John Avery Barclay, a son of John Barclay and Minerva Parks and nephew to George and Alexander Barclay, submitted an affidavit to the Probate Court of Dakota County, Minnesota. His sister and aunt also did the same. As a result John Avery Barclay became an heir to Alexander Barclay’s estate because his father John Barclay had disappeared years ago and was presumed dead.
What follows is a mix of my research and my cousins, a descendant of this man. I thank her for sharing.
John Avery Barclay was born 23 July 1867 in Sibley Co., Minnesota per my information. His death certificate has 3 June, 1866 as his birth date signed by the hospital where he passed. He died on 8 March 1951 in Seattle, King Co., Washington.
In the 1870 U.S. Federal Census John is with his father and mother in Sibley Co., Minnesota. Please note the spelling of the name as Barkley.
Line 12, 11, Barkley, John, 35, M, W, Farmer, $1500, $500, Scotland, parents of foreign birth, male citizen. Barkley, Norva, 21, F, W, keeping house, born PA. Barkley, Abraham, 4, M. W, born Minnesota father of foreign birth, Barkley, Ellen, 2, F, W, born Minnesota, father of foreign birth, Allis, 2/12, M, W., father of foreign birth, Apr.
Source: John Barkley Family, 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Sibley Co., Minnesota, page 2, 17 June 1870.
Note: Why they used the name Abraham I do not know? This census gives his age as 4 years old. This means he was born 1866?
The 1880 U.S. Federal Census has John with his mother and sister in Sonoma Co., California and there is no mention of John Barclay the father.
Source: Lulu Barkley Family 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Sonoma, Sonoma County, California, pg. 27, Dist. No. 3rd, ED #120, 16th of June, 1880, A. Drahnis, #14
Line 20 ___,186 Barkley, Lulu W, F, 31, married, house keepr, born New York, parents born Penn. Barkley, John W, M, 13, son, at home, born Wisconsin, father born Scotland, mother born New York. Barkley, Ella, W, F, 11, daughter, born Wisconsin, father born Scotland, mother born New York.
Note: Here they state the children, John and Ella,were born in Wisconsin. This has his birth year as 1867. Minerva (Lulu) is not born in New York, not Pennsylvania.
On 27 July 1889 John Avery Barclay married Harriette Louise Arcan in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Co., California.
Source: Marriage of John A. Bartley & Hattie Arcan, 27 July 1889, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Co., California,
The Marriage of John Bartley native of Minnesota, aged 22 years, resident of Santa Cruz, County of Santa Cruz, State of California and Hattie Arcan native of California, age 20 years, resident of Santa Cruz, County of Santa Cruz, State of California. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the Superior Court of said County, this 27th day of July, 1889. Ed Martin County Clerk of Superior Court of Santa Cruz by C. H. Ward Deputy Clerk.
I hereby certify that I believe the facts stated in the above License to be true and that upon due inquiry there appears to be no legal impediment of the Marriage of said John Bartley and Hattie Arcan, that said parties were joined in Marriage by me, on the twenty seventh day of July A.D. 1889 in Santa Cruz, said County and State and that Chas. F. Buchwald a resident of Santa Cruz, and county of Santa Cruz State of Calif. and Minivrina Buchwald a resident of Santa Cruz, County of Santa Cruz, State of California were present as witnesses of said Ceremony.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty seventh day of July A.D. 1889 – H. Brueck Pastor of the German M.E. Church of Santa Cruz.
Filed for Record at request of H. Brueck this 29 day of July A.D. 1889 at 40 minutes past 9 o’clock am and recorded August 24, 1889. Ed. Martin.
Note: Minerva Barclay, the mother, remarried to a Charles Buchwald on 19 June 1886 in Los Angeles, California.
Harriette was the daughter of Charles Edward Arcan who was born before 1849. She was born 22 December 1871 in Santa Cruz. She died there on 21 December 1951.
Harriette Barclay, Member of Pioneer Local Family, Dies, Dec. 21, 1951.
Harriette Louise Barclay, a native of Santa Cruz and a member of the one of the early pioneer families died in San Francisco yesterday. Services are to be conducted tomorrow at 11:30 am from the mortuary of W.C. Lasswell and company, San Francisco, and interment is to take place at Mount Olivet Memorial Park. Mrs. Barclay’s grandfather was John B. Arcan, who was born in Versailles, France and lived in Montreal, Canada, before coming to the United States. He lived for a time in New York, then in 1849 came across country with a party organized in Chicago, taking the southern route, across Death Valley. They made their home in Santa Cruz, owning the corner where the Bank of American now stands. There they put up a building with a second floor room which was used for dances. Charles Edward Arcan, Mrs. Barclays father, was a baby when the party crossed Death Valley. Later he became prominent in Santa Cruz and was well known as an athlete and baseball player. Surviving Mrs. Barclay are her children, Charles, Ella Barclay and Mrs. Violet H. Stark, her grandchildren, Harry and Edward Stark and Edward Barclay and five great grandchildren.
Source: Santa Cruz Newspaper (name not given), Harriette Barclay, Member of Pioneer Local Family, Dies, Dec. 21, 1951.
John and Harriett had the following children:
1. Violet Harriette Barclay, born 10 January 1890 in Santa Cruz and died on 14 September 1982 in California. She married Edward Stark about 1909 and had two children. I have her in the 1900 and 1920 U.S. Census.
2. Ella May Barclay born 7 January 1892 in San Francisco, California and died 1 March 1956 in California. She married a Becker after 1910 in California. She is featured in the 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930 U.S. Federal Census.
3. Charles John Barclay was born 7 May 1894 in San Francisco and died on 31 May 1975 in Hollister, San Benito, California. He is found in the 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930 census.
4. Edward Avery Barclay born 11 November 1896 in San Francisco, and died 24 July 1937 in California. He married an Elsa MacPherson born 31 May 1905 in Butte, Montana and died 11 May 1978 in San Mateo, California. They had one son Edward Avery Barclay. Edward married Alma E. Hardy and they had four children. It is this family that my cousin is from and there are living descendants of this family who live on the West Coast.
Edward Avery Barclay
Elsa MacPherson
Edward Avery Barclay Jr.
1900 U.S. Federal Census has John in San Francisco Co. California
Church St, line 65, 1729? 111, 136, Barclay, John A., head, W, M, July 1868, 31, M, 11 yrs., born Minn, father born Scotland, mother Minnesota, Restaurant waiter, 0, yes, yes, yes, R, H. Barclay, Harriet, Wife, W, F, Dec, 1871, 29, M, 11, 4 born, 4 living, born Calif, father Illinois, mother Louisiana, yes, yes, yes. Barclay, Violet, daughter, W, F, June 1881, 10, S, born Calif, father Minnesota, mother California, at school, 9, yes, yes, yes. Barclay, Ella, daughter, W, F, June 1892, 8, S, born Calif, father Minnesota, mother Calif., at school, 9. Barclay, Charles, son, W, M, May 1894, 6, S, born Calif, father Minnesota, mother Calif. Barclay, Edward, son, W, M, Nov. 1896, 4, S, born Calif, father Minnesota, mother Calif.
Source: John Barclay Family, 1900 U.S. Federal Census, San Francisco, San Francisco County, California, ED 1, SD 139, Sheet 6? 6, June, 1900 William C. Irwin?
Meanwhile the Charles and Minerva Buchwald family are living in San Francisco, California in 1900.
Line 83, 227, 191, 196, Buchwald, Charles, Head, W, M, March 1857, 43, M, 14, born Ohio, parents Germany.
Buchwald, [Mary], wife, W, F, April 1850, 50, M, 14, 5, 2, born PA,
Steadman Raymond, grandson, W, M, May 1884, 16, S, born California.
Parks, Louisa, mother in law, W, F, July 1826, 72, W, 1, 1, born PA
Buchwald, Mabel, daughter, W, F, ____1893, 7, S, born California
Line 88, 27, 192, 197, Buchwald, Maggie, Head, W, F, June 1890, 20, S, born Ohio
193, 198 Buchwald, Godfrey, Brother, W, M, Oct, 1891 19, S, born Ohio
Source: Charles Buchwald Family, San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California, SD#1, ED#141, Sheet #[10], 36th assembly district, enumerated 8 June 1900, by Henry D. [Faumey].
1910 U.S. Federal Census has John Barclay in San Francisco and this time he is divorced and living with his mother’s family.
Flood St.- Line 95, 324, 158, 170, Buchwald, Chaley F. Head, M, W, 56, M1, 24, born Ohio, father born Germany, mother born Germany, English, Cook, Restaurant, W, No, O, yes, yes, yes, O, Ti, H. Buckwald, Lulu, wife, F, W, 62, M2, 24, 5, 2, born PA, parents born PA, English, None, yes, yes, no.
Buckwald, Mable, daughter, F, W, 17, S, born California, Father Ohio, Mother PA, English, none.
Buckwald, Violet, Daughter, F, W, 9, born California, father born Ohio, mother PA, English, none.
Barclay, John A. Boarder, M, W, 42, D, born Minnesota, father Scotland, mother PA, English, Carpenter, House, W, no, 5, yes, yes, no.
Steadman, Raymond, Boarder, M, W, 25, S, born California, father born Germany, mother Minnesota, English, carpenter, House, W, no, 0, yes, yes, no.
Source: Chaley Buckwald Family, 1910 U.S. Federal Census, San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California, 33 District, SD#4, ED# 71, Sht#7, enumerated on 30 April 1910 by C.A. Parker.
Note: Based on this information it is looking like Charles and Minerva had Maggie, Godfrey and Mabel. Of course this will need to be verified.
After their divorce Harriette Barclay is listed separately with her children in the 1910 U.S. Census.
Line 6, 3174, 137, 214, Barclay, Harriett, L. Head, F, W, 39, D, 4 born, 4 living, California, Illinois, Louisiana, all speak English, own income, yes, yes. Barclay, Ella, daughter, F, W, 18, S, California, Minnesota, California, cashier, Theater, W, yes, 12, yes, yes, no. Barclay, Charles, son, M, W, 15 S, California, Minnesota, California, errand boy,warehouse, W, no, 50, yes, yes, no. Barclay, Edward, Son, M, W, 13, S, California, Minnesota, California, none, yes, yes, yes.
Source: Harriette Barclay, 1910 U.S. Federal Census, for San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California, Dist 32 part of 13 Precinct, part of San Francisco City, 19 April 1910, Edward J. Preve, SD# ?, ED 75th? It looks like Violet stayed with her grandmother Minerva.
1920 U.S. Federal Census has John Barclay still living in San Francisco, California
Line 12 Flood Ave., 324, 4, 4, Buchwald, Charles, Head, O, M, M, W, 62, M, yes, yes, born Ohio, born Germany, parents born Germany, speaks German, yes, cook, restaurant, W 954. Buchwald, Mervia, wife, F, W, 68, M, yes, yes, New York, parents born New York, none. Buchwald, Violet, 18, S, yes, yes, California, father born Ohio, mother New York, sales lady, store, W, 791. Barclay, John, boarder, M, W., 51, D, yes, yes, Minnesota, father born Scotland, mother New York, carpenter, house, w, 148.
Line 16, 318, 5, 5, Steadman, Raymond, Head, O, M, M, W, 35 M, yes, yes, California, parents born US, boiler maker, shipyards, W, 140. Steadman, Lucille, wife, F, W, 27, M, yes, yes, California, parents born Ireland, none.
Source: Charles Buchwald Family, 1920 U.S. Federal Census, San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California, Distr. 24, Precinct 42, SD #4, ED #323, Sht#12A, 8 January 1920, Grace E.Cahill.
Harriette is present in the 1920 U.S. Census with some of her children.
Rolhle St., 124, 187, 188, Barclay, Harriette, Head, O, F, F, W, 50, D, yes, yes, Calif., Illinois, Louisiana, yes, none. Barclay, Charles, son, M, W, 25, S, yes, yes, Calif., Minn., Calif, machinist, Fd Motor, Co., O A 362; Barclay, Edward A, Son, M,W, 23, S, yes, yes, Calif., Minn, Calif, machinist, Fd, Motor, Co. OA. Becker, Ella, daughter, F, W, 29, Dr. yes, yes, Calif., Minn, Calif, none.
Source: Harriette Barclay Family, 1920 U.S. Federal Census, San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California, 123 Assembly Dist. SD #4, ED #140, Sht# 8A, 40 Prec. 10 and 12th of January, 1920, Davis, Mrs. Mary.
Harriet L. Barclay appears in the 1930 census. Charles is still with her and so is Ella as Ella Becker. John Avery Barclay the father has gone to Seattle and is living with his sister, see the next post about Sarah Ellen/Helen Barclay Sears Westerholm.
Line 11, 124, 73, 76, Barclay, Harriet L, Head, O, $5000, R, No, F. W, 60, Mt/Wd, no, yes, born Calif, father Chicago, Illinois, mother Louisiana, yes, none. Barclay, Charles, J. Son, M, 35 S, no, yes, born Calif, Minnesota, Calif., yes, mechanic, automobile, 7623, W, No, 9, No. Becker, Ella M. Daughter, F, 38, D, no, yes, California, Minnesota, Calif., none.
Source: Harriet L. Barclay, 1930 U.S. Federal Census, San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California, ED 38-70, SD 7, Sht 5A, AD 25, Block 726, April 5, 1930, Mrs. Sophis Louder.
On 8 March 1851 John Avery Barclay, son of John Barclay and Minerva Parks Barclay Buckwald, passed in Seattle, King Co., Washington, he was 84 years old
His death certificate is available on-line at the Washington Digital Archives:
POD: King County, State of Washington
City of Seattle, L of Stay 9 days,
King County Hospital
1215 East 64th Street
Name: John A. Barclay
Died 3/8/51
Male
White
Widowed
DOB 6/30 66 age 84
Occupation: Waiter
BP: San Francisco, Califo. US Citizen
Informant King Co. Hospital
Disease Cerbral arterioscleorsis
No Autopsy
Attended 2/27/51 to 3/8/51
Alive on 3/8/1951 death at 9:45 pm.
Signature Ralph John….
King County Hospital 3/9/51
Burial, 3/13/51 Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Seattle, WA
Recorded 3/12/1951
Funeral directors: Butterworth & Sons.
Obituary and Funeral Notice
Obituary Mar 10, 1951 pg. 10, John W. Barclay – John W. Barclay, 84, of 1215 E. 64th St. died Thursday. Mr. Barclay a carpenter, had lived in Seattle 20 years. He was born in Minnesota. Surviving is a sister, Mrs. Helen Westerholme, Seattle. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Butterworth Chapel.
Funeral Notice Mar 11, 1951 – Barclay John Avery of 1215 East 64th St. Brother of Mrs. Helen Westerholme, Seattle. Services Butterworth’s Drawing Room Chapel 1 p.m. Tuesday. Burial Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.
Source: Obituary Sat. Mar. 10, 1951 for John W. Barclay and Funeral Notice Mar 11, 1951 for John Avery Barclay, Seattle Post Intelligencer.
John is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery on Queen Anne hill in Seattle, Washington. He is next to the tombstone of Lewis Sears, a husband of his sister. These tombstones are in the section just left of the office building.
John A. Barclay’s tombstone in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Seattle, WA 1867 to 1951
Of course, there is always more research that can be done on a family and I could look for more census, divorces, funeral home records and other documents. At this time, I will move on and share about John’s sister Helen (Sarah Ellen) Barclay Sears Westerholme.
The Barclays of Pine River 