the 9^th of October, 1843. The maternal grandparents of our subjectwere Elias T. and Eliza (Smith) Spencer, the former a native of Middlefield,Mass., born on the 11^th of August, 1815. Mr. Bonfoey and hisestimable wife had a family of three children, two of whom are now living; theythemselves are now living in Watervliet.

The marriage of Mr. Barnaby has been blessed by the birth of two children,Olive Lucy, who was born 16 September 1887, and Zora Izetta, whose birthoccurred 17 May 1890. Mrs. Barnaby is a lady of prominence in Hudsonville, andis one of the active members of the Ladies Union. Socially, our subject isidentified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.), and has filledthe various charis in the home lodge, being at present District Deputy GrandMaster. While not active in politics, he is a stanch Democrat and upholds theprinciples of that party with his ballot.