George S. Barnes

George S. Baknes. The success and influence of no enterprise in Battle Creek have been more noteworthy than that of "The Michigan Poultry Breeder," a journal which has had a growing prosperity and circulating for more than a quarter of a century. Its originator, Mr. George S. Barnes, is still its editor, and the remarkable success of the publication is an achievement for which he deserves full credit. Mr. Barnes began his career when a boy by learning the printing trade. A practical printer, he later became both a practical and professional poultryman, and the permanence and continued influence of his journal have been the result of this thorough experience in two lines of accomplishment.

Jlr. Barnes is a native of Rochester, New York, where he was born March 6, 1867, the son of Wilsey G. and Madeline (Sackett) Barnes. The mother was a resident of Albion, Michigan, before her marriage, and was married there, after which she went east to reside. The father was a druggist, and it is an item of interest that he put the long-known breath perfume, "Trix," on the market. About three years after the birth of the son George, the parents moved to Battle Creek, where his mother soon afterward died. His father on account of poor health went to northern Michigan and returned to this city only a few weeks before his death in 1889.

At this early age George S. Barnes was left in the care of his father's unmarried brother and sister, Uncle Philander and Aunt Harriet Barnes, in Battle Creek. He attended the public schools here, and at the age of sixteen learned the printing trade. For a year and a half he worked on the Reed City Clarion, in this state, and afterwards was employed in printing establishments of Battle Creek for a time.

The publication of the Michigan Poultry Breeder was begun in 1885 when Mr, Barnes was eighteen years old. For three years nearly all the work on the journal was done at night, during the day the proprietor and editor was engaged in his regular trade in order to earn the necessary capital to place his publication on an independent basis. At the same time he bought the Game Fancier's Journal, which was continued for a quarter of a century until 1909, when Mr. Barnes sold it. The first issue of the Poultry Breeder, in January, 1885, was distributed free, and depended on its own merit to win subscriptions and popularity. It was at first an eight-page paper. After three years the journal was self-supporting, and since then sIr. Barnes has given most of his energies to

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Google making this one of the best monthly journals of the kind in the United States, and has succeeded so well that only a few enterprises of the kind rank in the same class. The size of the Breeder has been increased and the monthly issue is several thousand copies, and its subscribers are to be found in every one of the forty-eight states of the Union.

As a practical poultryman, Mr. Barnes has since 1891 been engaged in the breeding of high class Single Comb Buff Leghorns, of which he has one of the finest flocks in America. His exhibits at the various poultry shows have won blue ribbons in Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago, New York and other cities. Besides city real estate and a farm of forty acres, Mr. Barnes is the owner of a model home just inside the city limits, where he conducts this branch of his business, which has assumed very profitable proportions.

An elegant four family flat is located on Green street, one of the most handsome and best shaded thoroughfares in Battle Creek, and is owned by ex-mayor of the city, Geo. S. Barnes, proprietor of the famous S. C. Buff Leghorn yards. This flat is free and clear from all incumbrances. It was entirely paid for by a yearly flock of from 125 to 150 Buff Leghorns, in just twelve years time.

In politics a Republican, casting his first presidential vote for Harrison in 1888, Mr. Barnes has taken an active part in local political and municipal affairs. As alderman from the Fourth Ward for four years, he was chairman of the committee on printing, the police department, and the side and cross walks. His efforts to divorce politics from the police department, was successful, and proved a great benefit. He was one of the most energetic supporters of the street paving measure, which was carried over the mayor's veto, thus providing for the first permanent paving in Battle Creek. He was a member of the board of public works six years, during which time he was its secretary and also president. During the years 1905-06 he served as mayor of the city, an administration which was productive of much substantial benefit to the municipality. In the fall of 1910 Mr. Barnes was first a candidate for county office, at which time he was elected county treasurer, and has held that olRce since the first of January, 1911. Fraternally he is a member of the Elks lodge. For, five years he has been a member of the executive board of the American Poultry Association, and has been secretary and treasurer of the American Buff Leghorn Club for the past eleven years.

Mr. Barnes and his family reside at 678 Maple street in Battle Creek. He was married December 4, 1889, to Miss Fannie C Webb. Mrs. Barnes is a native of Battle Creek, where she received her education. Her parents, both of whom are now deceased, were Caleb and Sarah (Green) Webb, old and respected residents of this city. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Barnes: Madeline P., who died on May 19, 1912, at the age of twenty-one years. A local paper has to say of the sad event:

"The home of County Treasurer and Mrs. George S. Barnes, 678 Maple street, is saddened by the demise of their only child, Miss Madeline Barnes, who passed away at 4:30 o'clock Sunday morning after an illness which began Feb, 27, when Miss Barnes was stricken with typhoid fever. Since that time the disease has run its tedious course, resulting in a complicated stomach trouble which terminated the life of this interesting young woman, who had attained the age of 21 years. The decedent was born and educated in Battle Creek, finishing her school work with graduation in the class of 1909. With the election of Mr. Barnes as county treasurer his daughter was duly appointed deputy and has since given the dutira of that office her conscientious attention, discharging all the responsibilities with promptness and to the satisfaction of the county. A wide circle of business acquaintances was acquired and the

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Google many testimonials to the worth and character of this young woman are evidence of her proficiency and courtesy. Miss Barnes was of very quiet and retiring disposition, but those traits won the lasting affection and esteem of hosts of friends who will join the family in morning the untimely departure of one in the springtime of life. In the home of the decedent was an obedient and devoted daughter, giving her parents the best love of a pure and tender heart, and it is here that the affliction fails heaviest. Services in memory of Miss Barnes will be held at the residence Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock, Rev. William S. Potter, officiating, followed by a committal service in Oak Hill. The court house at Marshall was closed for the afternoon out of respect to her memory. ' '

Miss Barnes was one of the fair young flowers of her home city, and one of the brightest girls in the Battle Creek high school, from which she was graduated with the class of 1909. Her untimely passing has brought sorrow to many and filled the lives of her parents with a grief which time alone may in some measure assuage but may never obliterate.

As printed in History of Calhoun county, Michigan; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principle interests (1913). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.