Franklin P. Barnes
Franklin P. Barnes, b May 1, 1823 in Williamson County, Tennessee, d October 14, 1869 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas and buried in Calvary Cemetery-was a son of Anselm Barnes, b ca 1792 in North Carolina, d after 1860, and his wife, Mary (maiden name unknown), b ca 1800 in North Caroline, d before 1860. The family left Tennessee in the 1830's for Schuyler County, Illinois, thence to Washington County, Arkansas, and were on the 1850 Census in Milam County, Texas.On November 30, 1854 in Falls County, Frank P. Barnes married a widow, Mrs. Elmira Elizabeth (Spears) Sites, b March 18, 1827 in Amite County, Mississippi, d March 16, 1902 in Marlin, Texas and buried in Calvary Cemetey -- a daughter of Raymond Hamp-ton and Martha (McGahey) Spears. Elmira had mar-ried first ca 1845 in Mississippi to Elisha Sites, by whom she had two children:
Leonard Sites, b January 6, 1846 in Amite County, Mississippi, d January 9, 1875 in Marlin, Texas -- was not married.
Martha Louise Sites, b October 7, 1847 in Amite County, Mississippi, d February 25, 1894 in Marlin --married in 1866 to Aaron Polk Morris, b May 23, 1843 in Giles County, Tennessee, d August 11, ca 1920 came with his parents to Falls County, Texas when about 15 years old in 1858, and had lived in Falls County more than sixty years when he died -- a son of Henry and Mary Peay (Leak) Morris -- natives of North Carolina, and both buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin.
Elmira (Spears) was from a wealthy slave-owning family in Mississippi, and it was surprising that she and Elisha Sites, and their children, joined a wagon train bound for Texas. Enroute, Elisha disappeared on a scouting mission, and was never heard of again. At some time between 1850 and 1854, the Barnes family and Mrs. Elmira (Spears) Sites arrived in Falls County, where she married second to Franklin P. Barnes. Frank and Elmira had nine children, but only reared two daughters to adulthood, in addition to her two children by her first marriage:
Cornelia Barnes, b October 27, 1855 in Falls County, Texas, d January 5, 1927 in Kansas City, Missouri and buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin, Texas-- was married November 23, 1885 in Marlin to Henry
Simon, b July 8, 1852 in Louisiana, d January 31, 1892 r in Marlin and buried in Hebrew Rest Cemetery in Waco, Texas. Cornelia and Henry had two children:
Frank Barnes Simon, b August 23, 1887 in Marlin, d December 30, 1953 -- married Corinne (Cora Belle) F Embry; and Herbert Henry Simon, b December 81, 1889 in Marlin, d August 17, 1957 -- married Eselean tI Flora Buehrle, b February 8, 1900, d June 21, 1976.
Mary Virginia Barnes, b March 13, 1859 in Marlin, d January 2, 1941 and buried in Calvary Cemetery-- married October 31, 1875 to John Calhoun Hair, b R November 21, 1844 in Alabama, d 1906 in Marlin and buried in Calvary Cemetery. In addition to these two daughters, the tombstones at Calvary Cemetery list five sons with no dates: Charles Barnes, James Barnes, Sam Barnes, Edgar Barnes, and John Barnes.
Franklin P. Barnes was elected Falls County Tax Assessor ca 1856, and by 1858, was Chief Justice of Falls County. He was again serving as County Judge 01 at the time of his death in 1869 -- a position originally hi referred to as "Chief Justice." Frank enlisted in the Confederate States Army, Company B, Waller's Regiment, in the Trans-Mississippi Army during the Civil War. He was wounded and held prisoner of war, and was a Second Lieutenant when discharged.
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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.
