Biography - M. S. Barnes
M. S. BARNES. Editor of the Galesburg Press, he was born in Malone, NY, Mar. 4, 1824, the son of William and Margaret Barnes of Vermont. He received a liberal education; learned the printer's trade, and became an editor at 15. He served in Second Illinois Regiment in the Mexican war; was [wounded] at the battle of Buena Vista. After the war he conducted Southport-American, in Wisconsin. In 1849, he became editor of the Chicago Daily Ledger, and when the war broke out was editor of the Rock Island Daily Register. He helped raise 37th Illinois Infantry, was commissioned Colonel and served with distinction and afterwards was brevetted Brigadier General. He left the army in 1863 and published the Rock Island Union. Raised 140th Regiment, but did not enter the field. Gen. B. is perhaps the oldest newspaper man in Illinois. In political views he is a Democrat.
Contributed by Joan Achille, extracted from the 1878 History of Knox County, Illinois, published by Charles C. Chapman
