THE MINNESOTA 
HORTICULTURIST. 
VOL. 26. MARCH, 1898. No. 3. 
In Memoriam, 
JOSEPH OSGOOD BARRETT. 
BROWN’S VALLEY, MINN. 
DIED FEP’yY 8, 1898, AGED 74 YEARS. 
On the morning of February 8th the spirit of this well known re- 
former, author and forestry teacher, took its flight from earth, from 
his home in Brown’s Valley, Minn. He had been ill for some time 
but was not considered dangerously so until a few days prior to his 
transition, hence his departure will be a shock to his thousands of 
friends throughout the country. 
Mr. J. O. Barrett was born in Canaan, Me., Aug. 21st, 1823,and would 
have rounded out seventy-five years on earth on his next birthday. 
He was a close student from boyhood, and fitted himself for the 
Universalist ministry atan early age. He was pastor of several 
Universalist societies in Maine, and is held in affectionate remem- 
brance by many of his former parishioners wherever he was called 
upon to labor for humanity. Removing to the West, he continued 
his ministerial labors in various sections, being finally called to 
Sycamore, I1I., where he remained until 1869, when he resigned his 
ministerial work. For the next eleven years his home was Sheboy- 
gan Co., Wis., finally removing with his family, for the last time, to 
Traverse Co., Brown’s Valley, Minn., in 1881. 
Since 1880 Mr. Barrett has been interested in reform work of 
various kinds, but has devoted nearly his entire time for many years 
to the question of planting and preserving the forests of the West, 
particularly in Minnesota. Upon the reorganization of the Minne- 
sota State Forestry Association, eight years ago, he was elected its 
secretary and was still filling this important office at the time of 
his death. His zeal in this work outran his strength and may have 
contributed to his unexpected demise. During these years the 
Minnesota public has become familiar with his pen, for he has writ- 
ten many trenchant articles upon forestry topics and contributed 
very materially to the growing and intelligent interest in the north- 
west on this important subject. 
Mr. Barrett took an active interest in politics, and early espoused 
the cause of freedom. His voice was heard with no uncertain sound 
