Joseph Ray Barnes, son of Elhanan Davies Barnes and Lydia Emily Goff, and great-great-grandson of William Barnes, Revolutionary War Artilleryman, was born 18 October 1889, Guthrie County, Iowa. He married 7 November 1917, Central City, Nebraska, and died 1 1 June 1971, Caldwell, Idaho. Burial was at Greenleaf, Idaho. His wife was Bessie Amanda Mesner, born 2 May 1895, Pleasant Plain, Jefferson County, Iowa, daughter of Philip Mesner and Nancy Ann Emry. She died 9 November 1971, Caldwell, Idaho, and was buried at Greenleaf, Idaho.
Their children: Clayton Raymond Barnes, born 6 September 1918, Central City, Nebraska; married 6 April 1941, Homedale, Idaho to Dorothy Mae Robertson, daughter of Robert Samuel Robertson and Gladys Viola Leitner; four children; residence, Caldwell, Idaho. Joseph Philip Barnes, born 29 September 1919, Central City, Nebraska; married 6 June 1944, West Point, New York to Maxine Roberta Young, daughter of John Young and Edith Mae Helms; three children; residence, Prescott, Arizona. Paul Numa Vernon Barnes, born 30 June 1 924, Central City, Nebraska; married 2 May 1 944, Homedale, Idaho to Vera Ann Ulrich, daughter of Christian P. Ulrich and Martha Alta Pollock; five children; residence. Madras, Oregon. Marilyn Ruth Barnes, born 5 July 1932, Central City, Nebraska; married (1) 15 August 1955. Homedale, Idaho to Harlan Paul Barnett, son of Paul W. Barnett and Alice Mendenhall; two children; divorced 25 July 1966, Salem Oregon; married (2) 22 November 1972, Clackamas, Oregon to Earnest Truett Horne, son of George Espey Horne and Effie lone McEalster; residence, Salem, Oregon.
Ray Barnes came to Nebraska Central College in 1910 to attend the Academy, graduating in 1913. He played football on the College team, which led to enrollment at Whittier College, California for two years prior to return to NCC for the 1916 football season. Ray began farming in Lone Tree Township in 191 7, and was married to Bessie Mesner that fall. He continued farming while completing his college work, graduating from NCC in 1924. He taught in schools at Seward, Gresham, Henderson, Creston, Republican City, and Naponee, all Nebraska towns, before moving in 1938 to Owyhee County, Idaho. He farmed there until retiring to nearby Homedale. Data on his parents’ family follows.
Elhanan Davies Barnes, born 29 March 1852, Harrison County, (West) Virginia, son of Jesse Barnes and Susannah Vincent; married 29 September 1881, Madison County, Iowa; died 29 January 1926, Central City, Nebraska; buried Holyoke, Colorado; wife, Lydia Emily Goff, born 2 May 1858, Delaware County, Indiana, daughter of Nathan P. Goff and Elizabeth Norris; died 24 February 1910, Holyoke, Colorado and buried there.
Their children: Aaron Truman Barnes, born 21 October 1882, Guthrie County, Iowa; married 19 April 1 905, Knox County, Nebraska; died 3 August 1970, Central City, Nebraska; wife, Margaret Althea Himil, born 12 December 1885, Iowa; died 1 2 April 1 968, Lincoln, Nebraska and buried there. Nora Blanche Barnes, born 27 July 1884, Guthrie County, Iowa; died 24 November 1971, Aurora,
Nebraska; buried Holyoke, Colorado. Owen Carlton Barnes, born 18 June 1886, Guthrie County, Iowa; married 30 June 1910, Center, Nebraska-died 2 1 February 1 952, Central City, Nebraska and buried there; wife, Grace D. Johnson, born 7 December 1884, Danbury, Iowa; died 29 June 1967, Fullerton, Nebraska; buried Central City, Nebraska. Joseph Ray Barnes, subject of this sketch.
Submitted by Phil Barnes
Source: Merrick County Historical Society, History of Merrick County, Nebraska (1981), Volume I, Dallas, Texas : Taylor Publishing Company, 1981.