Barnard, Augustus

The following data is extracted from Merrimack and Sullivan Counties, New Hampshire Biographies.

Augustus Barnard, formerly of Hopkinton, was one of the brave men who fought for the Union in the Civil War. Born in Haverhill, Mass., he was reared and educated in New York State. After spending a part of his early life in Boston, he came to Hopkinton, where he learned the currier's trade of Jonathan Osgood. He followed this trade in connection with tanning until the late war was well in progress. Then he enlisted as a private in the Sixteenth New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry for nine months. With his regiment he served his full time, the most of which was spent in Louisiana. The exposure and hardships of the camp and field had undermined his health to such an extent that he lived but three months after his discharge. He died December 16, 1863, at the age of thirty-one, in the house on Putney Hill now occupied by his widow, Mrs. Julia A. Barnard.

Mrs. Julia A. Barnard was born May 19, 1823, at Contoocook, this county, daughter of Ichabod and Rebecca (Hazelton) Eaton. Both her parents were born in Haverhill, Mass., where they lived until after their marriage. Mr. Eaton was a mason by trade. In 1822, about a year before the birth of Mrs. Barnard, he came with his family to Hopkinton, locating on Putney Hill, in a house which is still owned by the Eaton family. Here the parents spent their remaining days, the father dying at the age of fourscore years, and the mother when seventy-five years old. They Mrs. Barnard, the youngest, is the only survivor. The others were: Susan, who married Ephraim Hunt, and lived eighty years; Matilda, who became the wife of Thomas Arnold, of Plaistow, N.H., and died at the age of fifty; Ichabod, who spent his life on the old homestead, and died at the age of sixty-two years, leaving a daughter, Ellen Louise Eaton, now residing with Mrs. Barnard; Nathaniel, who died at Hillsborough, N.H., aged forty-five years; Richard, who settled on Putney Hill, and died at the age of fifty years; Mary, who was the wife of Samuel Wilson, and died in Nashua at the age of forty years; Clara, who died in St. Louis, Mo., at the age of fifty-three, having first married Stilson Hutchins and after his death Hiram Somerby; Elizabeth, who died in childhood; and Charles and Rebecca, who died in infancy. Julia A. Eaton developed into young womanhood in the home of her parents. When sixteen years old, ambitious of doing something toward supporting herself, she went to Lowell, Mass., and obtained employment in the mills. She there met and married Isaac L. Hall, a young machinist. They settled in Lowell, remaining there until 1844, when his health failed. Then they removed to Hopkinton, and bought the house in which Mrs. Barnard now lives. Although Mr. Hall never recovered his health, his life was prolonged until 1851. Two children born of that union died in early childhood, leaving the young widow without a family. In March, 1853, she married Augustus Barnard, above mentioned. In the care of her little farm Mrs. Barnard has the assistance of George M. Barnard, a brother of her late husband.

George M. Barnard was born September 30, 1843, in Tompkins County, New York, son of Thomas K. and Hannah (Frost) Barnard. Both parents were natives of Massachusetts, born respectively in Amesbury and Methuen. The mother died when he was nine years old, leaving a large family, of which his brother Augustus was the first-born, and he was next to the youngest. His father had passed to the silent majority some years before that time, and his widowed mother had removed with her family to her old home in Amesbury. After the death of his parents he came to Hopkinton to live in the family of his brother Augustus, continuing until the breaking out of the late Rebellion. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Fourteenth New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Colonel Robert Wilson, of Keene, and was with his regiment in many of the important battles of the South, going from New Orleans to Virginia, where he served in Sheridan's army, and at the cessation of hostilities was in Savannah, Ga. He was at the front in the battles at Hopkins Hill, Fisher's Hill, and at Cedar Creek, carrying a musket in the ranks. He was never wounded nor detached from duty, and spent but one month in the hospital during his time of service, which fell just a little short of three years, having been discharged July 8, 1865, under general orders. His health, however, was undermined; and he came back to Hopkinton to the care and protection of Mrs. Barnard, whom he assists by looking after her farming interests. The government gives him a pension. Mr. Barnard has never married. He is a man of strong opinions, and in politics a Republican.

Source: Merrimack and Sullivan Counties, New Hampshire Biographies

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