Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 2.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 430.
 
ROBERT C. BARFIELD
 
     Robert C. Barfield is one of the extensive and successful farmers of Lane
county, his fine farm situated in the vicinity of Cottage Grove. In all his
operations he has shown himself a progressive and practical man and his
outstanding success has been well earned through his indomitable and persistent
efforts. Mr. Barfield was born in Lagarto, Live Oak county, Texas, on the 17th
of March, 1882, and comes of one of the prominent old families of the Lone Star
state, members of which have been prominent and influential in the development
of that section of the country, as well as of other sections of the south. They
have done pioneer work in various sections and particularly in Texas they took
an active part in the stirring events of the early days, their blood being shed
in the upholding of law and order, particularly in and around Fort Mason.
 
     Robert C. Barfield received his education in the public schools of his
native state and on October 6, 1906, came to the Willamette Valley, where he
engaged in farming for eighteen months. Since his marriage he has resided on the
old Harding homestead, comprising one thousand acres, of splendid land near
Cottage Grove, where he carries on general farming, part of the land being
devoted to grain raising, and the remainder to livestock. He plans to eventually
devote the major portion of his attention to raising Shropshire sheep, for which
his farm is well adapted. The place is well improved in every respect and is
numbered among the best farms in the valley.
 
     On the 27th of August, 1908, at Salem, Mr. Barfield was united in marriage
to Miss Elizabeth Harding, who is a daughter of Daniel Waldo and Frances Maria
(Keene) Harding. Her father is a scion of the same stock from which came
President Harding, of whom he was a seventh cousin, and the Hardings have for
many years been closely identified with the public affairs of Oregon, beginning
with territorial days. The family settled in Salem about 1850 and Grandfather
Harding served as territorial secretary of state. Her mother's uncle, Matthew
Keene, was one of the early circuit riders of this state and was widely and
favorably known over a wide radius of country. Her mother was born in Marion
county, Oregon, March 26, 1862, and was married to Mr. Harding July 22, 1885,
settling soon afterwards on the present homestead at Cottage Grove, where they
spent their remaining years, the father living there May 8, 1924, and the mother
June 21, 1925. Their daughter Elizabeth is their sole heir. Mrs. Barfield
received a good education in the public schools of Salem and graduated from a
business college in that city in 1906. To Mr. and Mrs. Barfield have been born
two children, Robert Harding, born June 6, 1918, and Margaret Bernice, horn July
27, 1920. Mr. Barfield is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, in
which he has attained the rank of a Knight Templar; the Ancient Arabic Order of
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is a
charter member of the Telephone Pioneers of America, belonging to the Oregon
chapter, and has to his credit twenty-five years of continuous service. He is a
man of great energy, marked business ability and progressive ideas, and his
strong personality and agreeable manner have gained for him a high place in
public esteem throughout this section of the valley.

     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in December 2016 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.