June 1, 1880 the U.S. Federal Census was enumerated for Pine River. We find George is listed with a family but not much detail:
Source: The George Barclay Family, 1880 U.S. Federal Census Pine River, Cass Co., Minnesota, SD 3, ED 218, pg. 10, Line 1:
Barclay, George, male, 30 years old, husband, tavern keeper, place of birth unclear. Under George’s name is written wife, age 26 place of birth not indicated, child age 7/12, male born Minnesota. The wife is keeping house.
This census is not very clear and lists the family members under George as “wife” and “child” with no names given. We do know that George has a family started and is living in Pine River.
Along with George and his family there are two other individuals: John Eins age 32 and Thomas [Nourling] age 62. Both men are helping in the Tavern. John is from Norway and the other is from Kentucky.
There is only one page for Pine River listed for this census.
This 1880 census lists as enumeration districts for Cass County as follows with the approximate number of people in parentheses:
The Chippewa Agency (21), Clayton (18), Gull Lake (19) and Gull River (135?), Hay Creek (2), Leech Lake Indian Reservation (6), Not stated – Twps 139 and 140 with 9 pages with children and wives listed (200+), Pelican Lake (3), Pillager (18) , Pine River (5) and West Brainerd (36).
The birthplace given for George is also obscure and has the word “Native” written above another scribble that is very faded and difficult to read. It might indicate he refused to answer or more likely he wasn’t home?
The listings from the above census enumeration districts had lots of families listed but most of the population was north of Pine River.
The Barclays of Pine River 