Lester S. Barnes
Lester S. Barnes, proprietor of a decorating, paint and book store at Xenia, was born in Xenia and has lived there all his life with the exception of a brief period during hig young manhood, when he was employed in a book store at Cincinnati. He was born on April 24, 1877, son of the late Major George A. Barnes and wife, the latter of whom is still living at Xenia, where Major Barnes died on September 19, 1907, and where he was born on July 14, 1837, son of Henry and Ruth Barnes.
Reared at Xenia, the city of his birth, Lester S. Barnes received his schooling in the schools of that city and upon leaving school became engaged as clerk in a local book store. He later went to Cincinnati and in that city was employed in the wall-paper department of the Fair store for some time, returning then to Xenia, where on November 20, 1899, he became engaged as a clerk in the White wall-paper store which then was doing business on Greene street, continuing thus engaged for six years, at the end of which time he became engaged in business on his own account, opening the store which he is now operating on April 1, 1906. Mr. Barnes carries a general line of wall paper, paints, stationery, books, magazines and such other articles as are included in the stock of stores of this character.
On December 20, 1899, Lester S. Barnes was united in marriage to J. Olive McDonald, who also was born in Xenia, daughter of Charles W. and Mary (Boots) McDonald, who are now living in Florida and who are the parents of four children, Mrs. Barnes having two brothers, Elmer and John McDonald, and a sister. Myrtle. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes are members of the First Reformed church. They have two children, a son and a daughter, Ruth, born on December 28, 1900, now a member of the class of 1918, Xenia high school, and Nelson, born on December 22, 1903. Mr. Barnes is a member of the local lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons and of the local camp of the Sons of Veterans.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918