BIO: John BARNES, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ JOHN BARNES. The history of the able and energetic men who have participated in the development of this section will always hold a deep interest, and the subject of this sketch, a well-known coal operator residing at Philipsburg, Centre county, is a notable example of successful effort. Like many of the best financiers and business men of the country, Mr. Barnes comes of English stock, his family having been established in Lancashire, England, for many generations. The authentic records go no farther back than to the grandfather, James Barnes, and in his life we find a romance which parallels the most beautiful dreams of fiction. He and his wife were born on the same day of the same month, but the grandmother a year later than the grandfather. They were married upon one anniversary of their birth, and died on another anniversary of their birth. From the time of their marriage they had never been separated for a single day and night, and their mutual sympathy was so remarkable that each shared pain felt by the other. On the day of their death they lay side by side, and after the devoted wife breathed her last the children attempted to remove the lifeless body, but the husband waved his hand as a signal that they should not disturb it, and eighteen minutes later his soul had followed hers to the vast unknown. They were seventy-five and seventy-four years old respectively. This couple reared a large family of children, among whom was a son, John, our subject's father, who became a farmer as was his father before him, and lived and died in Lancashire. He married Miss Jennie Hayes, and twelve children were born of their union: James is deceased; Hannah married Edward Riley, and lives in England; Samuel and Lawrence are both living in England; John is our subject; Henry died in Philipsburg; Isabella is the wife of James Eastwood, of England; Thomas is a prominent resident of Philipsburg; William resides in England; Alice Ann; Jane married George E. Smith, and also lives in England; Rachel is deceased. The subject of this sketch was born in March, 1836, and his early years were passed at the old home where he worked upon the farm and in 324 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. the neighboring mines. On coming to America in 1862, he found his first employment at Powelton, Penn., in the mines, and after spending about two years in work there and elsewhere, he located permanently at Philipsburg. He had only a few dollars in his pocket, but he had a strong constitution, and his shrewd judgment and high ambitions were supported by untiring energy. He began his career there as a digger in a coal bank, but he had already formed a determination to make his way to wealth, and after a few years he began the more profitable work of clearing away drift on contract. He and his brother Thomas soon acquired a fund which enabled them to begin operating the Cuba mines, and they followed their success there by working the Derby mines and then the Lancashire mines Nos. 1 and 2, employing 150 men. From this point their progress was rapid, and they are now recognized as leaders in their lines of business. Their experience covers the entire range of mining operations, from the hard manual labor of digging to the prospecting and purchase of coal lands. Mr. Barnes is a prominent member of the Episcopal Church; in his political affiliations he is a Republican. He was married in April, 1865, to Miss Elizabeth Pilkington, and their home has been blessed by thirteen children: James conducts a clothing store in Barnesboro along with his brother John; he married Letitia Laffin, and has two children - Edith and Maggie. Maggie married R. Miller, of Zanesville, Ohio, and has three children - John, Elizabeth and Margaret. Thomas is proprietor of the "Ramsdale House," Philipsburg; he married Martha Alice Ramsdale, and has one child - William John. Jane Anna died at the age of four months. William lived only one month. Joseph is at home. Alice died at the age of twenty-one years. John conducts a clothing store in Barnesboro, along with his brother James. Mary is at home. Alfred died when eight months old. Harry and George are at home. Arthur died at the age of three months. Despite their many cares, our subject and his wife are models of physical health and vigor. Mr. Barnes owns valuable real estate in Philipsburg, and, besides his elegant home, has built a fine block on Main street. Mrs. Barnes is also a native of Lancashire,. England, and was born September 12, 1845, the daughter of John and Margaret Pilkington. Her father died in England, and when she was seventeen years old she was brought by her mother to America, together with two brothers and a sister. They made their home in Powelton, where Mrs. Barnes grew to womanhood. The mother died at the age of sixty years. The other children were: Joseph, who lives in Kansas; Mary E., the wife of Charles Cutshaw, who lives in Illinois; and John, who is deceased.