Benton Co., AR - Biographies - Tompkins Coleman Barney
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SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed 
Publishing Co., 1889.
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Tompkins Coleman Barney, furniture dealer of Bentonville, whose birth 
occurred in Woodford County, Ill., in 1845, is the son of Harlow and 
Amy (Wolf) Barney. Harlow Barney was born in Luzerne County, Penn., in 
1800, was of Irish descent, and was a physician and surgeon by 
profession. He graduated from the New York Medical College, and when 
still a young man went to [p.808] Ohio and there followed teaching, 
and also continued the study of medicine. In 1824 he married Miss Amy 
Wolf, who was born in Newark, Licking Co., Ohio, March 3, 1809. About 
1844 they moved to Woodford County, Ill., and here lived for some time 
at Lacon and Spring Bay, and here Dr. Barney devoted his entire 
attention to the practice of medicine. His wife was of Scotch descent, 
and died in 1855, just three months previous to the death of her 
husband. They were the parents of nine children. four now living: 
Carey, farmer in Monroe County, Mo.; Allen, in the Rocky Mountains; 
Tompkins C., and Wirth W., who is a painter and contractor in 
Bentonville, Ark. Tompkins C. Barney was but ten years old when his 
parents died, and he was taken to Richland County, Ohio, and reared by 
his mother's sister Mrs. Phoebe A. Coleman, and remained with his aunt 
until seventeen years of age. About this time the war broke out, and 
young Barney donned his blue uniform and enlisted in Company D, 
Seventy-seventh Regiment Illinois Infantry, under Col. D. P. Greer. He 
was in the battle of Arkansas Post, Champion Hill, Black River Bridge, 
siege of Vicksburg. Red River campaign, siege and capture of Mobile. 
He was discharged at Springfield. Ill., at the close of the war. He 
then located at Bolivar, Polk Co., Mo., and invested in one-half 
interest in the Bolivar Sentinel. This interest he sold out in 1867 
and went into Kansas. where he assisted in the survey of that State 
west of Wichita. and one year later returned to Bolivar, Mo. Here, in 
1868, he married Miss Cornelia Evans, who was born in Polk County, 
Mo., in 1849. They have four children: Margaret. Frank, Lillard and 
Gracie. Soon after his marriage Mr. Barney moved to Quiney. Ill., and 
hired as baggage and express agent on the Chicago, Burlington & Quiney 
Railroad from Quiney to Louisiana, Mo. In 1878 he returned to 
Southwestern Missouri, and worked in the woolen mills at Springfield 
for two years. He then went to Eureka Springs and clerked in the 
Southern Hotel a short time. He afterward became manager, and occupied 
this position eighteen months. August, 1886, he moved to Bentonville, 
Ark., and established himself in the furniture business, which he has 
since continued. He is a Republican in politics; is a member of the K. 
of P.: Mrs. Barney is a member of the Baptist Church.