A. D. Barnard

A. D. Barnard, one of the best known pioneers of Ventura, was born in Calais, Maine, December 12, 1830. His father, W. K. Barnard, was a native of Massachusetts, and their ancestors were from England. His mother, whose name before marriage was Nancy Denny, was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. Her ancestors came to that State during its early settlement. Her father, Daniel Denny, was one of the posterity of John Denny, of Suffolk, England, who lived there in 1439. A picture of the old English home of 450 years ago is still preserved in the family, and there is also in their possession a complete genealogy of the family from 1439 to the present time. Branches of this family have established themselves in all the States of the Union. In Mr. Barnard's father's family were six children, all sons, he being the eldest. He was brought up and educated in Maine, Vermont and Massachusetts, completing his education in New Hampshire. He began business for himself as a merchant. In 1852 he came to Oregon and was engaged in general merchandising in Corvallis until 1859; he traveled for two or three years, and in 1868 came to Ventura, when that town was just starting, the American residents there being Messrs. Chaffee, Leach, Ayers, Grimes, Simpson,  and the Hobsons. Mr. Barnard engaged in the lumber business, and soon purchased a home place of thirty acres about a mile up the avenue; and he has also been engaged in real estate. His home place now comprises 125 acres, beautifully cultivated, and artistically arranged with ornamental trees, hedges, etc. He has 3,000 walnut trees just commencing to bear fruit; has twenty three kinds of fruit altogether. He has also two or three other farms in the valley. He has been a very busy man, accomplishing much in the improvement of his ranches and of the locality generally. Such industry and such faith in the country has had its ample return. Mr. Barnard has never joined any society, is not a politician, but is a Republican. His parents are Unitarians.

    In 1861 he married Miss Sarah E. Lehman, a native of Wayne County, Ohio, and of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry. They have six sons and one daughter, all natives of the Golden West: Frank E., Edwin L., Austin D., Charles V., John C. and Mary E., all at home with their parents.

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