W. P. Barnes
W. P. Barnes, who has been a life-long resident of Jefferson County, Ohio, is the owner of 229 acres in Salem Township, and 135 acres in Springfield Township. He was born May 10, 1840, in Salem Township, a son of J. C. and Sarah (Strayer) Barnes, and is a grandson of Joseph Barnes, a native of Scotland.
J. C. Barnes was born in Salem Township, and after attending the subscription schools of that locality, taught one year in the township. He was then clerk in a general store for Mr. Boyd, of Annapolis, O., after which he located on a farm in North Salem Township. After his marriage he resided on the old Strayer farm, then removed to Richland County, where he resided one year, after which he returned to the Strayer farm, where he lived until his death in 1878. In early life he was a Whig and later a Republican. He served as trustee of the township and was for several years supervisor. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church and were buried at Leas Cemetery. He married Sarah Strayer, who was a daughter of Jacob Strayer, and to them were born; Cyrus; Amos, (was killed in the army); W. P.; Philander; Albert; George, Joshua, Samantha, Samuel Ross, and T. B. Mrs. Barnes died in 1886.
W, P. Barnes attended the schools of Annapolis, after which he worked on the farm until the beginning of the war, when he enlisted with Co. G, 52nd. Ohio Volunteer Infantry. After the war he returned to Salem Township and has since resided on his present farm, where he has made many improvements. In 1891 he built his residence which is one of the finest in the township or in this part of the county. The barn, which was built in 1899, is as fine as many farm houses, and contains 52 glass windows, which are placed in all four sides of the building. Both buildings have slate roofs with dates of erection, and the roof of the barn has the name W. P. Barnes inscribed thereon.
Mr. Barnes was married October 16, 1866 to Mary C. Campbell, who is a daughter of William and Jane (Ekey) Campbell, and to them were born James William and Rema Blanche. Mr. Barnes is a member of the G. A. R. Post at Jefferson, O., and he and his wife are active members of the M. E. Church. He is politically a Republican, is trustee of Salem Township and for several years served as supervisor.
William J. Campbell, father of Mrs. Barnes, was born in Springfield Township, Jefferson County, Ohio, a son of James and Mary Campbell, and received his education in the schools of the township. He married Jane Ekey, who was a daughter of James and Jane Ekey, and they reared the followiug children: Mary C.; James, who died April 20, 1905 and was buried at East Springfield; and Jennie, who married Paxton George, of East Liverpool, O. After his marriage Mr. Campbell settled on a farm in Springfield Township wliere he spent the remainder of his life, his deatli occurring September 23, 1852. He was a Democrat, and he and his wife were members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Campbell built a fine resident on his farm in 1844 and in 1884 his son James built a large barn, which at the time of the raising required the services of 104 men. All timber used in this barn is clear of knots or wind shakes. On March 9, 1909, .Mrs. Barnes bought the farm of 375 acres where she was born and reared, saying that the result of the hard labor of her father, mother and brother James should not pass into the hands of strangers.
From 20th Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio, by Joseph B. Doyle. Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910