Barnabas Frail

Barnabas Frail, who settled one mile south of Wyoming in 1835, was one of the three pioneers of that immediate neighborhood—Gen. Thomas and Capt. Butler being the others. In the vicinity were Peter Miner, Samuel Seeley, Elijah McClenahan and James Holgate who settled near, and also Whitney Smith, S. Moore, Lemuel Dorrance, Dexter Wall, John Phoenix, Peter Shaffer, George Wentin, Robert Sheeley, A. Avery, Henry Sheeley, M. Shiellaman, Adam and Lewis Pay, H. Lick, Nelson Grant, B. Smith, J. P., Moses Boardman, Thos. Winn or Wing, Ira Ward, John and Borden Dodge, William Mahany, Major McClenahan, and perhaps a few others. Mr. Frail was born in Donegal county, Ireland. After a voyage of seven weeks he and his brother landed in New York, he being then nineteen years old. For some time they worked on the Erie canal and other public works, and in 1835 came to this county, each bringing a wife and child. In 1837 Barnabas moved to what is now Goshen township, squatted on a piece of land and next purchasing 160 acres. His brother moved to Knox county, where he died in 1843, and was the second body interred in the cemetery at Lafayette. Mr. Frail married Jane Fairchilds in Pennsylvania. Of their ten children eight are living, namely: James, John, Susan, Thomas, Elizabeth; Sarah, Margaret and Kate, all residing in this county except Sarah, who lives at Burlington Junction, Mo.; Lydia and Hugh are deceased. Mrs. Frail died in 1882, aged upwards of sixty-nine years, in full communion with the Catholic church, which is also the church of the family. Prior to settlement here Mr. F. belonged to the Pennsylvania citizen volunteers. Politically he is a democrat. He started farming in this county over fifty years ago, with some means, and now owns 160 acres of fine farming land.