Frank J. BARNARD

1852 -

• Name	Frank J. BARNARD
  Birth	26 Mar 1852	Medina, Medina, OH
  Gender	Male
  Person ID	I841	Descendants of Francis Barnard
  Last Modified	1 Feb 2026

  
  

  Father	Samuel G. BARNARD,   b. 4 Apr 1828, Guilford Township, Medina, OH
  Mother	Malvina M. MARTIN
  Marriage	7 Oct 1849
  Family ID	F361	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Anna L. FISH
  Marriage	28 Nov 1877	Cleveland, OH
  Children	+ 1. Clem T. BARNARD,   b. 10 Jul 1880, Middletown, OH   2. Louise BARNARD,   b. 17 Feb 1882, OH
  Family ID	F363	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	1 Feb 2026

  
  

• Notes

  F. J. Barnard (26 Mar. 1852 Medina, Medina, OH - ), per Family Tree Maker CD #450, County and Family Histories: Ohio, 1780-1970, Disk 3, Medina County, Biographical Sketches, p. 686 Frank J. Barnard (26 Mar. 1852 Medina, Medina, OH - ), per Family Tree Maker CD #450, County and Family Histories: Ohio, 1780-1970, Disk 1, Butler County: Lemon, p. 645 Frank Barnard (listed with parents), 18 years, male, white, Work on farm, born OH, per 1870 federal census, Montville, Medina, OH, 30 June 1870, orig. page 26 (follows stamped page 391, precedes stamped page 392), Dwelling No. 211, Family No. 214 Frank J. Bernard, white, male, 28, (blank), School Supt, born OH, father born OH, mother born OH, per 1880 federal census, Middletown, Butler, OH, 4 June 1880, original page D, 16, Dwelling No. 123, Family No. 163 Frank Barnard, head, white, male, Mar. 1852, 48 years, married 22 years, born OH, father born CT, mother born OH, Supt.Schools, per 1900 federal census, Seattle, King, WA, 16 June 1900, stamped page (37) B, 1332 17th Ave., Dwelling No. 341, Family No. 354 Educated at Cornell University, NY, F. J. is now a popular educator in Ohio, having been connected with the schools of the State some nine years; he was Superintendent for several years at Brooklyn, then at Selina for two years, and is at present serving on the third year at Middleton, per Family Tree Maker CD #450, County and Family Histories: Ohio, 1780-1970, Disk 3, Medina County, Biographical Sketches, p. 686 Frank J. Barnard, superintendent of schools in Middletown, was born in Medina, Ohio, March 26, 1852. He is the son of Judge S. G. Barnard and Malvina M. Barnard. His great-grandfather, Samuel Barnard, served in the Revolutionary War. He prepared for college at Kenyon Grammar School, Gambler, Ohio, on attaining the age of fourteen, then entering Cornell University, at Ithaca, New York, at sixteen years of age. In the beginning he was in the classical course, but changed this to the course of philosophy, graduating in 1874. After his return to this State he began teaching in country schools in Medina County, boarding around among those who sent their children to him, afterwards being engaged as superintendent ofschools in Brooklyn Village, Cuyahoga County, for two years. At Celina, Ohio, he acted as superintendent the next two years. He has now completed his fourth year as superintendent of schools in Middletown, and by a unanimous vote of the board of education has been elected for three years longer. He was married in Cleveland, November 28, 1877, to Anna L. Fish, daughter of Bethuel and Lucy Fish, of that place. Mr. Fish is now dead. His daughter was born in Brooklyn Village, September 30, 1852, and has given her husband one child, Clem T. Barnard, born July 10, 1880---per Family Tree Maker CD #450, County and Family Histories: Ohio, 1780-1970, Disk 1, Butler County: Lemon, p. 645 An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 456-457 PROF. FRANK J. BARNARD, Superintendent of Public instruction or the city of Seattle, was born in Medina, Ohio, March 26, 1852. The ancestors of the Barnard family were among the early settlers of Connecticut. Later generations emigrated to Ohio, and in Medina county, that State, Judge Samuel G. Barnard, the father of our subject, was born. At the age of twelve years Judge Barnard began self-support, and by personal effort secured a common-school education and an academic course of about eighteen months. With mature years he began teaching school, at which he attained such prominence that he subsequently opened at Medina a normal school which attracted wide attention and proved a financial as well as an educational success. He was a member of the County Board of School Examiners for seventeen years, except whileoccupying the position of Probate Judge. At last broken health necessitated his giving up the work, and in 1874 he resumed the practice of law, having been admitted to the bar in 1852. In this profession he also made an enviable reputation. As Presidential Elector he was elected by the Republican party in 1876, and was made a member of the Judiciary Committee in the Ohio Electoral College, casting his vote for Rutherford B. Hayes, President, and William A. Wheeler, Vice-President. As a public speaker he was clear and logical in thought, steady and apposite in expression, and forcible in delivery. He married Miss Malvina M. Martin, a native of New Hampshire, who was granted a certificate at the age of fourteen and began teaching in the public schools, which line of action she pursued until after her marriage. Frank J Barnard is the eldest of four children. His primary education was received in the public schools of his native town. He then entered the grammar department of Kenyon College at Gambier. From there he went to Oberlin and began the study of the languages, preparatory to a course in the classics. This course, however, was not completed, but was changed to German, French and philosophy. Offers came to him to teach, and he began in the country, "boarding around," as was the custom. He was then sent to Celina, Ohio, at the suggestion of Prof. Andrew J. Rickoff, one of the most distinguished educators of that State. He remained in Celina two years, during which time he elevated the public schools of that place from their primitive character to a graded condition. Prior to going to Celina, Mr. Barnard had taken a partial course at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, to which place he returned from Celina. He remained there till his funds were used up and his strength exhausted from double work. Then he accepted the superintendency of the Middletown, Ohio, schools. Before leaving Ithaca he was met on the street in that city by W.E. Russell, Vice-President of the University, who offered to loan him money to finish his course, but Mr. Barnard's word was out to go to Middletown, which he did and there remained until 1890, when he came to Seattle to accept the superintendency of the schools of this city. It was the wish of the citizens ofSeattle to make their public-school system second to none in the United States. The schools had reached a condition when there was need of reorganization upon a more liberal plan, the school registration, September, 1890, numbering 3,398 pupils and 85 teachers. The first necessity was a head -- a master mind -- to organize the system in all its parts and direct it harmoniously as a whole. He must be a man of thorough education, a practical teacher, a trained and experienced administrator, and a man young enough to adapt himself to local conditions and to bring strength and enthusiasm to his work. There were many applicants for the place, and after long and careful consideration Prof. Barnard was engaged for the work. He has met every emergency with a steadiness of grasp and a tact that has illustrated his perfect fitness for educational work. At the close of his first year the Board of Education engaged him for a term of three years. The schoolshave largely increased in attendance, having a registration at this date, June, 1893, of 6,426 pupils and 134 teachers.The progress of the schools has been marked, as is well shown in the magnificent "Seattle School Exhibit" at the World's Fair. One prominent feature of the Seattle schools is the plan of promotion and classification, introduced by Mr. Barnard, whereby pupils are enabled to advance in their work strictly according to their individual abilities -- the slow thinkers not being hurried nor the rapid ones retarded. By this system large numbers of the pupils complete the course of study in from six months to two years less time, thereby not only saving to parents and taxpayers thousands of dollars, but greatly increasing the thoroughness of the work done by both pupils and teachers. The corps of instructors number graduates from many colleges of the United States and thirty different normal schools. Mr. Barnard was married in Cleveland, Ohio, to Miss Annah L. Fish, a former teacher in the public schools of that city. They have two children, a son and daughter. Mr. Barnard holds a life certificate from Ohio, which of itself is one of the greatest rewards of merit, and inhis present work he is erecting an educational monument which will redound to his honor and to the distinction of Seattle. Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in October 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer; posted at , and downloaded 11 Oct. 2008 Frank married Anna L. Fish (30 Sept. 1852 Brooklyn Village, Cayahoga, OH - ), daughter of Bethuel and Lucy Fish, 28 Nov. 1877 Cleveland, OH, per Family Tree Maker CD #450, County and Family Histories: Ohio, 1780-1970, Disk 1, Butler County: Lemon, p. 645 Frank married Annah (Unknown), per 1880 federal census, Middletown, Butler, OH, 4 June 1880, original page D, 16, Dwelling No. 123, Family No. 163, which lists Annah as: Annah Bernard, white, female, 27, wife (listed with Frank J. Bernard), Keeping House, born OH, father born MA, mother born NH 1880 federal census, Middletown, Butler, OH, 4 June 1880, original page D, 16: Dwelling No. 123, Family No. 163 Bernard, Frank J., white, male, 28, (blank), School Supt., born OH, father born OH, mother born OH --- Annah, white, female, 27, wife, Keeping House, born OH, father born MA, mother born NH 1900 federal census, Seattle, King, WA, 16 June 1900, stamped page (37) B: 1332 17th Ave., Dwelling No. 341, Family No.354 Barnard, Frank, head, white, male, Mar. 1852, 48 years, married 22 years, born OH, father born CT, mother born OH, Supt. Schools --- Annah, wife, white, female, Sept. 1852, 47 years, married 22 years, mother of 2 children, 2 children living, born OH, father born OH, mother born VT, occ: (blank) --- Frank, son, white, male, July 1880, 19 years, single, born OH, father born OH, mother born OH, School --- Louise I., daughter, white, female, Feb. 1882, 18 years, single, bornOH, father born OH, mother born OH, School