Governor C. M. Barnes is a native of New York, and was born in Livingston county in 1854. At a very early age he emigrated to Michigan with his parents where he was educated. At an early age he embarked in life for himself and at the age of 15 was a telegraph operator in full charge of an office at the then frontier station of Leavenworth, Kas. When the civil war broke out , though but 16 years old, he enlisted in the Union army and served throughout, first as private secretary to Gen. Lyons and later in the military telegraph corps and the engineer's corps.
At the close of the war he settled in Little Rock, Arkansas. In 1869 he was married to Miss Mary E. Bartlett, a daughter of Judge Liberty Bartlett, a lady of rare social and intellectual gifts. Three children who have blessed this union are - Cassius B., an ensign in the United States navy; Harry C., married and a first lieutenant in the 34th Regiment U. S. Volunteers now in the Philippines and Eliza Louise, whose presence graced the executive mansion until recently when she married Mr. C. R. Havighorst, a rising young business man of the Capital City.
Governor Barnes located in Oklahoma in 1889. Was receiver of the U. S. land office four years; represented Guthrie in the legislature twice, being speaker of the house of the 3rd Assembly; member National Republican Committee four years and at all times a party leader; he is a Master Mason and a Knight Templar, and a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias. He was appointed Governor in May, 1897, and has given Oklahoma the best administration she has ever had, being backed up by an official family whose every member is specially fitted for position he fills. The affairs of the office have all been conducted in an admirable manner expeditiously and economically. The first report of Governor Barnes to the Secretary of the Interior was by Secretary Bliss declared to be the best report ever submitted by the governor of any territory and the two subsequent documents have been better and have attracted attention to Oklahoma all over the nation and has been the means of bringing in thousands of desirable immigrants, they have also been the means of improving the financial condition of the territory, bringing in much money and enhancing the value of all territorial securities.
Governor Barnes may have made some mistakes (--who has not?) but his administration of public affairs is generally commended by fair minded people and he will long be known as Oklahoma's most able and progressive governor.
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