George and Amarilla settle in at Pine River. George helps out the settlers before the county was organized in 1897. He is given credit under the Cass County Commissioners for his assistance.
Source: Cass County Heritage, Cass County Historical Society, Taylor Publishing, 1999.
pg. 23 – Cass County Commissioners – “Before the organization of Cass County in 1897, we were under the governance of a number of different counties. Prior to 1897 there were a number of men that intervened for the early settlers of Cass County, Charles Ahrens 1872-1875, George N. Bardwell 1872-1875, George A. Morrison 1872-1875, George A. Barclay 1875-1876, Reuben Gray etc.”
UPDATE: In the Cass County Courthouse in the Bond Book A pg. 2 we find two entries: 1) Certificate of Election, Filed January 22, 1875 @ 11 O’clock in which George A. Barclay receives the highest votes and is therefore elected County Commissioner for the ensuing term. 2) Oath of Office in which George promises to “faithfully and impartially discharge the duties…” Dated at West Brainerd this 4th day of January A.D. 1875…”
George also took on the role of postmaster for Pine River
Source: Record of Appointment of Postmasters, #M841, Roll 63 NARA, Minnesota Counties Aitkin-Faribault Co., Target 14, Cass County, Vol. 39, ca 1871-81, Vol. 57 ca. 1881-1892, Vol. 84 ca. 1892-1930.
George A. Barclay was appointed the postmaster for Pine River in 1877 and continued till his death in 1898. After him came Edward Coyle 5 Jan. 1899, James R. Kinler May 4, 1899, Eddie J. Holman Mar. 21, 1906, W. P. Stervant 24, Apr. 1914, Elmer Dahl, Irvin Lembke, Dec 2, 1924, Oliver Dahl Oct. 16, 1924 to 1930.
A little over a year after his marriage to Amarilla, George obtains another patent for land. It is interesting that George states he is from Hennepin Co. and not Cass Co.
3. Patent from BML – Cass County – 9/23/1879 – St. Cloud #7946
#7946 Patent: George A. Barclay of Hennepin County, Minnesota, ….St. Cloud, Minnesota..whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said George A. Barclay… and the acts supplemental thereto, for the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section six in township one hundred and thirty-seven of range twenty-nine in the district of lands subject to sale at Saint Cloud, Minnesota containing forty-one acres, and twenty-one hundredths of an acre. In testimony whereof., I R. B. Hayes… 23 of September 1879, etc…
NW qtr Sec 6 #7946
The Deed Mapper software does not do 21/100ths so what you see is an approximation of the patent of 41 and 21/100ths of an acre. We are now carving out the town of Pine River as George adds to his land holdings.
So far we have about 233+ acres of land totalled for George A. Barclay at this time. We still have more to go and we have not addressed deeds.
The Barclays of Pine River 