STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 71 



pleasant words addressed to him. The farmer and fruit grower 

 could always command his time and attention and rely on him for 

 sound advice. 



The statesman found in him an interesting companion, and one 

 who was thoroughly informed on all the political issues of the day. 

 His faculty of observation was sharp and comprehensive. The object 

 and motives of men he carefully analyzed, and seldom failed to reach 

 correct conclusions. He had an almost sacred regard for the rights 

 of others, and was extremely careful to avoid giving offence to any 

 one. He was universally esteemed in the community where he lived. 

 Although his funeral was early in May, at a time when the farmers 

 were most busily engaged, it was one of the most largely attended 

 that the writer has ever seen in Manteno. The Board of Supervisors 

 attended in a body to pay their last tribute of respect to their honored 

 comrade. 



During many of the later years of his life he spent a great deal 

 of his time in experimenting with tree and small fruits, not for any 

 profit that he expected to reap from such work, but for the good of 

 others. None knew better than he that such labor is unprofitable. 

 But he loved it, and he worked, not ceasing on account of the 

 weather, and often regardless of his own physical comfort, trying 

 and hoping to find the apple, the pear, the cherry, and other fruits 

 that would be desirable and successful in Northern Illinois. 

 Although from boyhood Mr. Barnard was looking for fruits that 

 would flourish in his part of our country, at no time in life was he 

 more busily engaged or more hopeful of success than during the last 

 two or three months preceding his death. 



He had trees of different kinds and varieties from Prof. Budd, of 

 Iowa, and Peter M. Gideon, of Minnesota, besides numerous specimens 

 from other localities. He had also collected a great many varieties 

 of the strawberry and other small fruits, and he looked forward 

 anxiously and hopefully to the time of their fruiting. But in the 

 very height of his work, he was suddenly called from the scene of 

 his earthly labors at a time when his numerous friends might reason- 

 ably hope that many more years of his useful life would be spared 

 to him. We all know that life is always uncertain, but when asked 

 why this is so we cannot fully answer. We can only say that the 

 finite cannot comprehend the infinite. We bow in humble submis- 

 sion to the will of the Omnipotent Ruler of the Universe, "who 

 doeth all things well.'' 



Mr. Barnard was a kind husband, an affectionate father, a stead- 

 fast friend, an obliging neighbor. He leaves a void in the commun- 

 ity where he lived that cannot be filled. But his memory will live 

 in his labors and his teachings. Wherever trees are planted for 

 shade or fruit, and wherever flowers bloom, they will remind us of 

 our friend who cared for them and advocated their culture. He was 



