 He was a descendant of Jacob Barney of Bradenham, Buckinghamshire, England, who settled at Salem, Massachusetts, in 1630.John Barney was a farmer in Jefferson County, New York, when his sons Danford (1808) and Ashbel were born.Educated at Belleville Academy in his native county, Ashbel Barney went to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1842 with his brother Danford and engaged in business as forwarding and commission merchants as Danford N. Barney & Company.