Alexander Barclay’s Heirs, the 2nd Family: William Barclay 1863-1937

Focusing in on Madison and Gallatin Counties in Montana, the blue and green county on the bottom left where Bozeman is located.

William Barclay was younger brother to Alexander and George Barclay.  He first appears in the 1865 Minnesota State census with his parents John and Ellen Barclay along with his brother Charles.

Some ancestors grab your attention and William is one of them for me.  I ponder what sent him to Montana and why he stayed there.

He is present in the 1870, 1875, 1880, 1885 census of both the US and Minnesota.  See the previous post on his brother Charles for more details the John Barclay Family.

On 30 August 1887, William Barclay is buying land from a Wm. Robinson & Wife

Sold for $300.00 follows to-wit: Lot #4 of Section No. 8, Twp. 115, north of Range 21, West containing 33 and 90/100 acres. According to government survey of the same ____ records. Signed by William Robinson and Hannah Robinson, August 30, 1887, etc. Filed for record Aug. 30 AD 1887 at 2 p.m., Witnesses Jane? McDale, Patrick W. Farcy.

Source:  Registrar of Deeds, Scott Co., Minnesota Vol. L2, pg. 116, Scott Co., Minnesota, Family History Film #1255723 (not 1403552).

A couple of years later William is selling land on 10 July of 1891:

For the sum of $2,000 a parcel of land in the County of Scott as follows to-wit: the NE qtr of the NW qtr and the NW atr of the NE atr, Section 12, Twp. 115, Range 22 containing 80 acres – gov. survey less the right of way of the Saint Paul and Sioux City Railroad, except a certain mortgage of $1000, dated July 10, 1889 payable to Ellen L. Haywood recorded at the county seat of Scott Co., Minnesota July 15, 1889 in Book x of Mortgages, Page 107. Witnesses Ella M. Wells and C.E. Van Doren of the County of Hennepin). William Barclay, a single man personally appeared before me. Signed by William Barclay.

Source:  Registrar of Deeds, Scott Co., Minnesota, Vol. 39, pg. 21, Instrument #4261, Scott Co., Minnesota, Family History Film #1255725.

John and Ellen Barclay sell land to William Barclay on 18, July 1892. This is why I think John Barclay did not have a probate/estate for he sold his holdings to his wife and sons.

Sold for $1100.00, the South half (S1/2) of the NE qtr (NE1/4) Section twenty-three (23), Township one hundred fifthteenth (115) Range twenty-two (22). Reserving the crops now standing and growing thereon and the right to harvest the same during the season of 1892. Except a mortgage of $700 and interest recorded in book R of Mtges page 113 etc. Witnessed by Julina A. Coller and John Thiem and signed by Helen Barclay and John Barclay etc.

Source:  Registrar of Deeds, Scott Co., Minnesota Vol. 40, Pg. 359 #6877, Scott Co., Minnesota, Family History Film #1255725.

On 1 December 1894 William gets married in Hennepin Co., Minnesota to a Clara E. Sweker who may have been a divorcee.

Source:  Application for License County of Hennepin, State of Minnesota, singe by a A. J. [Wizer] Deputy Clerk.

The 1898 atlas for Scott County lists Helen/Ellen Barclay, the mother, and William Barclay in Twp. 115 North Range 22 5th Principal Meridian (Eagle Creek) Section 23 in the northeast corner.

1898 Plat Book showing Helen and William Barclay’s land

In 1899 William is the grantor in another deed where he sells land to his brother Charles Barclay.  He is now living in Montana.

For a sum of $1800.00, Wm. and wife Clara E. Barclay are residing in Mammoth, Madison Co., Montana at sold to Charles Barclay residing in Eagle Creek, Scott Co., Montana to-wit, the south 1/2 of the NE qtr of Sec. 23, Twp. 115, Range 22 80 acres according to gov. survey. Except a certain mortgage payable to Henry Hinds of Shakopee. Witnessed by W.R. Macfadden and F. H. Wilbour and signed by William Barclay and Clara E. Barclay in the State of Montana, County of Madison etc.

Source:  Registrar of Deeds, Scott Co., Minnesota,13 February 1899, Vol. 47, pg. 330 #12062, Scott Co., Minnesota, Family History Film #1255727.

We find William and Clara Barclay living in Montana in 1900 and they have a little son.

Line 10, Dwelling #131, Fam#82, Barcley, William, Head, W, male, Dec. 1862?, age 37, married, 10 yrs., born Minnesota, father born Scotland, mother born Norway, occupation miner, # months not employed is 0, can read, write and speak English, owns, house. Clara E., wife, white, female, July, 1858, age 41, married 10 yrs., one child born, one child living, born in Wisconsin, Father born in Iowa, mother in New York?, can read, write and speak English. Foster, son, white, male, born Oct? 1891, born in Minnesota, father born in Minnesota, mother born in Wisconsin, at school 4 mos., can read, write and speak English.

Source:  1900 U.S. Federal Census, Madison Co., Montana, SD 278, ED 54, Sht#7, 278, 4889.

Restless again, William heads to Idaho and is there by 1910 and sadly it looks like Foster didn’t survive.  I have not been able to find a grave for him.

line 36, 72, 72, Barclay, William, Head, M, W, 49, M, 20 years, born Minnesota, father Scotland, mother Norway, Farmer, Barclay, Clara E, Wife, F, W, 52, M2 20, 1 child born 1 child dead, born Wisconsin, Father born Minnesota, mother born New York. speak English, read and write.

Source:  1910 U.S. Federal Census, Gold Precinct, Latah Co. (Does not exit now), Idaho. SD 46, ED, 183, Sht 3A #6739, 26 April 1910, Merlton G. Swatman. 

In 1920 William has returned to Montana, he is now widowed.  He settles in Hot Springs, Madison County.

Line 44, Dwelling#121, Fam#121, Barclay, William H., Head, home owned, free of mortgage, male, white, age 57, widowed, attended school, reads and writes, born in Minnesota, father born in Scotland, spoke English, mother born in Norway, spoke Norwegian, can speak English, occupation farmer, general farm.

Source:  1920 U.S. Federal Census, Hot Springs, Madison Co., Montana, SD 1, ED 136.

William moves to Willow Creek in Gallatin Co., Montana by 1930.

Line 21, 48/51, Barclay William M. Head, Owns,$250, yes, male, white, 68, widowed, age of first marriage 20?, has not attended school since 1929, able to read/write, born in Minnesota, father born in Scotland, mother born in Norway, speaks English, occupation Poultry farmer, same, own account, at work yes, not a veteran, No. 44 on farm schedule.

Source: 1930 U.S. Federal Census, Willow Creek Gallatin Co., Montana,  ED 16-34, SD 9, Sht 3A, 158.  

Much to my delight some wonderful individual has posted a picture of the tombstone of William and Clara E. Barclay at Find A Grave.  They are in the Valley View Cemetery in Pony, Madison Co., Montana.  http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Barclay&GSfn=William&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=70132161&df=all&   Pony is further west and a little south of Three Forks.

This tombstone agrees with the death dates I have for William and Clara E. Barclay. William died 7 December 1937 Gallatin Co., and Clare E. died 21 March 1919, Madison Co.

In 2010 we had a wedding to attend in Bozeman on my hubby’s side of the family.  So I decided to go and visit my Spracklin cousin in Miles City. On the way back we stopped and visited various places and societies.  We did some side trips and one was to Willow Creek were William had lived.

Willow Creek, Montana

The Headwaters Heritage Museum in Three Forks, Montana is a very good place to visit http://www.tfhistory.org/

We also visited the Gallatin Historical Museum in Bozeman, Montana: http://gallatinhistorymuseum.org/

To get to Willow Creek you go west on I-90 to almost 287 and then into Three Forks and then follow the road south.

John Barclay’s Two Families

John Barclay, my great great grandfather, was introduced to me by my Aunt Miriam in her family history notes, so I knew about him.  I also had a copy of the book by the city of Pine River, celebrating their first 100 years, and he is mentioned in that book: 

  “…not far from Shakopee where George’s father chose to live “because it reminded him of his native Scotland.”  Apparently the father, John, remarried and had other children…”  

John Barclay had two families.  He was first married to Margaret.  When he married Margaret is not known and where she is buried is also unknown.  She probably died in Connecticut but so far a search of records reveal only one possibility of a Margaret Barclay dying in Enfield in 1848 of about the right age. 

continuing the quote above…” because at the time of Alexander’s death in 1906, there was quite a bit of difficulty in locating all the Barclay heirs from “both families.”” pg. 105 

In my Aunt Miriam’s notes she mentions Alexander’s probate: 

Alex's Probate

 

My great-uncle Alexander Barclay has been very good to me.  I secured his probate file at some expense from the Dakota County Courthouse in Minnesota and it opened up a very big genealogical door!  

From this first marriage came seven (7) siblings that were listed in Alexander’s estate file.  There wasn’t a will so some of the information is carefully taken from the probate file.  Other information such as census searches and indexes were also used.  I am slowly gathering the facts together on the siblings and will present more at a later time. 

1.  John Avery Barclay born abt 1836, died – unknown.  According to Alex’s estate file he disappeared and was presumed dead as stated in an affidavit of his sister Sarah Agnes. He appears in deeds, land records, and court documents in Silbey Co., Minnesota till about 1880.  He may have gone to California.  John Avery Barclay was probably born in Scotland per census information and other sources but that is not yet proven.  John married Minerva  Parks on 3 July 1865 in Henderson, Sibley Co., Minnesota.  Since John Avery Barclay was considered dead his two children where his heirs and they are mentioned in the estate file.  The couple actually had four children:  

1. John Avery Barclay II born 23 July 1867 in Sibley Co., Minnesota and died 8 March 1951 in Seattle, King Co., Washington.   

2. Sarah Ellen born 29 March 1869 in Sibley Co., Minnesota.   

3 and 4. There were two other children twins: Albert and Alice born 1870 Silbey Co.,  Minnesota but it is looking like they didn’t survive.  Some of this information was supplied by another cousin.  

2.  James A. Barclay born about 1838 in Connecticut, he died about 1906 in Bridgeport, Fairfield Co., Connecticut during the probate process of Alexander’s estate.  He married a Maryanne Stewart and had children.  

3.  Sarah Agnes Barclay born about 1840 in Connecticut.  She married Porter Blinn about 1860 in Connecticut.  He was born about 1842 in Connecticut.  They had 6 children and it looks like they stayed in Newington, Hartford Co. , Connecticut. 

Update:  May 26, 2010 – I was at the Family History Library researching when I discovered that the Sarah that I thought was Sarah Agnes Barclay in the census married to Porter Blinn was the Sarah I should be studying for the Barclay’s.  Turns out she is a Griswold and her father is Henry Griswold.  So back to the drawing board on #3.  This is why it is so important to check other sources like marriages and birth records and not totally trust the census. 

4.  Mary J. Barclay born about 1841 in Connecticut and died 28 March 1917 in Bristol, Hartford Co., Connecticut.  I have her estate file.  She married a Jerome B. Ford and had 3 daughters.  Jerome was born about 1846 in Connecticut. 

5. Alexander A. Barclay was born September 1842 in Hartford, Connecticut and died on 9 December 1905 at the Rochester Hospital for the Insane in Olmsted Co., Minnesota.  He apparently suffered in the end with dementia.  He was only in the hospital about 6 days before he died.  He was buried 17 December 1905 in the Corinithian Cemetery in Farmington, Dakota Co., Minnesota. 

6.  Martha M. Barclay born about 1843 in Connecticut and died around 1920 or later in California.  She married a Jeremiah Ford in about 1859 in Connecticut.  I do not know if Jeremiah and Jerome were brothers.  Martha and Jeremiah had two daughters.  

7.  George Angus Barclay was born 18 August 1844 probably in Connecticut and died on the 28th of October 1898 in Pine River, Cass Co., Minnesota.  George is the subject of our blog and more information will be forthcoming on his life. He married Amarilla Spracklin in 1878 and they had 2 children. 

The second marriage of John Barclay was to Helen in Scott Co., Minnesota.  I have not been able to find their marriage in Minnesota records but it happened prior to 1860 per the census and from this marriage their were four (4) children born. 

8.  Charles Barclay was born about January 1860 in Eagle Creek (Shakopee), Scott Co., Minnesota.  After the death of his mother in 1907 he seems to have moved from Shakopee and might have gone to Minneapolis and died about 1938.  Charles didn’t marry as far as I can determine from census and other documents. 

9.  William Barclay was born about 1863 in Eagle Creek (Shakopee), Scott Co., Minnesota and died 7 Dec 1937 in Gallatin Co., Montana.  He married a Clara E, probably in Minnesota.  She was born about 1859 in Wisconsin and died about 21 March 1919 in Madison Co., Montana.  They had one child name Foster born 1891 and probably died by 1907.  

10.  Mary E. Barclay was born about 1864 in Eagle Creek (Shakopee), Scott Co., Minnesota and died 19 February 1930 in Cascade Co., Montana.  She married Charles B. Clark probably in Minnesota for he was born there about 1856.  He died 28 February 1932 in Deer Lodge Co., Montana.  They had at least one child named Ruth Clark who was born about 1895.   It is interesting that there are two Mary’s named in John’s family a good 20+ years apart. 

11.  Anna Elizabeth Barclay was born 15 April 1870 in Shakopee, Scott Co., Minnesota and died 4 August 1955 in Menominee, Menominee Co., Michigan.  She married David Maurice Carter on 9 July 1885 in Eagle Creek (Shakopee), Scott Co., Minnesota.  David was born 9 January 1860, Marinette, Marinette Co., Wisconsin.  The information for this family was supplied by a cousin and has not been verified.  Anna had 4 children. 

The person that initiated the probate process for Alexander was his niece, my grandmother Grace A. Barclay McDonald.  She was pregnant at the time and lived in International Falls.  She was unable to attend the court sessions because she had the baby and was “indisposed.”  The baby was my Aunt Miriam. 

Book: Logsleds to Snowmobile’s, Pine River Centennial Celebration, 1873-1973, Written by the Citizens of Pine River and edited by Norman F. Clarke, Pine River Centennial Committee, 1979.  A copy is available at the Family History Library.