In the time of his paternal ancestry his great-grandfather, John Barnes held a Captain's commission in the colonial army during the Revolution, and commanded a company of minute men in the State of New York. After the close of the Revolutionary war, his grandfather James Barnes settled in the State of Ohio, near the mouth of the Little Miami, and was married in a block house near that place, in 1795. Seventeen years afterward, another war breaking out with England, he and his brother Alexander, enlisted, and served as comrades in the army of Gen. Hull, and were present at the time of his surrender to the British at Detroit, August, 16, 1812. Later, he moved with his family, including the father (James Hamilton Barnes) of the subject of this article, to Indiana, settling at Fort Harrison, Vigo County, where, in 1818, he moved to Adams Township, in this (Carroll) county, at a point about twelve miles above Delphi, where the grandfather of our subject laid out the town of Lockport, which was at the time named Barnesville. After the construction of the Wabash & Erie Canal, owing to the location of locks at that point, the name of the village was changed to Lockport. Here James H. Barnes, father of our subject spent many years in the Mercantile business, freighting goods with ox teams from Cincinnati over wretched roads of the primitive day, requiring many days, sometimes weeks, to makes the passage. He was a quiet, amiable ma, enjoying the fullest confidence and esteem of the community. He was a man of unobtrusive diposition, a singularly conscientious and God-fearing man, holding the reins of family, government with a tenacity that savored of Puritanic firmness, for which all his children are grateful now, as evil fruit of the modern lax system are so painfully apparent all over our land at the present day. In 1833, he was married to Margaret Mountz, by whom he raised a large family, of James H. is the second.

James H. Barnes was born in the small village of Lockport, March 20, 1836. As he grew into manhood, he worked for his father on the farm and attended school during the winter months. After the completion of the canal, his father and an uncle built a large warehouse, and under the firm name of W. A. & J. H. Barnes, conducted a general merchandise and produce business. In 1854, at the death of his father, James, then eighteen years of age, quit the farm and assisted his uncle in the store. He remained with him five years, when, at the age of twenty-three, he was elected Recorder of the county. He entered upon the duties of the office in 1859. When the war broke out, following the patriotic precedents of his ancestry, he quickly determined to enter the service of his country. He accordingly appointed the late Henry M. Graham Deputy Recorder, and enlisted, July 15, 1862, in Company A, seventy-second Regiment Indiana Volunteers, as a private soldier. It is proper to say that at the expiration of his official service he was honored, though absent, with a nomination for a second term. His regiment was ordered into service in Kentucky, and placed on duty at Louisville; thence ordered to Lebanon, where Company A was detached and sent to Muldraugh's Hill to guard the railway tunnel. After a short service at that point, the company rejoined the regiment, and participated in a series of marches and countermarches through Kentucky and Tennessee, the monotony of which was broken occasionally by slight skirmishes with the enemy. The march from Frankfort to Gallatin was rendered memorable by its severity. The command reached Murfreesboro just after the terrible fight at Stone River, and January 3, went into winter quarters, and remained in camp until June 24. So far, the regiment belonged to the infantry arm of the service, but during the encampment, it was re-organized, mounted, and armed with the celebrated Spencer rifles. It was then assigned to duty on the command, which has passed into history as "Wilder's Lightening Brigade." Prior to the re-organization, the regiment was employed in the construction of breastworks: afterward, in foraging, raiding and hunting for bushwhackers. Company A led the advance on Hoover's Gap, and, by reason of the rapid firing rendered possible by the Spencer rifles, dislodged the enemy from his stronghold and rendered a Union victory more easy in achievement than had been expected. Thence the command moved to Tullahoma, was armed with mountain howitzer, and ordered to cut the railway at Deckerd's Station. On the Cumberland Mountains, the enemy was encountered, and the howitzers were left on the field. The movements of the command in detail will be found in the history of the regiment on another page of this work. Its movements were rapid and continuous, and afforded, in its successive skirmishing, ample opportunity to test the courage and daring of the true soldier to the utmost. At the skirmishing at Chickamauga Bridge, Company a led the column and three times repulsed the enemy. During the second charge the officer in command of the company retired, and Mr. Barnes, then a Sergeant, assumed command. After this memorable battle, the command fell back to Chattanooga and started on the "Wheeler Raid," a series of rapid marches and interesting skirmishes, which culminated in the fierce engagement at Farmington. The regiment then went into winter quarters near Huntsville, Ala., and Mr. Barnes was sent home on recruiting service. In May 1864, he rejoined his command at Columbia, Tenn., and remaining with it, participated in the fighting at Dalton, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain and Rottenwood Creek. In the latter fight his horse was shot and killed. After reaching Atlanta, the regiment was ordered back to Louisville, where it was re-organized and re-mounted. While at Louisville, after an arduous and honorable service as private, Corporal, sergeant, Mr. Barnes was commissioned Second Lieutenant of his company, December 11, 1864. Sixteen days later, he was commissioned First Lieutenant. From Louisville, the regiment moved to Gravelly Springs, Tenn., and went into winter quarters. In the spring, the regiment was assigned to duty in Wilson's Cavalry Corp, and participated in all the marches and skirmishes which have made Wilson's cavalry famous in history. Lieut. Barnes commanded the advance in the skirmishing which led to the engagement at Ebenezer Church, and also participated in the fight at Selma, Ala. He participated in the capture of Macon, Ga., and then was sent with a detachment to guard supplies at Oglethorpe, and thence through Andersonville to Americus, rear which place occurred, during his stay the capture of "Jeff" Davis. In the latter part of May, the regiment was ordered back to Nashville, where it went into camp preparatory to being mustered out, July 6, 1865.

Mr. Barnes then returned to Delphi and formed a partnership with R. J. Barnett in the stove and tinware business. After about two years in this service, he took charge of the dry goods store of the late Henry Bolles. A few months latter, he went into business for himself, in the room occupied by Mr. Bolles, and has been eminently successful. Under the firm name of J. H. Barnes & Bro., the business has been conducted since 1878, and materially enlarged.

Mr. Barnes has been thrice married. His first marriage occurred October 3, 1862, to Miss Emeline Gregg, who died March 20, 1868. July 21,1869, he was married to Miss Rachel Stansel. By the hand of death he was deprived of her companionship January 10, 1875. He was again married, February 7, 1877, to Miss Mary E. Barker of Fall River, Mass.