John W. Barnhart, born November 8, 1856, in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, was the proprietor and publisher of the Nemaha County Herald in Auburn, Nebraska. Descended from Alsace-Lorraine immigrants, Barnhart’s family has deep American roots, with one ancestor serving under Washington in the Revolutionary War. Barnhart started his newspaper career in Pennsylvania before moving to Nebraska in 1877. He established several newspapers, including the Nemaha County Herald in 1888. Barnhart married Clarabel Foster in 1883, and they had five children. A dedicated Democrat, Barnhart was active in local politics and community affairs, including serving in the state legislature.
John W. Barnhart, proprietor and publisher of the Nemaha County Herald, Auburn, Nebraska, was born November 8, 1856, in Mount Joy, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Alsace-Lorraine was the home of the Barnharts before they came to this country, and their arrival in America dates back beyond the Revolutionary period. One of Mr. Barnhart’s grandsires was a commanding officer under Washington in the war of the Revolution. His father and grandfather, Israel and Jacob Barnhart, were born in York County, Pennsylvania, the former in 1827 and the latter in 1793. Grandfather Barnhart passed his life and died in his native county, his age at death being seventy-eight years. Israel Barnhart has for many years been a resident of Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, and as a contractor and builder has been prominently identified with that place. He was married in 1853 to Miss Lydia Bear, a native of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, born in 1826, daughter of a merchant tailor. Of the six children born to them, we record that Mary is the wife of John S. Hamaker; John W. was the second born; William B. is a resident of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Henry C. lives in York, Pennsylvania; Samuel B. is a resident of Pittsburgh; and Elizabeth, the youngest, resides at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The father, Israel Barnhart, makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Hamaker, in Mount Joy, the mother having died in 1895.
John W. Barnhart obtained his education in the public schools of his native town and at Cedar Hill Seminary. He began his newspaper work as a “printer’s devil” in the office of the Mount Joy Herald and remained in that office three years, working his way up and thoroughly familiarizing himself with every detail of the business. He was afterwards employed for a short time in the office of the Daily New Era, at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 1877, he came west to Nebraska, first locating in Lincoln and soon afterwards removing to Sterling, where he established the Sterling News, a weekly paper which he published a year and a half. His next move was to Tecumseh. There he started the Johnson County Journal, a weekly paper Democratic in politics. This paper he sold in the spring of 1881. Returning to Lincoln, he purchased a half interest with General Victor Vifquain, in the Daily State Democrat. One year later General Vifquain sold his interest in the paper to Hon. Albert Watkins, and the firm became Watkins & Barnhart. In the summer of 1883, Mr. Barnhart sold out to Hon. W. S. Sawyer, who was afterwards United States district attorney for the district of Nebraska. In the fall of 1883, Mr. Barnhart located at Elk Creek, Nebraska, where he published the Echo until the latter part of 1887, and at the same time was postmaster of the town, his appointment being made by President Cleveland. Late in 1887, he moved his plant to Auburn, and February 1, 1888, issued his first copy of the Nemaha County Herald. He owns the building in which his plant is located and from time to time has made improvements and enlargements in his equipment until he is now prepared to care for the regular work of the paper, which at this writing has a circulation of over two thousand seven hundred, and also to do the large amount of job printing which comes to his office. His employees number seven to ten.
Mr. Barnhart married, in 1883, in Tecumseh, Nebraska, Miss Clarabel Foster, a native of Greencastle, Indiana, and a daughter of William L. and Adelaid (Chittenden) Foster. Mrs. Barnhart was educated in her native town, famed far and near as an educational center, and had for one of her professors the historian Ridpath. She was for some time previous to her marriage a teacher. They have three sons and two daughters, namely: Edgar Geoffrey, Kathryn Elois, Charles Bryan, Chandler Foster, and Marguerite.
Mr. Barnhart is fraternally identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically he is a Democrat, active and enthusiastic in party affairs. He has served his ward in Auburn as a member of the common council. In 1897 he was in the legislature as second assistant clerk of the house of representatives. At this writing he is secretary and treasurer of the Nebraska Democratic Editorial Association, with office at Auburn. Mr. and Mrs. Barnhart in their religious faith are Episcopalians.
Source: Lewis Publishing Company, A Biographical and Genealogical History of Southeastern Nebraska, 2 volumes, Lewis Publishing Company, 1904.