Louisiana AHGP

Part of the American History and Genealogy Project

William G. Barnes

William G. Barnes, like a number of the residents of Athens, Louisiana, is a merchant and planter, and has met with fair success in both enterprises.

His birth occurred in Heard County, Georgia, in 1847, he being the elder of two children born to his parents, the other child being Mary E., wife of J. W. Cobb, of Athens. John W. Barnes, their father, was born in Georgia, about 1821, and was there married to Miss Elizabeth Brown, whose birth occurred in that State in 1828. The father resided in his native State until his death, which occurred in 1849, after which his widow married Rev. H. H. Phillips, a prominent minister of the Missionary Baptist Church.

The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was William Barnes, a native of South Carolina, who was one of the earliest settlers of Western Georgia, and his maternal grandfather was Ezekiel Brown, whose wife was Charlotte Barnhill. The family removed from Georgia to Columbia County, Arkansas, in 1861, and in 1869 located in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, where Mr. Phillips died in July, 1875, having been a minister of the gospel for about thirty-five years. Mr. Barnes has two half-sisters: Annie C., wife of W. A. Adkins, of Athens, and Ella Y., wife of W. R, Kimball, of Brookston, Texas.

William G. Barnes was educated in the schools of Georgia and Arkansas, and in 1864 enlisted in the Confederate Army under Capt. Tyler, serving faithfully until the war closed. In July, 1869, he took as his companion through life Miss Pamelia McDonald, of Columbia County, Arkansas, by whom he became the father of two boys: John W. and Grayton H. Mrs. Barnes died in February, 1875, and the following year Mr. Barnes espoused Miss Cordelia Adkins, in this parish, and their union has resulted in the birth of three children: Geneva V., Voselli A. and Rena A. Politically Mr, Barnes is a Democrat, and from 1882 until 1886) served in the capacity of justice of the peace. He is managing a good plantation of 250 acres, which be owns, and in connection with this has been engaged in the mercantile business since 1887, and now has a well-stocked drug store. His wife is an earnest Christian lady, and is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Biographical Sketches| Claiborne Parish

Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana, Southern Publishing Company, 1890