Biography - Thomas Barton
Thomas M. Barton is a farmer, a resident on section 16, in Knox Township,
and is one of the most solid and substantial men in that vicinity. He is
well known and popular in his county and township, and has been very
prosperous in his chosen vocation. He was born in Chestnut Township, 3
November 1840, and is the son of Oxias and Rachel (Massie) Barton. He
assisted his father on the farm during boyhood and was educated in the
district schools.
He made his home under the parental roof until his marriage on 6 March 1862.
This was celebrated with Amelia Humphrey as the other contracting party. He
was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio on 17 February 1845, and is the daughter
of Elder Cyrus and Henrietta (Baughman) Humphrey. At the time of his
marriage, Mr. Barton located in Chestnut Township, where he rented land for
two years; was then in Knox Township two years, and subsequently bought the
farm he now occupies. Seven children were born of their union - George H.,
Rachel L., John Q., Mary Henrietta, Cyrus A., Almond E. and Phebe Arizona.
Mr. Barton is a member of Pacific Lodge, No. 400, A.F.&A.M. and Wataga
Lodge, I.O.O.F. and Knoxville, Lodge K. of L. George H. Barton is also a
member of Pacific Lodge, No. 400.
Mr. B. has always been a Republican in politics, and takes considerable
interest in the affairs of the nation, and has no long been an actor in
political affairs that he knows much of the growth and progress of the
Republican party. He cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln.
In the main Mr. Barton has been successful in life, but was the recipient of
a heavy blow in the loss of his home in 1875. His house was a two-story
frame building, and at six o'clock in the evening, on the 5th of August, in
that year, the family being all at home, they were rendered almost entirely
helpless with terror by a cyclone striking the house. It came upon them with
tremendous force, tearing the house to atoms, yet, by some miracle, or other
intervention of God's providence, no lives were lost, although all the
family were more or less hurt, Mr. Barton having six ribs broken. Parts of
the house were carried in every direction and for long distances. It was an
hour of the greatest fear and trouble, yet so thankful were they to a
protecting God for His goodness in saving their lives, that the loss of
their home, though heavy, seemed to them as of minor consequence.
The husband and wife were laid for several months, and cared for the utmost
kindness, and cared for with the utmost kindness and brotherly sympathy by
the Masonic fraternity of Knoxville. All through his illness they paid the
bills and made good his loss by rebuilding the house, which now stands where
the old one was torn down, a monument of that charity which teaches us to do
unto others as we would be done by.
Brother E.T. Eads was Worshipful Master of Pacific Lodge, No. 400, at the
time of the cyclone. He and his wife were as a father and mother to the
stricken family. They left nothing undone that they could do. Their kindness
the family will never forget.
Contributed by Bob Miller, extracted from the 1886 Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, page 741
