Jane Agnew, at age 22, arrived in America on May 9, 1870, shortly before the 1870 US Census, was taken on 23 Jun 1870; she was listed as a domestic servant living with Robert and Elizabeth ‏(Cellars)‏ ‏(Barker)‏ Robison and son, James C. Barker. Robert was James' stepfather, Elizabeth, his mother. They lived in Washington Twp., Van Buren, IA; Mt. Zion was the nearest town; and the post office was in Bentonsport.

After she came to America, "She ever maintained love for the church of her choice, and was always found in her Sunday school and church whenever weather and health would permit." as stated in her obituary. At the old, now privately owned, Presbyterian Church, Mt. Zion, Van Buren County, Iowa, there is a beautiful stained-glass window placed there long ago in her honor and remembrance. Author ‏(Marjorie Hockaday Kinnaman)‏ has a photo of it taken when she visited there in 2005. The current owner recently sent to author a photo of the stained glass window taken from inside the church. See full color photo at Loofbourrow Family Website.
Oct 1867, Jane Agnew ‏(age 19)‏, first time admitted to take communion at the Raloo Presbyterian Church, Ballynure, Antrim, Ireland. She had previously joined the church at age 16.

Jane Agnew came to America sometime before the 1870 Census, 23 Jun 1870; she was listed as a domestic servant living with Robert and Elizabeth ‏(Cellars)‏ ‏(Barker)‏ Robison and son, James C. Barker. Robert was James' stepfather, Elizabeth, his mother. They lived in Washington Twp., Van Buren, IA; Mt. Zion was the nearest town; and the post office was in Bentonsport.

There are some questions regarding Jane Agnew's place of birth ... some say Belfast, Ireland, some say Aryshire, Scotland. Her younger brother, Robert, was born in Scotland according to his grandson, Robert Hornbaker. Robert's two newspaper obituaries state that he was born in Aryshire, Scotland, and that when he was very young, he was taken by his parents to a place near Belfast, Ireland, where he grew up. Elizabeth "Lizzie" ‏(Barker)‏ Winslow's newspaper obituary, listed her mother's birthplace as Scotland. Jane's newspaper obituary states that she was born in Belfast, Ireland. Perhaps more research will clarify this someday.

Information obtained from: family records, newspaper articles, US Census', Cousins Wanda Barker Sheets and Robert D. Hornbaker.

Biographical Information for: James Cellars Barker and Jane Agnew Barker
Written by Marjorie ‏(Hockaday)‏ Kinnaman
as told to me by my mother, Eva ‏(Loofbourrow)‏ Hockaday,
‏[with a few added notes from my research]‏
3 Sep 1979 - 21 Nov 2009 ‏(update)‏

‏[James and Jane are the parents of my maternal grandmother, Mary "Mollie" Agnew Barker Loofbourrow. James was Scots-Irish, born in Iowa on 12 July 1844. Jane came to America in 1870 from her birthplace, *near Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland, when she was 22 years old. She was born 17 March 1848.]‏

‏[In the 1870 Census, Van Buren County, Iowa, James, single, was listed with Robert Robinson family. After researching it, I discovered that Robert Robinson was James' stepfather who was married to his previously widowed mother, Elizabeth Cellars Barker. James' father died in a hunting accident shortly before or after James' birth. Jane Agnew was listed as a domestic servant in their household. That is how they met.]‏

After they were married on 7 May 1873, they lived in a little log cabin in the country NE of Mt. Zion, Iowa. They shopped in Keosauqua. Mollie was born in the log cabin before they built the big brick house. Since Mollie was a middle child, several of the children were probably born there too. Their seven children are: Elizabeth J., Robert J., Mary "Mollie" A., John W., Joseph M., Grace G., and Arthur D., all born in Iowa.

Jane had a brother, Robert Agnew, who came to America from Belfast, Ireland with his wife and baby daughter. Robert was in his twenties. After a stormy voyage in the summer of 1886, the ship landed at New York on August 6. His wife and baby daughter died shortly after their arrival in America. After their deaths, Robert was very depressed. He lived in a little log cabin across the road from Jane and James. Later, he married again and had a family. ‏[One of his daughters married a Hornbaker; their son is Robert Hornbaker.]‏

James was a farmer and also a pharmacist of herbs. He treated members of the family with herbs and herb teas for various ailments. ‏[I remember Grandmother Mollie telling me about the "ginger tea" her father lovingly made for her when she was not feeling well.]‏

‏[Grandmother Mollie told me about the time of the year when her father boiled down the maple sap to make syrup. Sometimes he gave the kids some syrup to pour in the fresh snow to make what they called "maple candy". This memory was recalled fondly as such a delicious treat!]‏

He also had a shop with a turning lathe where he made wooden implements and kitchen utensils Â… bowls, churns, spoons, rolling pins, etc. Eva was given two rolling pins made by her grandfather, a small toy and a regular sized one, but they have been lost track of through the years.

‏[Jane died quite young on 10 October 1902; she was 54 years old. She may have had liver cancer. My mother was 4 years old when her Grandmother Jane died. She remembered going to her funeral and being lifted up to her coffin to give her a "goodbye" kiss.]‏

***

Jane lived in Ballynarry, Ballynure, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, before she came to America.

Written by Marjorie ‏(Hockaday)‏ Kinnaman
as told to me by my mother, Eva ‏(Loofbourrow)‏ Hockaday,
‏[with a few added notes from my research]‏
3 Sep 1979 - 21 Nov 2009 - 1 Dec 2019 ‏(update)‏

‏[James and Jane are the parents of my maternal grandmother, Mary "Mollie" Agnew Barker Loofbourrow. James was Scotch-Irish, born in Iowa on 12 July 1844. Jane came to America in 1870 from her birthplace, *near Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland, when she was 22 years old. She was born 17 March 1848.]‏

‏[In the 1870 Census, Van Buren County, Iowa, James, single, was listed with Robert Robinson family. After researching it, I discovered that Robert Robinson was James' stepfather who was married to his previously widowed mother, Elizabeth Cellars Barker. James' father died in a hunting accident shortly before or after James' birth. Jane Agnew was listed as a domestic servant in their household. That is how they met.]‏

After they were married on 7 May 1873, they lived in a little log cabin in the country NE of Mt. Zion, Iowa. They shopped in Keosauqua. Mollie was born in the log cabin before they built the big brick house. Since Mollie was a middle child, several of the children were probably born there too. Their seven children are: Elizabeth J., Robert J., Mary "Mollie" A., John W., Joseph M., Grace G., and Arthur D., all born in Iowa.

Jane had a brother, Robert Agnew, who came to America from Belfast, Ireland with his wife and baby daughter. Robert was in his twenties. After a stormy voyage in the summer of 1886, the ship landed at New York on August 6. His wife and baby daughter died shortly after their arrival in America. After their deaths, Robert was very depressed. He lived in a little log cabin across the road from Jane and James. Later, he married again and had a family. ‏[One of his daughters married a Hornbaker; their son is Robert Hornbaker.]‏

James was a farmer and also a pharmacist of herbs. He treated members of the family with herbs and herb teas for various ailments. ‏[I remember Grandmother Mollie telling me about the "ginger tea" her father lovingly made for her when she was not feeling well.]‏

‏[Grandmother Mollie told me about the time of the year when her father boiled down the maple sap to make syrup. Sometimes he gave the kids some syrup to pour in the fresh snow to make what they called "maple candy". This memory was recalled fondly as such a delicious treat!]‏

He also had a shop with a turning lathe where he made wooden implements and kitchen utensils Â… bowls, churns, spoons, rolling pins, etc. Eva was given two rolling pins made by her grandfather, a small toy and a regular sized one, but they have been lost track of through the years.

‏[Jane died quite young on 10 October 1902; she was 54 years old. She may have had liver cancer. My mother was 4 years old when her Grandmother Jane died. She remembered going to her funeral and being lifted up to her coffin to give her a "goodbye" kiss.]‏


* Jane lived in Ballynarry, Ballynure, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, before she came to America.