The Robesonian., 1918-07-18

the country ws5 exceedingly poor,
with little money in circulat.o,., a9|
industries and agriculture al low
eo2. with many dlscouragone1ts ho|
stuck 10 his work. and industry and
: oetef3ninst5on brought him to the en-
Ela5le position he later enj0ved both
f!1c 7c1alT and as a citizen. IN 1873
he started q mercantile business i'll -
small Wav His fortune vas built u
- q result II gradual accumulaiio1s
through legitimate trade and a~1ic3l~
tural enterprise. TIE c0lunuzlit-
which grew up arQhnd his store ana
farm was named Barnesville in his
honor, and this village is a station
on the Raleigh q Charleston RAILROAD.
While several years ago he passed
the age OF three score, he continued
active, energetic and progressive, ::
real leader in his section of the coun-
ty until the close Of his life. Always
interested in those things which ex-
pressed community service and ideals,
he took special pride in the excellent
Barnesville graded school, of which he
was appropriately called "the father"
He was the more generous of his fl
nancial assistance to the cause of edu-
cation because of the circumstances
which prevented him in early life from
securing the advanta ges which are the
right and privilege of every American
youth.
Having known humble circum-
stances himself, he was generous Of
his financial means in backing many
struggling farmer during the prog
ress of clearing up and developing
the land around Barnesbille. This
section, it may be stated, is known as
the Indian swamp district, and is fam
Gus for producing the best tobacco lii
Robson county. Mr.. R. R. Barnes
himself for many years was a large
producer of cotton and tobacco on his
farms.
He owned several fine farms at and
adjoining Barnesville on the north,
his ownership extending to about two
thousand acres of this rich and valu-
able soil in the Indian swamp section.
1t is with complete justice that the
assertion is made that Richard Rhodes
Barnes was the pioneer in stimulating
tobacco planting in this part of Kobe
son county. He it was who put IN
the first seed bed, and he often :old
how he had to go to tobacco growing
community in order to learn now to
construct and take care of a seed bed.
No one item of agricultural enter
prise has done more for tn, people
of this community than tobacco rails
ing.
Besides his business interests at
Barnesville, he lent a helping hand
in the commercial and industrial de-
velopment of the county at large, He
invested substantially in some OF the
leading institutions Of Lumberton, IN
several of which he was director:
These include the National Bank Ct
Lumberton, the Planters Bank q trust
company, of which he was vlce-presl,,
dent, the Lumberton, the Dresden ana
the Jennings cotton mills.
Mr.. Barnes was. Democrat ana
for four years was county comnls-
| sioner. For years he was a leading
factor in the Barnesville Baptist
church. which he served as churcl
clerk and deacon. He was one of the
prominent Baptist laymen IN t:,is
mart of the State and member OF the
executive committee of the Robson
Rantist association. He was genef-
Gus in his gifts to the benevolent en-
+ernrises of the church and especially
| To the cause of Christian educatlon'
Tbe life and work of such man II.
anv community has an incalculaole
vaiue not only to the present but To-
all the future. ILL :,
The Barnes store at Barnesville Is
iuet across the main road from tEe
handsome and commodious residence
where he spent the last forty-threee
years of his life. The approach 10
this home is through rows OF beau,
tiful elm and oak trees, forming an
avenue Je that is a delight to the eye
The bride who joined her fortune witt
him in 1866 was Miss Isabella Floyd
daughter of Samuel L. Floyd OF KOBE Kope
n son county. Mrs. Barnes, his LIFELONG
helpmate of over fifty years. mas a,l un
fortunately been an invalid Tor sew