George Wesley Barnes

George Wesley Barnes, b 1843 in Florida, d 1935 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas and buried in the Blue Ridge Cemetery - was a son of James Barnes, b 1812 in South Carolina, d 1873 in Texas, and his wife, Nancy (Strickland) Barnes, b in Georgia, d 1847 in Florida, who was a daughter of James Strickland.

After Nancy's death, James Barnes moved with his three children, George Wesley, Nancy, and James Barnes II to Alabama, Louisiana, and thence to Texas by 1856, working as a mechanic and ship builder in south and southeast Texas. In 1861, George Wesley Barnes enlisted in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War - serving in Company E, First Texas Legion of Infantry. He was captured twice; was in the battle of Corinth, and the entire Georgia Campaign.

After the war, he returned to Houston, Texas, where he worked until 1867, when he came to Falls County. George hauled the lumber by ox wagon team from Houston and built the Hunnicutt that is still standing. It replaced the log cabin, which later burned.

In 1869, George Wesley Barnes married Martha Ann Hunnicutt, b 1850 in Tennessee, d 1934 and buried in Blue Ridge Cemetery - a daughter of Winfield Scott and Lucinda (Smith) Hunnicutt. Although a carpenter by trade, George became active in agricultural pursuits - owning 303 acres of land.

George and Martha Ann Barnes were the parents of nine children:
Emma Barnes, b May 10, 1870, d June 8, 1870 and buried in the Blue Ridge Cemetery.

Lula Barnes, b ca 1872 - was a schoolteacher in Marlin, Texas in 1900. She married John Ward.

Nellie Barnes, b October 12, 1875, d October 25, 1913 and buried in the Blue Ridge Cemetery - married a Dr. Taylor.

Robert S. Barnes, b January 31, 1877, d December 10, 1927 and buried in Blue Ridge Cemetery - was never married.

Quincy Barnes, b ca 1879, d 1952 in a car wreck on Highway 6 North just out of Falls County in McLennan County, Texas. He married Mary Morris, and they resided in Marlin.

Eunice Barnes, b December 24, 1884, d December 25, 1885 and buried in Blue Ridge Cemetery.

Infant Barnes, b & d 1886 and buried in Blue Ridge Cemetery.

Eugenia Barnes, b ca 1887 - no further information.

Martha Alice Barnes, b ca 1889 - married Thomas Norwood.

Some biographies from "Families of Falls County", compiled and edited by the Falls County Historical Commission.
Permission granted to Theresa Carhart by the Falls County Historical Commission, for use on this page.