Biography of Samuel Barrett, Victor Township, Clinton County, Michigan Copyright © 1998 by Jan Sedore. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ BARRETT FAMILY CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN Page 268 SAMUEL BARRETT Samuel Barrett, living on section 28, Victor township, is one of the substantial farmers of Clinton County, owning five hundred acres of valuable land, which is the visible evidence of his life of thrift and industry. He has for more than forty years lived within the borders of Clinton County, witnessing its growth and development while Michigan has been the place of his residence since 1851. A native of Ireland, he was born in County Cavan, July 27, 1841, his parents being John and Fannie (Porter) Barrett, both of whom were reared and educated in Ireland. The father followed the occupation of farming in that country and there the ten children of the family were born. Mrs Barrett and her children came to the new world in 1844, landing at New York City, and for several years they resided in Brooklyn. Mr Barrett disposed of his business interest in Ireland before joining the family in Brooklyn, but believing that the west would afford better business opportunities he came to Michigan in 1851, settling on a farm in the town of Commerce, Oakland County. The following year he bought a farm in the town of White Lake and thereon spent his remaining days, his death occurring about 1859. His wife survived him for a number of years and died in that locality. Samuel Barrett was reared to manhood in Oakland County and received common school advantages but when thirteen years of age started out in life on his own account. He has sine been dependent entirely upon his own resources, so that whatever success he has achieved and enjoyed is the direct result of his earnest labor. He worked for seven years by the month as a farm hand and drove a team of five yoke of oxe4d to a breaking plow, thus turning the sod upon many an uncultivated tract of prairie. It was an arduous task but was faithfully performed by him and thus he gained his start in life. M4 Barrett was married in Oakland County, Michigan on the 25th of March 1863, to Miss Sarah Sexton, a native of Illinois and a sister of Zephaniah and Job W. Sexton, who are mention elsewhere in this work. After their marriage Mr and Mrs Barrett began their domestic life on a farm in Victor Township. The original homestead comprised eighty acres, which he cultivated and improved, making it a productive tract by the care and labor he bestowed on the fields. From time to time he bought more land until he owned a tract of over three hundred acres but later he sold that property and purchased his present home, first becoming the owner of two hundred and forty eight acres. He has since however purchased a number of other tracts in Victor Township and now owns about five hundred acres in the home place, constituting a productive and valuable farm. It is lacking in none of the modern equipment and accessories which indicate the careful supervision of a painstaking owner. He has erected a good residence, also a large and substantial basement barn, granary and other outbuildings. The place is now very attractive through the labor he has bestowed upon the graded stock and keeps a thoroughbred Clydesdale horse for breeding purposes. He also buys and ships horses and is a businessman of considerable discernment and enterprise. Unto Mr and Mrs Barrett have been born nine children: Julia, born January 21, 1864, is the wife of Alda Watkins, of Morrice; Nora, born February 17, 1866, is the wife of Loren Watkins, of Perry, Michigan; Anna, born June 28, 1868, is the wife of Fred Skarrett, of Victor township; William, born February 11, 1870 is married and is engaged in business in Perry, this state; Zephaniah Sexton Barrett, born May 3, 1872, assists his father in carrying on the home farm; Sadie, born July 14, 1875, occupies a business position in Perry; Maud, born December 28, 1877, is the wife of Wing Waters a farmer of the town of Perry; Lou, born August 28, 1879, is in Morrice, Michigan; and Millie, born January 26, 1881 is the wife of John Alcott, a business man of Perry. Since age gave him the right of franchise, Mr Barrett has never wavered in his allegiance to the democracy but while he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day he has never sought or desired office. He and his wife are embers of the United Brethren Church, and for over twenty years he has been a member of the Odd Fellows society of Laingsburg. He likewise belongs to the Grange and was its chaplain for a number of years. He is one of Clinton County's prominent and prosperous farmers and a successful stock raiser and dealer. dz