James Barnes

As printed in 1882

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 History of Boone County, Missouri (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.