Mrs. Christina Barness Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1158-1161 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				MRS. CHRISTINA BARNESS. 

	Mrs. Christina Barness, the widow of Martin P. Barness, resides upon 
an excellent farm of three hundred and twenty acres on section 34, Lincoln 
township, Spink county. She was born in Norway on the 28th of 
September, 1847, a daughter of Hans and Gunhild Marie Hanson, the 
former of whom passed away in 1863 and the latter in 1881, in their 
native land, where their remains are interred. 

	Mrs. Barness was educated in Norway but when fifteen years of age 
left school and for about twelve years worked for others. She then came 
to the United States and for two and a half years worked in Chicago, 
after which she removed to Yankton and was there married to Martin P. 
Barness. He was likewise a native of Norway, born June 4, 1846, of the 
marriage of Peter and Marie Barness. Both his father and mother are 
buried in Norway, the former having died in 1880 and the latter ten 
years earlier. 

	Mr. Barness left school when fifteen years of age and assisted 
his father for three years. At the end of that time he became a sailor 
and followed that occupation for seven years. He then made his way to 
the United States and upon reaching Chicago obtained a position as 
first mate on a Lake Michigan boat. He served in that capacity until he 
removed to Yankton, where he remained two years, and after his marriage 
took up his homestead in Spink county. He later increased his holdings 
to four hundred and eighty acres, but a quarter section thereof has 
since been sold. He was a republican in politics and took & commendable 
interest ill public affairs. After a useful and well spent life he 
passed away on the 28th of March, 1909, and was laid to rest in the 
cemetery at Hitchcock, Beadle county. 

	To Mr. and Mrs. Barness were born three children. namely: Peter, 
who is engaged in farming in Spink county, this state; Harold, who is 
assisting his mother in the operation of the home farm; and Mollie, the 
wife of Henry Harms, a farmer of Spink county. 

	After the death of her husband Mrs. Barness assumed charge of the 
farm and in addition to raising grain keeps about thirteen head of 
horses, fifty head of cattle, forty swine and some sheep and is quite 
extensively engaged in poultry raising. She is not only a woman of 
excellent business ability, but also possesses those fine womanly 
traits of character which command respect and esteem. She is always 
willing to cooperate in any good cause and her life has been one that 
has made the community richer and better. She is a member of the 
Evangelical church and takes an active part in its work.