Yolo County
Biographies
HENRY
THOMAS BARNES
HENRY THOMAS BARNES. In the ranks of good citizenship, Woodland
has enrolled a large number of God-fearing, pure-minded, conscientious
citizens, among whom is Henry T. Barnes. He was born near Toronto, Canada,
April 14, 1857, a son of John Barnes, at whose death he was left an orphan
when fourteen years of age. Leaving his
Canadian home at that early age he went to Michigan, where circumstances led
him to learn the tailor’s trade. Hard
work added to a constitution none too rugged soon made it necessary for him to
lay aside in-door work and seek for employment that would keep him in the open
air. An opportunity to learn the cement
business first presented itself, and he wisely took advantage of it, and under
the careful and judicious training of a good instructor he learned the business
thoroughly. A business which was then in
its infancy has struggled along for recognition for many years, due in a
measure to the inferior quality of work done many times, no doubt, but its
complete triumph over wood for the same purpose is now unquestioned, as is
evidenced by the universality with which it is employed.
Coming to California in 1879,
Mr. Barnes again attempted to follow the tailor’s trade, in San Francisco,
but as before it proved too confining and he was compelled to give it up. Coming to Woodland in 1882, he found
employment with H. P. Martin, who in addition to running a marble
yard, also took contracts for cement work, and as it was in the latter line
that Mr. Barnes was especially interested he soon increased that
department of his employer’s business, notwithstanding the fact that he had to
contend with a lack of confidence on the part of the people generally, due to
poor work done by predecessors.
Mr. Barnes thoroughly understood the proper proportions of sand and
cement required for permanency and durability, and evidences of his painstaking
and conscientious work are to be seen in the beautiful cement sidewalks that
grace the city of Woodland, which are as solid to-day as when first laid
twenty-two years ago. In 1883
Mr. Barnes went into partnership with J. O. Schaffer, opening a
marble yard and cement works on Main street opposite
the Pacific hotel, Mr. Schaffer having charge of the marble department,
and Mr. Barnes taking the management of the cement work. Upon the death of Mr. Schaffer a year
and a half later Mr. Barnes discontinued the marble business and put all
of his time and efforts towards building up the cement business and he not only
lays sidewalks, but erects bridges, culverts, foundations of houses, and even
whole houses, besides doing considerable cemetery work, such as constructing
vaults, both under and above ground, fences, water troughs, etc. Much of Mr. Barnes’ success is due to
the fact that he uses a superior quality of cement in his work, much of it
being imported from Germany, Belgium and England, although he also makes use of
considerable cement which is manufactured in Solano and Napa counties, and he
finds that the native cement is continually growing in popular favor. Mr. Barnes has manifested his
satisfaction with Woodland as a place of residence in the erection of two
residences, both of which redound to his credit from an architectural point of
view.
The marriage of Mr. Barnes occurred in
Yolo county, November 5, 1884, and united him with Miss Molly Cosby, a
native of St. Charles county, Mo., and a daughter of Josiah Cosby, a resident
of Yolo county. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes
are the parents of two children, Cosby H. and Ruth. Mr. Barnes is popular and well known
fraternally, and is past grand of the Odd Fellows lodge at Woodland, for four
terms was district deputy grand master, and is also identified with the
Encampment and Rebekahs, Mrs. Barnes being past
noble grand in the latter organization.
For the past nineteen years Mr. Barnes has been trustee of the
board of Odd Fellows, with the exception of three years, and for the past six
years has been a member of the National Guard.
He is also connected with the Woodmen of the World. The family are
identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church South, of which Mr. and
Mrs. Barnes are members. For two
years Mr. Barnes was assistant superintendent of the Sunday school and for
seven years was superintendent. Seen in
his comfortable home, surrounded by his intelligent and interesting family, one
cannot help feeling that Mr. Barnes is singularly favored, and should be,
as he is, universally respected for his many good qualities, as well as for
what he has accomplished.
[Inserted by D.
Toole.]
Henry Thomas
Barnes
1919
May 23, Woodland Daily Democrat, P1, Woodland, California
H.
T. Barnes’ Funeral is Sun. at 2
The
funeral of Henry Thomas Barnes, respected pioneer resident of this city, who
passed away this morning at 2 o’clock at his home, 524 Walnut street, after 35 years’
residence in California, will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock from the
late family residence, Rev. Kenney officiating, with the Woodland Lodges of Odd
Fellows officiating at the grave in Woodland cemetery. Mr. Barnes was also an esteemed and honored
member of the local lodge of Masons.
Death came after an illness of a month in which the deceased varied from
better to worse. He was a native of
Toronto, Canada, but came to America when very young. He had resided twenty-five years at the place
of his death. In 1884 he was united in
the bonds of matrimony to Miss Mollie Cosby and by her had two children, Cosby H.
and Miss Ruth Barnes. Mr. Barnes
was for years engaged successfully in the contracting business here. He was an upright and progressive citizen and
his death is mourned by scores of friends and acquaintances who prized his
friendship because of his sterling worth.
Kitto & Wilson have charge of the body and
funeral arrangements.
1919
Jun 11, Woodland Daily Democrat, P1, Woodland, California
H.
T. Barnes Estate
Mollie
Pace Barnes filed a petition for letters of administration yesterday upon the
estate of Henry T. Barnes, who died in this city May 22, 1919, leaving an
estate in real and personal property of the value of $6285. A. C. Murray is attorney for the estate.
1927
Feb 25, Woodland Daily Democrat, P5, Woodland, California
Mrs.
Barnes Passes Here
Last
rites for Mrs. Mollie Pace Barnes, mother of Cosby Barnes, prominent resident
of this city, who died at her home here at midnight Thursday night, following a
long period of illness, will be held Saturday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock from Krellenberg’s chapel.
Rev. Edward Barcus of the M. E. Church, South,
will officiate. Burial will be in the
Woodland Cemetery. Mrs. Barnes was
a native of Missouri, 69 years of age and came to Yolo county
during the latter part of the nineteenth century, settling in Woodland where
she resided for many years and made a host of friends. The deceased was the widow of the late Henry T.
Barnes, who died in Woodland four years ago.
Two children survive, Cosby Barnes and Mrs. Ruth Barnes Jacobs of
Santa Rosa. A brother, Charles Cosby, of
St. Louis, also survives. Mrs. Barnes
was a member of Yolo Chapter No. 60, Order of the Eastern Star, and the
Sylvan Rebekah Lodge, No. 108.
1928
Jul 19, Woodland Daily Democrat, P2, Woodland, California
Mr.
and Mrs. George Atkins left Wednesday afternoon for Dillon’s Beach, where they
will spend the week-end. They were
accompanied by Mrs. Cosby Barnes, who will visit her sister, Mrs. Percy Goyet, who is sojourning at the beach.
1930
Feb 4, Woodland Daily Democrat, p6, Woodland, California
Cosby
Barnes, who is a patient at Letterman hospital in San Francisco, writes
Woodland friends that he is improving steadily.
He will remain there for several weeks.
1930
Jul 2, Woodland Daily Democrat, P16, Woodland, California
Cosby
Barnes is back from a four-and-a-half month’s stay at Letterman Hospital, his
health greatly improved. The war veteran
states that the Government doctors and surgeons gave him excellent service
during his sojourn at the San Francisco institution.
1955
Jun 1, Long Beach Independent, P23, Long Beach, California
Jacobs
– Mrs. Ruth Barnes Jacobs, 58, of 280A Molina Ave., died Sunday in a local
hospital. She was a native of Woodland,
Calif., and lived here 20 years. She is
survived by two sons, Dan, of Downey, and Derek, Long Beach; daughter, Mrs.
Dana Chavez, Long Beach. Service will be
Saturday at 10 a.m. in Christensen-Pino Chapel. Interment will be
private.
Transcribed by Donna Toole.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 304-307. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2017 Donna Toole.
Golden Nugget Library's Yolo County
Biographies