The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-03


Georgia, died at his home on Jones street,
in this city, at 4:15 o'clock this afternoon.
Since he was first elected to the legislature
in 1886, Col Barnett has been almost con-
tinously in the states service, and so many
knew and loved him that in spite of his ad-
vanced age, IS years, the announcement
Of his sudden death was felt as a great
shock,
HIS ILLNESS.
Day before yesterday he was able TO oc-
cupy his accustomed place at the capitol,
and seemed to have nearly recovered from
the three weeks attack Of influenza. with
which he suffered recently. The immedi-
ate cause of his death appears to have been
severe fit Of indigestion, brought on by
eating mince pie, but his family think he
might have rallied had he had time to get
entirely over his late sickness. He found
himself unable to leave his bed when he at
tempted to do so yesterday morning, aud
soon after he began to suffer paroxysms
or pain, which caused % much alarm that
his son and daughter, Addison f. Barnett
Of New Orleans and Mrs. E. w. Anderson
OF Ringgold, were telgraphed for.
AsUDDEN CHANGE.
Later in the day the doctor pronounced
his patient better, and it was not until this
morning that the case appeared desperate,
an untavorable change having taken placs
during the night. A. +. Barnett and his sister
arrived to-day in time to be prese 1t with
their mother and brother Stewart Barnett,
when their father died. He was perfectly
conscious up to the last moment, and talked
calmly wi h his family, and gave minute
directions concerning the arrangements for
his funeral. At the hour already stated he
passed peacefully away, his countenance
remaining as it had looked in life, only a
tritie paler.
AN UNosTENTATIoUs FUNERAL.
Col Barnett was strong in his opposi-
tlon to anything like parade, and his fu-
neral, in obedience to his expressed wish,
will be very simply conducted. His re-
mains will be taken to Milledgeville to-mor-
row afternoon, and laid to rest in the fam
lily burying ground there on the day follow
ing. Dr. Glenn or DIR. Morrison of At
anita will probably conduct the services.
Gov. Gordon will order the statehouse
offices closed out of respect for the dead,
and may probably appoint an escort in the
morning to accompany the remains to Mil
ledgeville. He will also issue the appropri-
ate proclamation.
NOTABLE FIGURE.
wi. Dhiu6Jb udS Deol Ol5 Ol bU0 0OLaDIG
figures in Georgia's..history since 1876. He
has since that time, with the exception of a
snort period during the reconstr uction
days, held the office Of secretary of state
In early years he had opposition and was
once defeated; but of late years, both on
account:of his age and his recognized ability,
he had never been opposed. He was an in
innate friend of all Of Georgias great men
since 1910.
A SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
The following sketch of Col Barnett's
interesting career is founded on informa-
ton furnished by him to friend in 1888:
He was born June 2S, 1901. in Columbia
county, five miles from Appling, near
Winfrey's mills His mother was a sister
of William II. Crawford. She remained in
Columbia county with her family two
years after the death of Ter husband, when
she removed to Green county and settled in
the fork of the Oconee and Appalachee
rivers. Little Nathan was sent to school
at very early age.
BRUTAL TEACHER
One of his instructors was q man named
Rowland. an Irishman, and a whipping
teacher of the old school. On one occasion
he struck boy SO severely on the leg that
he fractured the bone, yet as soon as the
lad was well enough to walk he was sent
back and committed to Hewlands' tender
mercies by his father, though the child was
so badly hurt that after he
returned to school pieces of the
broken bone continued to work out of his
ankle. Col. Barnett's mother moved next
to place about four miles from Green's
boro, where the family resided till he was
10 years old, when they went to OgIethorpe
county and settled on the land of her
brother, Judge Crawford, near Lexington.
BOUGHT A SMALL FARM
In 1921, when Col. Barnett was 90 years
old. he bought a Traction" farm in Wal
ton county, and they removed thither that
year. The drought was SO extreme that it
almost caused a famine, and he had to 90
all the way to q ~innett county to get
bread. The next year he went to Monroe.
There, as he put it, he 'sowed his wild oats"
which only meant that he was fond OF gay
in amusing himself, as he was
He never learned to play cards. his only in
formation on the subject at the age of 81
being that the ace of spades was the lowest
card 10 the deck.
HIS MARRIAGE.
In 1924 he married Miss Margaret J.
Moreton, sister of William M. Moreton of
Athens. Three years later he left Walton
for Clarke county, where he lived till 1881,
when ne moved TO Watkinsville, near which
place he purchased fine farm. He also
engaged in merchandising and cotton buy
ing.
ENTERS THE LEGISLATURE.
He was elected to the legislature In 1886.
and, while attending to his official duties at
Milledgeville, an incompetent clerk whom
he had left in charge OF his store practically
ruined him financially by bad trade. The
clerk bought cotton heavily at Is cents.
with no limit as to time or delivery. The
staple declined in value, so that the next
year Col. Barnett found himself receiving
cotton at Is cents, and selling for cents,
He struggled on till l842, when his business
failed, and he sacrificed everything he DOG
sessed to pay his debts.
ELECTED SECRETARY OF STATE.
Meanwhile he had served second term
in the Legislature, aud a year after his busi-
ness failure was elected secretary of state
over Peter j. Williams and others He then
made Milledgevilie his home. He was re- |
elected in 1916 and 1S47 and defeated in
1849 by Col. George w. Harrison, father of
the present clerk Of the supreme court. In |
1851 be was again elected, but, after serving
two years, gave TO place Z. p. Watkins, |
who was state secretary for eight |
years. Col. Barnett was reelected |
IN 1851 to the consolidated Office Of surveyor p.
general aud secretary of state, and he con-
tinued to hold the position against all COM
.nltr Af..rr fN<..~ n.