Captain Thos. H. Barnes

Company K.

Dr. Thos. H. Barnes was born at Coshocton, Ohio, in 1832, and was reared on a farm until he was twenty years old, when he began the study of medicine at Oakland, Ohio, and afterwards graduated at the Iowa State University. He settled at Volney, Iowa, about 1855, and moved to Waukon about 1858. He enlisted as a private in Company K, First Iowa Cavalry, April 15th, 1861, and resigned as Captain December 16th, 1864. He returned to Waukon, and again entered upon his profession, in which he was very successful. He spent a great deal of time and money in experimental farming, and built the first silo in Iowa, in 1881.

During 1871-2-3 he was chairman of the board of supervisors of Allamakee county, and in 1880 was elected to the State Legislature as Representative. His health failed soon after, caused mainly by injuries to the eyes received in service of his country.

Dr. Barnes was married in 1854 to Miss Julia A. Orr, who died in 1859. leaving one daughter. Ida, now Mrs. L. A. Culbertson, of Ottumwa, Iowa, In 1862 he married Miss Marion E. Ferris, of Waukon, who died November 1st, 1886, leaving three children, Callie, William and Florence.

Dr. Barnes was a man of great liberality, a benefactor to the poor, and few men had more genuine friends in Allamakee county than he. He moved to his ranche [sic] near Lattin, Nebraska, in 1887, where he died June 2d, 1889, of general debility, caused by the hardships and wounds received in the service of his country. He was buried between two large pine trees on a sunny hillside — a place of his own choosing — on his ranch, where his body sleeps waiting the last great roll call.

SOURCE: Charles H. Lothrop, A History Of The First Regiment Iowa Cavalry Veteran Volunteers, p. 346-7