Barnes, John J.

JOHN J. BARNES, deceased, was born in Mercer county, six miles from the town of Mercer, November 14, 1817, son of James and Mary (Alexander) Barnes, of Scotch- Irish descent, and early settlers of that vicinity. He was brought up at the home of his parents and obtained such education as the schools of that day afforded. December 5, 1839, he married Eliza Jane, daughter of James and Sarah (Fulton) Montgomery, of Sandy Creek township, Mercer county. They were also of Scotch- Irish origin. James Montgomery was three times elected to the legislature of Pennsylvania and served in the constitutional convention of 1837. He was also an officer in the war of 1812. For two years our subject worked as a tailor, and then engaged in farming on the property now owned by his widow. They made their home here in July, 1847. He served as constable two years in Mercer county, five years for French Creek township, and four years as justice of the peace in Mineral after its formation. In 1874 he became blind, but recovered the sight of one eye ten years later. After a long and painful illness, which he bore with the fortitude of a spirit sustained by divine grace, his death occurred July 8, 1886, and he is buried at Oak Hill cemetery, Mercer county. He was the father of twelve children (ten sons and two daughters), four of whom died in infancy. Those living are George A.; Archibald; William A.; Thomas J.; Matthew; Oliver W.; Jennie E.; and Sarah G., wife of LaFayette Perrine. In politics Mr. Barnes was a Democrat. He was a member of the United Presbyterian church, with which Mrs. Barnes and four of the children are now connected. At his death he left a valuable estate, the accumulation of years of honest industry. One son, Archibald Barnes, enlisted in Company H, One Hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteers, February 27, 1864, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war.