JONES COUNTY, GA - BIOS James F. Barron Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Carla Miles captbluegrass@mchsi.com Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/jones.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Memoirs of Georgia, Vol. II, Atlanta, Ga., Pages 444- 445 Published by The Southern Historical Association in 1895 James F. Barron, physician and surgeon, Clinton, Jones Co., Ga., son of William and Elizabeth (Finney) Barron, was born in Jones County, Feb. 10, 1825. Dr. Barron’s great-grandfather, Barron, was a native Irishman, who came to this country in colonial days, and settled in Maryland. From Maryland the family moved to Virginia, where the doctor’s grandfather, Samuel Barron, married and went to North Carolina, where he lived until about 1792, when he migrated to Georgia, and settled in Hancock County. In 1809 his grandfather moved into Jones County, then just organized, and settled about six miles north of what is now Clinton, the county seat. Of eleven children born to him all are dead. Dr. Barron’s father was born in Hancock County, and married in Jones, where he lived and died. He was the father of eight children: Mary, widow of William Morris, Jones County; James F., the subject of this sketch; John W., died in California; William G., deceased; Abington, died in Camp Douglas, Ill., Dec. 29, 1864; Joanna, widow of Dr. Austin, Fort Valley, Ga.; Robert H., Macon, Ga.; and Andrew J., died in the army of disease, July 2, 1862. He was elected a captain of militia when it was regarded a distinction, and was also elected sheriff, served several years, and was serving as such at the time of his death, Dec. 21, 1836; his widow died, Feb. 11, 1848. Dr. Barron, being the eldest son, and only eleven years old when his father died, had to assume grave responsibilities, and enter upon the battle of life when young. He went to school, and taught, alternately, until he acquired a fair education. He then studied medicine, and, when twenty-seven years of age, graduated from the Medical Department, University of New York. He located the same year in Clinton, where he has since resided. When the War Between the States began, he volunteered, but yielding to the importunities of friends, remained at home for the benefit of the soldiers’ families, and practiced for them without compensation during the war. When twenty-one he was elected justice of the peace - no unmeaning or insignificant compliment. In 1855, he was elected as a democrat to represent the county one term in the general assembly. In 1858 he was elected a justice of the inferior court, and held the office fifteen years. In 1867 he was elected a judge of the county court, but resigned in a few months. Dr. Barron was married in 1853, in Jasper County, to Miss Joanna E. Shropshire, who has borne him six children: James H., farmer, Jasper County; William W., clerk superior court, Jones County; Jackson C., judge Jones County court; A.B.L., teacher, Clinton; Sallie E., single; Robert E., physician, Macon, Ga. Dr. Barron is an uncompromising democrat, and a master Mason; and that he enjoys the respect and confidence of his fellow- citizens is evidenced by his election to office, and his being continued so long in any he would accept.