Milton Barnes (politician)
Encyclopedia
Milton Barnes was a Republican
politician who was Ohio Secretary of State
from 1877-1881.
Milton Barnes was born April 26, 1830 in Barnesville
Belmont County, Ohio
. He attended country schools and at eighteen became a teacher, and at nineteen attended Allegany College at Meadville, Pennsylvania
, but went home due to failing health. He studied law and higher mathematics at an academy at Salem, Ohio
, then at a law office in Mount Vernon, Ohio
, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1859. He moved to Cambridge, Ohio
and opened a law office.
At the start of the American Civil War
, Barnes raised a company and enlisted as Captain in the Sixty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry
. He returned home on sick leave, resigned his command and re-enlisted in the Ninety-seventh Regiment
as Lieutenant Colonel. He was twice wounded severely, and mustered out June, 1865.
In 1867 and 1869 Barnes was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Guernsey County
. In 1876 the Republican Party nominated him for Ohio Secretary of State, and he defeated William Bell Jr. in the general election. He won re-election with a plurality over David R. Paige and two others in 1878, and did not run again.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician who was Ohio Secretary of State
Ohio Secretary of State
The Secretary of State is responsible for overseeing elections in the State of Ohio. The Secretary of State also is responsible for registering business entities and granting them the authority to do business within the state, registering secured transactions, and granting access to public...
from 1877-1881.
Milton Barnes was born April 26, 1830 in Barnesville
Barnesville, Ohio
Barnesville is a village in Belmont County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,225 at the 2000 census...
Belmont County, Ohio
Belmont County, Ohio
Belmont County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 70,400. Its county seat is St. Clairsville...
. He attended country schools and at eighteen became a teacher, and at nineteen attended Allegany College at Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city is generally considered part of the Pittsburgh Tri-State and is within 40 miles of Erie, Pennsylvania. It was the first permanent settlement in northwest Pennsylvania...
, but went home due to failing health. He studied law and higher mathematics at an academy at Salem, Ohio
Salem, Ohio
Salem is a city in northern Columbiana County and extreme southern Mahoning County, Ohio, United States. At the 2000 census, the city's population was 12,197....
, then at a law office in Mount Vernon, Ohio
Mount Vernon, Ohio
Mount Vernon is a city in Knox County, Ohio, United States. The population was 16,990 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Knox County. The city is named after Mount Vernon, the plantation owned by George Washington.-History:...
, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1859. He moved to Cambridge, Ohio
Cambridge, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,520 people, 4,924 households, and 2,954 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,055.1 people per square mile . There were 5,585 housing units of an average density of 996.3 per square mile...
and opened a law office.
At the start of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Barnes raised a company and enlisted as Captain in the Sixty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry
62nd Ohio Infantry
The 62nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 62nd Ohio Infantry was organized in Zanesville, McConnellsville, and Somerset, Ohio beginning September 17, 1861 and mustered in for three years service on December 24, 1861 under...
. He returned home on sick leave, resigned his command and re-enlisted in the Ninety-seventh Regiment
97th Ohio Infantry
The 97th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 97th Ohio Infantry was recruited in Coshocton, Guernsey, Morgan, and Muskingum counties, organized at Zanesville, Ohio, and mustered in for three years service on September 1,...
as Lieutenant Colonel. He was twice wounded severely, and mustered out June, 1865.
In 1867 and 1869 Barnes was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Guernsey County
Guernsey County, Ohio
Guernsey County is a county located in the state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 40,087. Its county seat is Cambridge and is named for the Isle of Guernsey in the English Channel, from which many of the county's early settlers came....
. In 1876 the Republican Party nominated him for Ohio Secretary of State, and he defeated William Bell Jr. in the general election. He won re-election with a plurality over David R. Paige and two others in 1878, and did not run again.
Further reading
- Guide to the Milton Barnes papers, 1853-1891 George Mason UniversityGeorge Mason UniversityGeorge Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...