*Published in the New Castle Daily Courier, New Castle, IN

COUNTY PIONEER DIES SUDDENLY
Sylvester Barnard Is Found Dead
In Bed At Son's Home At Parker.
BORN IN UNION COUNTY
Was The Father Of A Large And
Distinguished Family - Voted Straight
Republican Ticket Since Fremont.
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Judge W. O. Barnard received word this morning of the death of his father Sylvester Barnard, aged 85 years, who was found dead this morning at the home of his son, Dr. P. C. Barnard, of Parker, Ind., east of Muncie. Heart trouble is supposed to have been the cause of his death. Judge Barnard left immediately for Parker.
The deceased was very well known here as he had frequently visited his son and family, and his many friends were deeply shocked at his sudden death. He spent most of his life on his farm near Middletown and it is only within the past few months that he had gone to the home of his son, Dr. Barnard, to reside.
THE THIRTEENTH CHILD.
Sylvester Barnard was the thirteenth child but the superstition as to that number being unlucky, in his case at least, completely fails, as he was singularly fortunate and lived a very successful life. Devotees of the Black Art, however, may have a ready explanation of this in the mysterious virtues of the number "seven" he being the seventh son. He was born March 31, 1828, in Union county, Indiana, on his father's farm, three miles east of Liberty, in a typical log cabin of the period. On April 10, 1850, he was married at the home of the bride in Fayette county, nine miles southeast of Connersville, to Lavina Myer, daughter of Jacob and Sarah Myer. Jacob Myer came from Pennsylvania and his wife from Virginia and they settled in Union county, near Boston, Wayne county. They were known as Pennsylvania Dutch, an appellation not used derisively but to distinguish a class of people, many of whom came early to Indiana and by their efforts and those of their descendants have helped to bring the Hoosier land to its present state of prosperity.
Sylvester and Lavina Barnard were the parents of the following named children: Edna Ann, now deceased, who married John Meckel, an architect of Anderson, Ind.; William Oscar, the wellknown attorney and former congressman, of Newcastle; Isaac Myer, who is a farmer in Rush county, near Knightstown; Jacob Newton, who was formerly a teacher and then a dry good merchant, but now a banker at Daleville, Delaware county, Ind.; Lawrence Carlton, formerly a school teacher, but now in Winfield, Kas., in the dry goods business; and Pliney Colfax, a physician at Oakville, Delaware county, about ten miles north of Newcastle. Their are fourteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
HE WAS A PIONEER.
Sylvester Barnard for the greater part of his life was a farmer. His boyhood was spent amid difficulties and dangers of pioneer surroundings. He had always been industrious and as he advanced into old age he was able to enjoy the fruits of a well spent life at his quiet home in Middletown. Throughout their married life, Mrs. Barnard had been sympathetic and helpful companion and it was one of the greatest sorrows of Mr. Barnard's life to have her taken from him several years ago.
In politics Mr. Barnard was first a Whig, but when that organization ceased to exist he became a firm adherent to the Republican party. He joined in its infancy and he voted for its first candidate for president, John C. Fremont, and forever after he voted a straight Republican ticket from township trustee to president, from Fremont to and including Taft. He was never known to scratch a ticket.
BELONGED TO I.O.O.F.
The deceased was prominently identified with the Independent Order of the Odd Fellows for forty-five years and at his death was a member of the Olive Branch lodge No. 88, Dublin, Indiana.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Barnard were Quakers until their removal to Middletown in 1892, but as there was no church of that denomination at that place they took membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which they were consistent and faithful members.
Mr. Barnard was respected and admired by all who knew him as a man of the most sterling qualities and upright bearing. He was a free giver to charitable objects, devoted to his children, friendly to all and strove in all ways and at all times to do the will of Him whom to rightfully serve brings joy and peace everlasting.

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