Bios: DAVID BARNETT: Lawrence County, Pennsylvania

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  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lawrence Co transcribers.
  Coordinated by Ed McClelland

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  
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  Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
  Lawrence County Pennsylvania
  Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
  
  An html version with search engine may be found at 
  
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/lawrence/1897/
  
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    DAVID BARNETT,
    
    [p. 535] whose residence is at No. 52 Walnut Street, New Castle, where he
  is leading a practically retired life, was born in Allegheny City, Sept. 29,
  1835, and is a son of David, Sr., and Jane (Thompson) Barnett. Jane Thompson,
  the second wife of David Barnett, Sr., was a native of Washington County,
  where she was born Dec. 5, 1806. David Barnett, Sr., also a native of
  Washington County, was born near Pigeon Creek, June 8, 1796; in April, 1808,
  although very young, he went to Pittsburg to learn the carpenter's trade, and
  served an apprenticeship of four years. After following his trade a few years
  in Pittsburg as a journeyman carpenter, he went to Jefferson City, Mo., where
  he remained four years, and then returned to Pittsburg, where he secured a
  position with McClurg, Waite & Co., and while in their employ helped to build
  the first locomotive on the Pennsylvania Co.'s railroad. To men of the present
  day, who are familiar, with the latest achievements in the industrial world,
  it may seem strange, but it is nevertheless a fact, that at that early stage
  in the development of the railroad, the trains ran on wooden rails, which
  were preserved from wear and breakage by being covered with strap iron. When
  getting well along in years, David Barnett, Sr., moved to Slippery Rock
  township, Lawrence County, where he purchased a fine farm of 110 acres, and
  lived until his death at the age of sixty-seven. Of his first marriage three
  children were born. His second union with our subject's mother resulted in
  six children, the eldest of whom was David Barnett, Jr., the subject of this
  sketch.
    
    David Barnett received his education in the district schools of Slippery
  Rock township, which schools he attended until he was eighteen years old.
  When he had attained his majority, he went to Nemaha Co., Kan., where he took
  up a quarter section of land as a pre-emption claim on Soldier Creek, where he
  lived eighteen months, and proved his land. He then came home, and enlisted at
  Pittsburg, August 28, 1861, in Co. F, 100th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry,
  and was in the service four years lacking twenty-nine days, having
  re-enlisted in the field December 28, 1863, and was honorably discharged and
  mustered out at Harrisburg, Pa., on July 28, 1865. He was engaged in Virginia
  and South Carolina the greater part of the time, and was in the following
  battles: Second Bull Run, Chantilly, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Siege of
  Vicksburg, Siege of Knoxville, The Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor,
  and Petersburg. After the war, Mr. Barnett lived on the farm eighteen months,
  and then became a resident of New Castle, and shortly afterwards opened a
  grocery store, which he conducted from 1867 to 1889 with very successful
  results, which have enabled him to retire from active work, and seek rest and
  contentment the remainder of his life.
    
    March 3, 1864, he was married in Slippery Rock township to Martha Campbell,
  who was born in Shenango township, a daughter of John G. and Hannah (Gaston)
  Campbell, the latter a daughter of Robert and Anna (Matthewson) Gaston, both
  natives of Warren Co., Pa. John G. Campbell, a blacksmith by trade, was born
  in Lawrence County of Scotch descent. His father, who began farming in Plain
  Grove township over a century ago, was married twice and was the father of
  twenty-two children. Our subject's wife was fifth in a family of twelve
  children born to her parents. She is a member of the United Presbtyterian
  Church, and of the Ladies of the G. A. R. Mr. Barnett is a member of the G.
  A. R., Union Veteran Legion, and is also an Odd Fellow.