Caleb P. Barns

Born in Owego, New York, Barns (or Barnes as it was spelled much of the time) grew up in the western part of New York, most likely in or near Chautauqua County. Little is known of his boyhood, although a couple vague clues exist. One addresses his "good scholastic and legal education," while another indicates that he was "early thrown upon his own resources." After describing Barns as a person of "extreme reticence," a writer continued, "few men have lived so long in one community as he did of whose personal history so little is known by their neighbors generally." == Migration to Wisconsin ==

As a young man, Caleb Barns moved to Wisconsin Territory, settling in Burlington, Wisconsin. Local history sources claim that he journeyed to Wisconsin prior to 1840, returning to New York to marry his future wife. Other sources date his arrival as 1842. David L. Wells of Utica, New York brought his wife, the former Cornelia Eddy, to Burlington at about the same time. The close association between the Barns and Wells families continued for decades, as the families became increasingly intertwined. Lucy Shepard Barns was named for Elizabeth Eddy Barns' mother. In the early 1850s, David and Cornelia Wells, and their two young sons, Asa Eddy Wells and Frederick Elisha Wells, left Burlington and settled near Sutter Creek in California. Strang was a recent convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and would soon move to Michigan with his followers. The newspaper declared, "it is a good ticket, and a friend from that county, says it will be elected by a handsome majority." Barns switched parties, and in 1848, the year of Wisconsin's statehood, ran as a Democrat for the Assembly from the district of Yorkville, Rochester and Burlington. He lost by three votes to the Whig nominee, Samuel Chapman. The following year, he again ran as a Democrat. This time he, three other Democrats, and an independent were elected. In 1850 Barns entered the Wisconsin State Assembly for a one-year term. He was elected again and served another term in 1855. In 1862 he was a Democratic nominee for the Wisconsin State Senate. This time, his opponent was a Republican, who subsequently won the election. The following year Barns served as a delegate to the Democratic State Convention, one of two delegates seated from the Racine District. His commitment to politics was long-standing and far-reaching. == Illnesses and death ==

In later years as his health deteriorated, Barns turned to banking, which proved quite profitable for him. A colleague described the transition, Admonished by his failing health that he was no longer equal to the demands of active professional life, he several years ago gave up the practice of law, and entered into financial business. The same qualities that brought to him success and eminence in his profession rendered him successful in his new employment . . . After less than two decades of marriage, in February 1864 Elizabeth Eddy Barns died from tuberculosis, Following the death of his wife, Caleb Barns' health rapidly declined, and he died in October, 1866. A close friend in Burlington declared: For nearly a quarter of a century he has occupied a prominent position in our midst, a position, which now that he has left us cannot easily be filled. He was long our trusted counselor and advisor, and valued personal friend, and we cannot yet fully appreciate the extent of our loss. ==Notes==