Among the farmers of Macoupin county there are few who occupy a
higher position in the estimation of the community than the gentleman
whose name stands at the head of this review. He has been engaged in
farming and stockraising ever since his boyhood and is also very
prominent in political, religious and fraternal affairs, being one of
the most active and efficient workers in the county along those lines. A
native of Carlinville township, he was born on a farm north of
Carlinville, March 31, 1863, a son of Andrew J. and Mary Barnes, the
former qf whom was born in Ohio. The grandfather of our subject was
Elias Barnes, a native of Pennsylvania. Andrew J. Barnes came to
Macoupin county, from the Keystone state early in the ’60s and engaged
in farming in Carlinville township until 1868. He then moved to South
Otter township, where he continued until his death in 1877, his wife
having been called away about twelve years previously.
Summit W.
Barnes attended the public schools until fourteen years of age, when his
father died and the family was broken up. He then took up his residence
with an uncle in Montgomery county and carried his studies further in
the public schools of that section. In 1879 he returned to South Otter
township and secured employment as a farm hand under William Huson at
nine dollars per month. He worked for wages until 1884, when he began
farming for himself in South Otter and later in Nilwood township. In
1888 he moved to Wichita, Kansas, but after one year’s experience in the
Sunflower state came to the conclusion that conditions were more
favorable east of the Mississippi river. Accordingly, he returned to
Macoupin county and again worked for wages until 1897, when he resumed
farming upon a small place in Nilwood township. In 1900 he enlarged his
operations and since 1904 has been cultivating the D. C. Enslow farm,
which comprises three hundred and forty acres. He raises the cereals
upon an extensive scale and is also a large cattle feeder and shipper.
He takes great interest in the development of the agricultural and live
stock resources of the state and is a stockholder of the Macoupin County
Fair Association.
On the 13th of February, 1884, Mr. Barnes was
married to Miss Clara S. Davidson, of South Otter township, a daughter
of David and Carolina (Graves) Davidson, the former of whom was born in
Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes have no children of their own but have an
adopted daughter, Hattie, to whom all desirable advantages of education
and training have been extended.
In politics Mr. Barnes adheres
to the democratic party. He has served for seven years as central
committeeman of Nilwood township, two years as assessor and three years
as highway commissioner and school director. Religiously he is
identified with the Southern Methodist church and is deeply interested
in church work, being a local preacher of this denomination. He also
serves as trustee and steward of the church and for fifteen years has
been superintendent of the Sunday school. For five years past he has
represented the denomination at both district and annual conferences,
proving one of the most efficient workers of that body. He is also
actively connected with fraternal organizations and is a member of
Girard Lodge, No. 171, A. F. & A. M., of which he is junior warden;
Chapter No. 132, R. A. M.; and the council at Sullivan. He also belongs
to McVey Camp, No. 3065, M. W. A., having served as manager for nine
years. He has the reputation of being a good shot and holds membership
in the Nilwood Gun Club. Notwithstanding the responsibility involved by
the management of a large farm, Mr. Barnes finds time to discharge his
various other duties and performs his work so acceptably that his
services are in constant demand. His life has in an important degree
been devoted to the promotion of the comfort and happiness of others and
he seeks no reward except the consciousness of following in the
footsteps of the great teacher who said: “He that loseth his life shall
find it.”
Extracted 18 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 718-719.
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