Fayette County PA Archives Biographies.....Barnes, David February 5, 1819 - ????
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Source: Gresham and Wiley, 1889: Biographical & Portrait Cyclopedia, Fayette Co, PA, pg 586
Author: John H. Gresham & Samuel T. Wiley

David Barnes. "Every town or borough has its distinctive 
characters, among whom are men who seem to have been born to 
be publicly useful, and who could not well have gone into 
strictly private life if they had tried. Aside from their 
regular business they fill numerous offices, are known by 
everybody, consulted more or less by everybody about 
everything, are alert, smart, found apt at any business upon 
which they may be called to enter, wide awake-in short, 
universally useful, ever willing and competent. Of this 
class of men is David Barnes of Connellsville. His family 
has been identified with Fayette county for over eighty 
years.
    Mr Barnes is the grandson of Zephaniah Ellis Barnes who 
came to America from England and settled in Woodstown, New 
Jersey, several generations ago. There in 1765 was born 
David Barnes Sr, father of our David Barnes, and who came to 
Connellsville in 1801 and built there (the first of its kind 
ever seen west of the mountains), what was then known as a 
"go-back sawmill." He took a great interest in the 
organization of the borough and was a member of its first 
council. He built the market house which stands on the 
corner of Spring and Church streets, and under Governor 
Simon Snyder was appointed flour inspector for Fayette 
county.
    During the War of 1812, he, in company of Joseph McClurg 
of Pittsburgh, ran Mount Pleasant Furnace where were made 
cannon, cannonballs, and grape shot for the government. 
After the war he engaged in the iron business with Isaac 
Meason and James Paull. He was a man of excellent ability to 
plan and execute. He died in 1832 and was buried in the 
Quaker graveyard in Connellsville.
    His wife was Sarah Proctor, a native of Old Town, 
Maryland, and born in 1785. She was a relative of the Ogles, 
Camerons and Clintons of that state, and came with her 
parents to Perryopolis, Fayette county, in 1812. In 1818 she 
and David Barnes were married. At his death she was left 
with six children, one having previously died. Her whole 
time and energy were devoted to rearing and educating her 
children, particularly in morals and religion. She never, 
when in health, let an evening pass without assembling her 
young family and reading to them a chapter from the 
Scriptures. Of course she was particular to avoid such 
chapters as are not considered delicate and proper to be 
read by youthful and uninformed minds.  Her selections were 
always judicious. After reading she always uttered a prayer 
for the protection of her children, mingled with earnest 
hopes for their future usefulness.
    Her family consisted of David Barnes, William Barnes, 
Hamilton Barnes, Joseph Barnes, Z Ellis Barnes, Emily Barnes 
and Mary Bell Barnes.
    William Barnes was educated at Lewisburg University and 
was ordained as a Baptist minister at the First Baptist 
Church of Pittsburgh. He visited the Holy Land with the view 
of thereby the better enabling himself to fulfill the 
responsible duties of his calling. He wished to see the 
places where Christ preached, feeling that he might gather 
inspiration therefore. At the breaking out of the late war, 
he was commissioned as chaplain of the Fifth New York 
Volunteer Artillery, and served until the close of the war.
    Hamilton Barnes has served a term in the State Senate 
from Somerset county. He is a fluent and impressive speaker, 
and a leader in the republican party.
    Joseph Barnes became a carpenter, and as a foreman of 
his department helped build the Union Pacific railroad.
    Ellis Barnes, being a great lover of horses, has dealt 
extensively in them and during the late war was 
quartermaster under General Samuel B Holabird. He resides in 
Connellsville and carries on the livery and sale business.
    Emily Barnes died quite young.
    Mary Bell Barnes married Thomas Evans and is the mother 
of a large family, all industrious and good citizens.
    "David Barnes was born in Perryopolis, February 5, 1819, 
and attended the common schools, but regards his mother as 
his only real teacher and only friend in youth. At sixteen 
years of age, he commenced teaching school and followed the 
business until (he having meanwhile incurred the 
responsibilities of marriage) his wages would not support 
him, when he turned his attention to politics. In 1853 he 
was appointed a clerk in the State Department at Harrisburg, 
where he remained some sixteen year. About 1869 he resigned 
his office at the capitol and accepted the position of 
paymaster of the Pittsburg and Connellsville railroad, and 
thereafter resigned that to accept a position as bookkeeper 
of the National Locomotive Works at New Haven; and on the 
completion of the Southwest Pennsylvania railroad from 
Greensburg to Connellsville, was appointed station agent at 
the latter place, which position he still holds.
    "Mr Barnes is a staunch republican and exerted 
considerable influence during the late war. He was the true 
friend of the soldiers, helping and aiding them wherever he 
could, visiting them in hospitals and administering to their 
wants. Great numbers of them made him their banker, and he 
judiciously invested their funds for them, often profitably 
refusing all fees for his services; and he still helps them 
in their celebrations, especially to 'fight their battles 
o'er,' he being a fluent and stirring speaker.
    Mr Barnes is charitable to a fault, but of great 
determination of character, and--not lacking in fiery 
spirit-makes enemies; but feeling that he is right, he cares 
not for foes declaring that he would 'rather have one 
influential friend than the whole rabble of the town' at his 
back.
    Mr Barnes was a popular officer at the state capitol, 
was respected by all with whom he did business, and in war 
times was the confidential and trusted friend of Governor 
Curtin, rendering him special services, at one time carrying 
messages from him to all the governors of the New England 
states. Mr Barnes has been somewhat of a traveler, having 
climbed to the top of Mt Washington in the White Mountains, 
and visited the battlefields around Richmond, Virginia, and 
seen 'considerable of the country besides.'
    In 1848 Mr Barnes married Mary Jane Sherman, a daughter 
of Samuel Sherman of Connellsville, a native of Connecticut, 
and related to the family of Roger Sherman. Mr and Mrs 
Barnes have had nine children-four sons and five daughters. 
Two of the daughters are dead.
    His eldest son, Andrew Stewart Barnes, served during the 
late war as a soldier in the Fifth Pennsylvania Heavy 
Artillery. After the war he learned the machinist trade in 
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad shops. Thereafter he was 
appointed postmaster at Connellsville, and afterwards route 
agent between Washington City and Pittsburgh, which position 
he still holds. Mr Barnes thinks that boys should learn 
trades, and his son, Samuel Barnes, is a machinist, and 
William Barnes a carpenter. Irwin Barnes, another son, quite 
young, is devoted to music. Mary Elizabeth Barnes is married 
and lives in Cuba, New York. Jennie Barnes and Hallie 
Barnes, his other children, are very intelligent and likely 
to grow up to be excellent citizens.
    Mr Barnes lost the use of one of his legs when he was 
but ten years old, and says that his misfortune was 'a 
godsend,' as with his vitality and energy and two good legs 
he 'might have become a brigand.' What is worse he might 
have, and likely would have, gone into the late war and 
would probably have been killed on the field. With the aid 
of his crutch he moves about as lively as most men on two 
good legs, and at the age of sixty three is as active as 
ever, and looks younger than most men at fifty. His 'nerve' 
will probably carry him on into extreme old age, and keep 
him useful all the while.

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2000.

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