CHARLES DENNIS BARNES
SOUTHINGTON: Merchant, and President Southington National Bank
Charles D. Barnes, senior member of the boot and shoe firm of Charles D. Barnes & Son, was born in Southington, December 12, 1841. He enjoyed the ordinary advantages of the district schools, with a finishing experience at the Meriden High School; and became an apprentice at the carpenter’s and joiner’s trade, which he followed until 1872, and then took charge for two years of the shipping department in the bolt works of the Peck, Stow & Wilcox Company. In 1874 he established the boot and shoe business in Southington now conducted under the firm name of C. D. Barnes & Son. Mr. Barnes sustains official relations with several of the business institutions and corporations of his native town, being secretary, treasurer, and general manager of the Southington Lumber and Feed Company, which position he has occupied since 1881; one of the directors and on the loan committee of the Southington Savings Bank; a director, and elected vice-president, of the Southington National Bank in January, 1889, and appointed president of the institution in January, 1890; also president of the Oak Hill Cemetery Association. He was a selectman and grand juror in 1873; town clerk, treasurer, and registrar of births, marriages, and deaths in 1874, and continuously since with the exception of a single year; also treasurer of the school fund. When the borough of Southington was formed, he was nominated for warden on the only ticket in the field, but declined and was finally persuaded to accept a position as one of the burgesses; and is now on the committee on highways and sidewalks, and chairman of the sewer committee. He is representing the town of Southington in the general assembly the present year, being a member and clerk of the appropriations committee. Among his society connections it may be mentioned that he is vice-president of the Merchants Club of Southington; was one of the charter members of Trumbull Post, No. 16, Grand Army of the Republic, and its first post commander, holding the office for some years. Mr. Barnes was in active military service during the war of the rebellion. He enlisted in Infantry Company B, Fifteenth Connecticut Volunteers, June 22, 1862, and was with that regiment every time it left camp, until wounded and captured at the battle of Kinston, N. C.. March 8, 1865. He spent the remaining time, until Richmond was surrendered, in "Hotel Libby," and was discharged as sergeant, June 9, 1865.
Mr. Barnes has been twice married; first to Sarah E. Hamlin of Southington, in September, 1865, the issue of which marriage was two children, one dying in infancy, the other, a son, Frank H., now living and in business with his father. Mr. Barnes’ second marriage was with Sarah H. Gridley, widow of Lieut. Henry Lewis of the Twentieth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry.
Mr. Barnes has always been a staunch republican, as may be inferred from the many positions of trust to which he has been called as the candidate of that party. He is a member of the First Congregational church of Southington, active in church and society work, and in harmony always with whatever is undertakeu to elevate and improve the moral and religious status of the community.
Source: Illustrated Popular Biography of Connecticut - 1891, Compiled and Published by J. A. Spalding, Hartford Conn., Press of the Case, Lockwood and Brainard Company, 1891
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