BIOGRAPHY - A. BARROW
A. W. Barrow, a farmer and one of the early citizens of Ford county, now living in Gibson City, has by well directed labor gained enviable success. As he has prospered judicious investments have been made in property until he is now the owner of several good farms in Ford county. Although he is now practically living retired, he yet buys and sells stock and for a time conducted a grain business at Elliott, while he makes his home in Gibson City.
Mr. Barrow is the son of Frederick and Mary (Smith) Barrow, the former a native of Frederick county, Virginia, who devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and school teaching. A. W. Barrow was born near Winchester, Virginia, and there began his education, but when a young boy he accompanied his parents on their removal to Bloomington, Illinois, in 1865. His father purchased land east of Gibson City and the son attended the Scotland school on the prairie. When not busy with his text-books he worked on his father's farm, comprising four hundred acres of rich farming land.
After attaining his majority A. W. Barrow was united in marriage to Miss Florence Richardson, a daughter of John Richardson, a grain dealer of Elliott, who retired in 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Barrow now have one son and one daughter. The parents are members of the First Methodist church at Gibson City. For a considerable period Mr. Barrow gave his undivided time and attention to general agricultural pursuits and was very successful. He became the owner of several good farms devoting them to the cultivation of the cereals best adapted to soil and climate. He also dealt in live stock and although he is now practically retired, he still buys and sells stock and derives from this business a good income. He is also a grain dealer at Elliott but he rents the greater part of his land, the remainder being devoted to corn and oats and to pasturage. He has a fine home in Gibson City and the family are prominent in social life here.
In his political views Mr. Barrow is a democrat, in thorough sympathy with the principles of the party, but he has never sought nor desired office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs. Thus he gained the prosperity which he now enjoys and which enables him largely to live retired. In manner he is genial and jovial and his many good traits of character have gained him the confidence, good will and friendship of those with whom he has been associated.
Extracted 19 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 1, pages 374-375.
