Rensselaer Standard, Volume 1, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 October 1879 — A Wife’s Partnership With Two Husbands. [ARTICLE]

A Wife’s Partnership With Two Husbands.

Pittsburg Commercial Gazette.

Near Prospect, a station on the Chautauqua Lake Railroad, about eight miles northeast of Mayville, resides Mr. Alpha Barns in the old Fish-aud-Barns homestead. Alpha Barns, until the last few years, was always known as “Fish-and-Barns,” from the fact that his mother lived as wife of Hiram Fish and James Barns. Born late in the last century, in Connecticut, Hiram Fish came with his parents to Oneida county. New York, and lived there until 1813. Becoming infatuated with a beautiful young girl uamed Amanda Nobles, aud his youthful affections being crossed by friends, he determined to go West and secure a home, and then return and claim the hand of the object of his affections. He came to Chautauqua county and settled on a large tract of land, about 600 acres in extent, and made preparations for living. Being an active* energetic and industrious youth, he soon made an inviting home, tie started for Rome to claim his plighted beauty. When little more than half the journey was over he was captured by the Indian allies of the British and taken to Canada, where he was detained as a Erisoner until the fall of 1817. What is anxiety must have been these years no one can now know. The chatiugs of confinement, the insolence of captors, were heightened and intensified by fears of the loss of the object <>f bis heart. Immediately on being liberated, he hastened toward Rome, arriving there late in the day, January 26, 1818. No word having been received from him for nearly four years, and supposing Uim to be dead, Amanda had given her hand to James Barns, and on that day (January 26.1818), but a little while before Fish arrived, the indissoluble union had been made. His appearance at that time created the greatest confusion. Amanda declared that she loved Fish and could not live with Bairns. To make the best of an unfortunate circumstance, Barns and Fish agreed to both live with her as their joint wife. In pursuance of that agreement the three, in August, 1818, moved*on the Fish lands in Chautauqua county, and there lived together for fifty years, until the death of Barns, which occurred January 2, 1866, and she and Fish lived together until his death, December 20, 1876. Of a long life but twelve years were devoted of her heart, but those years were of perfect joy. Since Fish’s death she has resided with her children. She is now in her eighty-second year. The children were always known by the neighbors as “Fish and Barns.” In everything a community of interest was had, valuable improvements made, a large fortune accumulated, all of which was willed by the respective decedents to the wife and four children, according to the letter of the agreement made JanUaiy 26, 1818. It is said that through this long and strange life never the want was felt in the home, never a domestic misunderstanding, not even a rash word. The mother always called and spoke of Barns as “Mr Bams,” and it is said never mentioned the name of “Mr. Fish,” and she never spoke of him save with tears. Until Fish’s death her affections remained unchanged, as intense and exclusive for/him as in youth, nor did she conceal her feelings. The children, too, bore Fish all the affection that an indulgent father could ask.