The Barnes Families of Boone County, Missouri

ELDER JAMES BARNES.

Of the many brave, generous, self-sacrificing ministers who came at an early day to the frontier wilderness of Missouri, bringing the glad tidings of salvation to sinful men, none were more loved and respected than Elder James Barnes, who was first in the presence and first in the hearts of the primitive settlers of Boone county. His was a three-fold mission. He was a soldier of the cross, a soldier of war and a teacher. He was neither learned nor brilliant, but for the age in which he lived, and the field in which he toiled, he was well-fitted. The fruits of his labor survive him, and will remain though untold ages yet to come.

Elder Barnes was born in Madison county, Kentucky, September 18, 1788. He made a profession of religion when but fifteen years old, and was baptized and admitted a member of the Yates Creek church, the denomination being that of the Old School, or Regular Baptist. In the year 1800 Elder Barnes emigrated to Missouri, making Fort Hempstead the objective point of his journey. In this fort, which was situated in Howard county, he was afterwards married. He proved a useful member of the little band gathered for mutual protection, within the four walls of this rude stockade. When assailed be took his rifle and helped defend the fort. When the storm of battle was over, and the yell of the merciless savage no longer called the vigilant pioneers to the ramparts or the port-holes. Elder Barnes turned his attention to other, and more congenial, tasks. He preached and prayed with all the fervor of his ardent, God-fearing nature, for the salvation of those whom a special providence seemed to have placed within reach of his warning voice. Another duty he found both leisure and opportunity for, and he discharged it faithfully. He became their temporal as well as spiritual teacher. His pupils were eager to acquire the rudiments of education, and thankful for this their first and, perhaps, only opportunity of learning to read.

The fertile valley of the Missouri soon attracted sufficient population to defend it against all threatened danger, and the forts, once the pride and hope of the pioneer, must henceforth remain only as so many relics of other and darker days. When once assured of safety, the pioneers left the forts and betook themselves to the choice lands of the surrounding country. Elder Barnes came to Boone county and was soon identified with all the best interests of the people, who showed their appreciation and gratitude by making him their sheriff* When the country became more densely populated and he found that he could well be spared from the temporal walks of life, he devoted all his time, thought and energy to his real calling, that of preaching the gospel. Being a man of much physical strength he was equal to all the hardships and trials incident to his ministerial labors, and never under the most trying circumstances did he walter or complain. He travelled a great deal, but always found a hearty welcome whenever he crossed the humble threshold of the pioneer, be he Christian or infidel, Baptist or Methodist. They all knew.and loved ' Uncle Jimmy Barnes," and his * God bless you ! " when once heard was seldom forgotten. In his old age he narrowed his field of labor, and for many years seldom went beyond the limits of Rocky Fork, Perche and Bourbon townships. He organized many churches in an early day, old Gilead, in Rocky Fork township, being one among the number- While venerable and dignified in bearing, he yet possessed a jovial disposition, and was never so happy as when promoting the happiness of others. He lived to have his second eyesight, but was blind when he died. He scarcely knew, from his own experience, what it was to be sick. When death came at last, it was painless. Like the orb of day, this noble life went down to us, only to rise on other shores. He died February 6, 1875, in the eighty-seventh year of his age.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

DURRETT H. BARNES.

John Barnes, the father of Durrett, was a citizen of this county while it was yet the above of wild Indians. The only means of safety was the rude forts constructed by the early pioneers, in which they took refuge when the Indians were on the war-path. John Barnes came to Howard county in 1808 with his father, Shadrach Barnes. They formed for several years near Old Franklin. John was one of a family of twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, all of whom lived to have families. Durrett Barnes was born in Boone county, September 13, 1822. His opportunities for obtaining an education were very limited. His first teacher was Overton Harris, who taught in a little log cabin with luncheon floor. The boys attended this school clad in the simplest style that could be imagined, their entire wardrobes consisting of but a single garment made from the lint of flax, grown on the farm and manufactured at home by industrious mothers and daughters who knew nothing of the luxuries and vanities of civilization, and cared less. The subject of this sketch was married to Miss Caroline E., daughter of Philip Lyle, a native of New York. They had eight children, six sons and two daughters. Their names are Ellen F., Thomas T., Philip, Filmore, Dora A., Robert D., William H., and John. There are but five of the number living*. Durinothe war, Mr. Barnes entered the Confederate service under Colonel Joe Porter, and was taken prisoner and kept at Alton, Illinois, until 1864, when he was released and allowed to return home. His first wife having died, he was married the second time to Lavinia Kanatzar, nee Roberts, in 1869. He is now living on a farm of 240 acres in Centralia township.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

THOMAS COLTER BARNES.

Thomas C. Barnes was born in Old Franklin, Howard county, Missouri, May 27th, 1819. He is the son of James and Nancy (Colter) Barnes. His father died when he was but three years old and his mother removed to Boone county, settling on a farm near Columbia. He remained at home with his mother until 1835, when, in his sixteenth year, he went to Columbia to learn the saddler's trade, serving under James Richardson. He remained in the shop four years and a half. During this time he attended school six months. He afterwards went to school five months at his own expense. In 1840 he began farming as a renter and so continued for five years, when he bought the farm he now occupies, which then contained 160 acres, situated five and one-half miles northwest of Columbia. He has added to this by subsequent purchases, and now owns 240 acres. Mr. Barnes has been twice married. His second wife was Miss Susan Davenport, of Boone county. He has ten children, five by each wife. The children by the first marriage are Margaret U., wife of John Davenport, of Boone county; James S., a farmer in Audrain county; Amanda, wife of Richard F. Farthing, of Audrain county; William H., of Audrain county, and Mary, wife of

Edward Farthing, of Audrain. By his second wife: John G., on the homestead; Minnie A., wifeof Joseph Bennett, of Boone county; David D., Emma Eleil and Mai issa Jane. Mr. Barnes and wife are members of the Oakland Christian church. Previous to changing his membership, he served as elder in the Friendship Christian church, for nine years. During the war he remained neutral. Mr. Barnes has always taken a deep interest in local school matters and has served on the school board of his district for many years, being much of the time chairman of the committee.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

The subject of this sketch is the son of Benjamin Barnes, a native of Kentucky, and, with one exception, the only citizen of Boone, now living, who came to this county in 1817. He is now eighty-five years old. The mother of Elias Barnes was Lucretia Simms, who came to Missouri when a child. Elias was born June 15, 1839. He was the seventh son and tenth child of his father's family. He was raised on the farm entered by his father soon after his arrival in Boone county, and was educated at the common schools of his neighborhood. He remained with his father until 1864 when he enlisted in the Confederate army, joining Captain Strode's company, of Searcy's regiment, in which he served until the close of the war. He was in Price's raid and took part in all the battles fought on the retreat from Independence to Cane Hill. After the close of the war he was a member of the home guard at Columbia for several mouths. In the fall of 1865 he went to work on the farm owned by Mrs. K. Fortney. July 29, 1867, he was married to Miss Lou, daughter of Mrs. K. Fortney, who is still living at the advanced age of eighty-scTen years. In the winter of 1870 he came to the farm where he now lives, in sections 6 and 7, township 47, range 12. He has always followed the occupation of a farmer. They have one daughter, Cannabel.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

THOMAS HARRIS BARNES.

Thomas Harris Barnes is the son of Thomas H. Barnes, of Madison county, Kentucky, where he was born January 8, 1860. His mother was Ann Wingfield, a native of Virginia. The father of Thomas died when his son was but three years old. He had served his native county in the capacity of county court clerk. He was a member of the Christian church. Mrs. Harris removed to Missouri with her family of six children in the fall of 1866, settling three miles west of Centralia, where she remained until her death. Thomas H. prepared himself for teaching in the public schools. He followed his profession until 1882, when he formed a partnership with R. H. Wilhite in the boot and shoe trade. They have a good business, with flattering prospects for the future. Mr. Harris is a member of the Good Tempto lodge at Centnilia.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.