Biographies Michigan Biographies Project |
Mr. Barnes was born in Chatham, in the Province of Quebec, Canada, February 16, 1822. His parents, Avery and Fanny (Burch) Barnes, were natives of Randolph county, in the Green Mountain State. Our subject was the oldest of a family of five children. A bried review of his life and varied experiences clearly indicated the inbred characteristics of the man. He received his education at the comon schools of Quebec. At the age of eighteen years, he turned his back upon his parental home an found employment in a general store in Belleville, Canada. His entire wages for the first year were $28.00. An income of nearly eight cents per day. The second year he received the munificient sum of $48.00. He engaged in various occupations for time, and finally went into the lumber regions of Canada, as clerk, receiving for his first year's work $160.00. He kept at it for three years, and last year cleaned up $300.00. Having established something of a reputation as a lumberman, he was engaged by a lumber company, as overseer of a gang of men, getting out logs. The timber was located about twenty miled west of Montreal; here he remained for one year and again embarked in business for himself. Forming a partner ship with two others, the established a general store at Ottawa, Canada, and engaged in rafting logs for the Quebec market. Closing out his interest after one year he boarded the sailing vessel, the "William Frothingham," bound for Austrailia, and after an eventful voyage of nine weeks, he landed at Cape Town in Africa. This was in the fall of 1852. Here the vessel received supplies of water, meats and other necessaries, and after four days in port set sail for Melbourne, Austrailia. After reaching Melbourne, Mr. Barnes and companions, went into the diggings and lived in a tent eight feet square, while prospecting for gold, in this they were not very successful. There seemed to be a good opening for a general store, Mr. Barnes and companions supplied the need. Their place of business consisted of a frame work of poles twenty by thirty feet, covered with canvas; owning to the unsettled conditions of the country it was necessary for all good law-abiding citizens to go heavily armed for self-protection. The enterprise proved a success, and Mr. Barnes in teh space of three years cleaned up several thousand dollars. Closing out the business he engaged in farming in Austrailia, and contined with varying results until the fall of 1859, when he embarked for London, England, from there took shipping for New York, where he arrived in October. That fall he came to Port Huron, Michigan, formed a partnership with one John Johnson, and engaged in the lumber business again. This proved too tame for restless nature, and after six months he sold out, returned to Canada, formed a company, leased land and sunk oil wells. They produced the first flowing well in Canada. He interested Montreal capitalists, secured a loan of $15,000 to develop the business. No market could be found at that time for the crude oil. Four thousand barrels were sold for ten cents per barrel.The business was finally abandoned with considerably financial loss. November 7, 1865, Mr. Barnes was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Vernon of George, a lady of culture and refinement, an ideal home keeper and mother; Ida L., a sweet faced child, was born September 12, 1868, for seventeen years she was the light and joy of the home, when her young life so full of hope and promise went out, she died March, 1887. Her sainted mother preceded her to the beter land, having died December 2, 1877. The breaking up of the home was a sad blow to Mr. Barnes, but business claimed his attention, and it was well it did. Mr. Barnes was again married, to Mrs. James Sherman, who has since shared with the fortunes of life. In 1866, the year following the Civil War, when there was a great rearrangement in all departments of business, Mr. Barnes came to Mason, he at once plunged into business. He purchased a lot and built a substantial warehouse, where now stands the cold storage plant. He handled building material and had the field practically to himself. He also purchased his present comfortable residence and later aded many needed improvements. He continued in the business for about twenty-five years, engaging also in the manufacturing of staves, both enterprises proved profitable investments. Mr. Barnes is what might be termed a conservative Republican.
Mr. Barnes has served the city as Treasurer in a most acceptable manner. He united with the I. O. O. F. in 1846 Montreal, after becoming a resident of Mason was transferred to Mason Lodge. Mr. Barnes is an esteemed member of the Presbyterian Church, his membership reaching back nearly 35 years. He has served the society officially as Trustee and otherwise.
Sincerity, coonservatism and honesty are three prominent traits that have characterized his dealings with his fellows. Mr. Barnes may justly be termed a "much traveledman." He has been around the worled, sailed over the north and sough Atlantic, and Pacific and Indian oceans from 50 degrees north latitude to 60 degrees south latitude.
A man of wide experience and many virtues.
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Biographies Michigan Biographies Project |
 Sondra Higbee
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