Wilcox County AlArchives News.....A Tribute to the Memory of Maj. S. A. Barnett June 23 1904
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Stephen Lee leeactive@aol.com December 3, 2003, 10:19 am

Wilcox Progressive Era

  Mr. Editor: - Having known Major Barnett intimately during the 
greater portion of his life, and having been his pastor for ten years
in his early life, and for a short period in his declining years, I 
desire a little space in your paper to say some things concerning his
valuable life.
  Major Barnette was born near Abbeville, S.C., December 24th, 1832. 
Receiving his education at Greenwood, S.C., and at the University of 
Virginia. Removed to Mobile, Ala., in 1853, and at the age of 21 began 
business as a clerk with Stoddard & Co. After a year or two he removed 
to Evergreen, and began business on his own account. Soon after his
settlement at Evergreen he married Miss Mattie Stallworth, daughter of
Nicholas Stallworth, a prominent citizen of Conecuh county. Soon after
the war he removed from Evergreen to Pineville, Monroe county, where he
began business under the firm name Barnett & Dickinson. It was here 
that he passed through the most trying ordeals of his life. His wife, 
to whom he had shown the most beautiful devotion, sickened and died. It
was the privilege of the writer to know her well, and a more beautiful 
christian character I have never seen. I was with her frequently in 
her last sickness and officiated at her funeral, the immense crowd 
that gathered on that day attested their love for her, and their 
appreciation of her worth. More than once the subject of this sketch 
told me that whatever of good there was in his life was largely 
attributable to the gentle, christian influence of his wife. This 
terrible bereavement was followed by a failure in his business, owing 
to a succession of crop failures. Seeing no chance for recovery he 
sold his plantation, his beautiful residence and all his household 
goods paid every debt he owed dollar for dollar, and with nothing but 
his good name he returned to Mobile, his first starting point, entered 
the commission business under the firm name of Crawford & Barnett in 
which he succeeded beyond his most sanguine expectations. Having 
accumulated sufficient means to make him comfortable for the balance 
of his life, and to be of some use to others, he retired from active 
business in 1891 and sought the quiet and rest he needed. During his 
residence in Mobile he was married to Mrs. Minor, of Pickens county. 
She was a lady of culture and piety. They lived an ideal life together 
until her death in 1901.
  The ancestors of Major Barnett came to America from the north of 
Ireland in 1730, and settled in Mecklenburg District, N. C. Then under 
the various names of Barnett, Polk, Spratt, Erwin, Alexander, Lowery 
and others, multiplied and prospered, and in after years distributed 
themselves throughout most of the Southern States. Some of the above 
names figured prominently in affairs of government in colonial times. 
The subject of this sketch was twice sent to the legislature from 
Monroe county during reconstruction times, and was Chairman of the 
Ways and Means Committee which so successfully solved the problem of 
the State debt, which had been saddled upon the State by the carpet-
baggers.
  Major Barnett was in every way fitted for a statesman, but his 
tastes did not run in that direction. He had a natural aversion for
politics. He was too gentle and refined to decend to the tricks of
the politicians. He loathed and abhorred whatever was mean and low
and vulgar. My admiration for the pureness and saintliness of his 
character knew no bounds.
  One of the things that touched me most deeply upon leaving 
Livingston was his parting message: "I suppose, " said he "you are
going to leave us. I am sorry. You were my first pastor. You did 
much to develop my christian life. I came to Livingston mainly to 
spend my last days under your ministry." These words still abide. 
My dear, good friend has passed into the beautiful beyond, where he 
reciprocates noble sympathies and has entered into sweeter fellowship
than ever earth can give. 
                     W. G. CURRY
The above notice of death of Maj. Samuel A. Barnett will give surprise 
and sorry to many in Wilcox Co., where he was well known and greatly 
esteemed. He once lived in Wilcox out near the Marshall place where 
Neenah is now located. All who knew him will heartily endorse what Dr. 
Cuiry says of him.


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