Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 1006 - 1007 

ROBERT M. BARNES, M. D., the only practicing physician of the village of Greenwich, has been operating successfully among the people on the eastern line of Sedgwick County since the summer of 1886. The history of the family in its main points is as follows:

             The parents of our subject, Marmaduke and Jane S. (McMaines) Barnes, were natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky, the former born in Southampton County in 1810. He was reared to farming pursuits, and early in life left his native State and began tilling the soil among the pioneers of Parke County, Ind., where he first settled in 1830. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, and was considered sufficiently competent and honest to represent his district in the State Legislature. He was duly elected in 1844, on the Democratic ticket, serving out his term with credit to himself, and satisfaction to his constituents. Death took him from the further honors which might have been his, he dying while in the prime of life a few years later, in 1847. Both he and his excellent wife were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

             The mother of our subject was born in Woodford County, Ky., in 1811, and surviving her husband a period of twenty-five years, passed away at her home in Springville, Iowa, on the 6th of August, 1872. These worthy and excellent people were the parents of seven children, the record of whom is as follows: Sarah C., Linnie A., Robert M. and Martha A., the two latter twins; William Alexander died when three years of age; Mary Jane and Melissa Antoinette. Linnie A., who was the wife of Jacob Arney, died about 1881, in Condon, Iowa; Sarah C. married Andrew Tannehill, and resides in Glenwood, Mo.; Martha was twice married, her first husband having been Daniel Boyles, now deceased, and the second, Jerome Woods, with whom she is living in Iowa; Mary Jane is the wife of J. Duncan, and they are residents of Unionville, Mo.; Melissa, Mrs. Fremont A. Burress, is also living in Unionville.

             The subject of our sketch upon reaching manhood was married, in Hancock County, Ill., to Miss Susan Holbert, in June, 1866, and they are now the parents of seven children. Their eldest, Sarah Jane, when three years of age was burned to death, her clothing having caught fire from an open fireplace. Byron and Ida, twins, died when about eight months old; Robert Ross at the age of six years was stricken with spotted fever, and died while his father was absent from home.

             Mrs. Barnes is the daughter of Elihu and Eliza Holbert, natives of North Carolina, and now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. B. after their marriage located in Schuyler County, Ill., whence they came to this county in December, 1885. The Doctor when a boy removed with his parents to Iowa, and continued a resident of Davis County until the outbreak of the Rebellion. Soon after the first call for troops he enlisted in Company G, 21st Missouri Infantry. He remained with the company about two years, when he was honorably discharged. Ie then assisted in organizing a company for the protection of the southern border of Iowa, and was elected to the First Lieutenantcy of Company A, of what was known as the "Davis County Rangers," and taking command of his company, held his commission until being honorably discharged at the close of the war.

             Dr. Barnes attended Keokuk Medical College after returning from the army, and received his diploma from that institution in 1867. He at once commenced practice, and in 1873 took up his residence in Schuyler County, Ill., where he built up an extensive patronage, and became very popular and successful. A part of the years 1885 and 1886 was spent in traveling through New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and California. About that time he became interested in the mines of Chaffee County, Col., in which he still retains an interest. He and his estimable lady are the center of a circle of warm friends, and their neat and tasteful home is the resort of the cultivated people of Greenwich and vicinity.

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