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GEORGE W. BARNES, M. D. It is a pleasure to the biographer to revert to the life of an individual who surmounted the discouraging obstacles of an early environment that was none too auspicious, and while achieving a large measure of individual success has found time to be a good citizen in a general way, making his locality better by his residence therein. Such a man is Dr. George W. Barnes, for over a quarter of a century a leading physician of the north side in Springfield. Frank, courageous, honest, aggressive, he, nor his position as a citizen can not well be misunderstood. In professional, civic and social relations he thinks and acts along well-regulated lines, and does not evade, does not dodge an issue. He has energy, intellect, and will; has self-purpose, resolution and determination, throwing his entire force of body and mind direct upon his work. His self-reliance has not been wholly acquired--it was born in him. He believed at the start that if there were better days, and "good times coming" that we are justified in hoping for, we must be capable of making them for ourselves. The fable of the "labors of Hercules" is indeed the type of human doing and success.
Doctor Barnes was born in Greene county, Missouri, April 7, 1855. He is a son of Elisha K. and Mary J. (Small) Barnes. The father was born in 1830 in North Carolina, from which state he emigrated to Missouri in early life, locating in Greene county, where he engaged in farming. When the Civil war came on he enlisted in the Confederate army during the early part of the conflict and fought gallantly until taken prisoner. He was sent to the Federal prison at Indianapolis, Indiana, where he died. He was of English ancestry. His father, Nineveh Barnes, was a native of North Carolina. He married Phoebe Headlee. They spent their earlier years in North Carolina, from which state they removed to Greene county, Missouri, in pioneer days, located on a farm, and there spent the rest of their days, each reaching advanced ages. The mother of Doctor Barnes was born on August 4, 1833, in Greene county, Missouri, where her people, the Smalls, were first settlers, and the old homestead has remained in possession of the family to the present time. The Small family is of Scotch ancestry.
Elisha K. Barnes and wife were married on March 25, 1851, and they reared a family of four children, three sons and a daughter, namely: Dr. George W., of this review; Elisha E., born March 24, 1864, is married and lives in Oklahoma City; Mrs. Mattie Dennis, who resides in Hutchinson, Kansas, where Mr. Dennis is engaged in the real estate business, and Robert N., who died in Wichita, Kansas. The mother of these children is still living, having attained her eighty-first year.
Doctor Barnes is an excellent type of the successful self-made man. His parents were poor and his father died when the future physician was but a boy, so he was early thrown on his own resources, and, therefore, practically his whole life has been one of self-support. He grew up on the farm and worked hard as a tiller of the soil during the summer months and in the winter time attended the district schools. Later he taught country schools in the winter months and farmed summers, and laid by funds to complete his education. He finished his literary studies at Morrisville College, in Polk county, this state, and, in 1882, he entered the Missouri Medical College in St. Louis, from which he was graduated with the class of 1884, and in that year he commenced the practice of his profession at Brighton, Polk county, where he remained in a good country practice until 1888, when he removed to Springfield, opening an office at Boonville and Commercial streets, which office he has since occupied, and his success a's a general practitioner has steadily grown all the while, and it is worthy of note that after a continuous practice here of twenty-five years the past year was the best of all, which fact should be a sufficient recommendation, not only of his ability, but of the confidence reposed in him by the people of this locality. He now confines himself as much to city practice as possible. He is often called in consultation on serious cases with other leading physicians of the city and county. He does a great deal of hospital work, and he has lectured at Burge Deaconess Hospital, Springfield, since its organization. He is a member of the board that lectures the nurses in training at this hospital, and also at the Springfield Hospital. His principal subject is nervous diseases.
Doctor Barnes is a member of the Greene County Medical Society, of which he was president in 1906, and vice-president in 1905, and is at this writing a member of the board of censors of this society. He also belongs to the Southwest Missouri Medical Society, the Missouri State Medical Association and the American Medical Association. He is a member of the Commercial Club. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic Order, Tribe of Ben Hur, Improved Order of Red Men, the Woodmen and the Court of Honor. Politically, he is a Democrat, and, religiously, belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.
Doctor Barnes was married, May 26, 1886, to Annie L. Fender, who was born in 1864 in Greene county, where she was reared and educated in the public schools. She is a daughter of Wilson and Louisa (Wallace) Fender, she being the only child. Her father was a farmer, and when the Civil war came on he enlisted in the Union army and saw much hard service, and as a result of the exposure, contracted pneumonia while in the service was sent home, and died soon afterwards. Mrs. Barnes was but a child at that time and too young to remember him. A few years later Mrs. Louisa Fender married again, her last husband being Capt. J. W. Peitz, an officer in the Union army. Two children were born to the second marriage, namely: Joseph E. Peitz, a member of the shoe firm of Peitz & Cogley, who conduct one of the most extensive shoe businesses on Commercial street, Springfield; and Mrs. Alice Meador, also of Springfield, and the wife of a passenger conductor on the Frisco railroad.
To Doctor Barnes and wife one child has been born, Geneva Aline Barnes, whose birth occurred in Springfield on December 13, 1896. She was educated in the ward schools and is now in her fourth year in the high school. She is a cultured and talented young lady, takes a fond interest in elocution, has decided musical ability and tastes, and at present is taking voice culture under Rev. Mrs. McClanahan, of this city.
In his private and social relations Doctor Barnes is enjoyable, animated, jovial, and entertaining. There is no pretense or display about him, is kind and generous-hearted, and with friends is firm and true.
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