Mexico Missouri message., 1917-06-07

Hon. James d. Barnett, Judge OF
the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. of the
State of Missouri, departed this life
on the 10th day of March, 1916
He was born in Montgomery County
Missouri,in 1858. He received his
education in the public SCHOOLS
graduating from the st. Louis High
School in 1876, and the st. Louis Law
School in 1879, and Immediately
began the practice OF the law in
the county of his birth. In 1886 he
was elected Probate Judge of Mont
gomery County, which office he held
until 1905, when he was elected
Judge of the Eleventh Judicial Cir
cult of the State of Missouri, which
last position he held until the date of
his death He never married. He
lived with his mother until her death,
a few years ago, and after that an
unmarried sister, the only member
of the family who survived him. His
home life was admirable, his devo-
tion TO his mother and sister was un-
divided, deep, constant and sublime.
1t is fitting that we record our es-
innate of the life and character of
one who has passed beyond the sense
of praise or censure.
James d. Barnett was in the truest
and best sense, a gentleman. a
man of education, high principle,
courtesy and kindness; well bred
and honorable. He led a very active
life, but it was modest, simple, sin
cere and as blameless as that of any
man / have ever known. Fond of
merriment, and a boon companion,
he was singularly free from all OBJ
jectionable habits. His language was
select and chaste, his thoughts pure.
He loved a good story, but never told
an obscene one. He had no rancor,
no malice in his nature, he wGS un-
selfish and fOrgiving, and never
spoke i'll of an antagonist, or con-
demned those who criticised him. He
mixed and mingled with men, and
felt and knew the clash of contending
measures. AS a citizen, lawyer, and
Judge he was always the central
figure in the activities of his city and
country. In every relation, the
force of his great character, his good
sense and charming candor were
embodied and embosomed. He recog-
niZed his responsibility to God.
The cardinal virtues and principles
of Christianity were constantly illus
trated in his daily life.
He was a student of good literature,
he enjoyed the imagination pictures
of the romanticists, and was thrilled
with the beauty of a poem. He was
a master of history. He had read the
record of the world, and could trace
the course of human progress from
age to age. He was familiar with
the noted historical characters. He
knew, honored and revered the great
and good of every age, and from
their lives and character he drew in
spiration and modelled his own ca
reer and conduct. He was a cultured
man, a scholar and a student, but
these are but adornments which may
be acquired in colleges, where some
times pebbles are polished and dia-
monds dimmed. I desire to speak of
Barnett, the man. He would have
been a great man without education
or culture. He was endowed with
the genius of goodness and common
sense. He was born with the brain
of a philosopher and the heart of a
mother. He was the poor mans
friend, and sympathized with the
weak and unfortunate. He loved to
help. He had charity. He bestowed
it with prodigal generosity. To age
and youth he lent a helping hand.
When failure fell on many a business
man, he was the first to help. He did
not stop to inquire if the object of
his charity was worthy. To him any
human being in need or distress was
worthy. He knew temptations
strength, the weakness of the human
will, and how easy good men fall
when overwhelmed with fury's sudden
flame, or crushed by poverty's skele-
ton clutch, and when they fell he cast
no censure, but helped them rise and
walk again. All the men and women
that he has helped, clasping hand in
hand, would form a radiant row long
enough to encircle his city many
times.
AS business man he was success
full, and accumulated a competence
without trying. He served as presi-
dent of one of the leading banks of
his city, and under his guidance
it fiourished and was prosperous. AS
banker he was careful, prudent,
conservative, yet his policy was lib
eral and helpful, In this thoughtless
age it is common talk that bankers
to be successful must be hard, stern
and oppressive, but the record made