U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Barnhart, William Gray (1880-1921) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 529-530 HON. WILLIAM GRAY BARNHART, member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, from Red House Shoals, Putnam County, a lawyer by profession and one of the ablest young legislators of the State, was born April 15, 1880, near Buffalo, Putnam County, and is a son of Lewis and Isabel Barnhart, and grandson of Stephen and Perthana Barnhart. The Barnhart family is of German extraction, the pioneers settling in New Jersey in the early history of that settlement and their descendants going thence westward to Lancaster, Washington and Greene counties, Pennsylvania, and to Ohio and Illinois. Lewis Barnhart was born April 23, 1850, in Greene County, Pennsylvania. His mother died when he was seven years of age. He resided with his grandparents, going to school, doing chores, etc., during the Civil War period, and then returned to his father in Marshall County, West Virginia, and removed from there to Putnam County. He was ambitious and managed, by further study during intervals of farm work, to secure a good, common-school education, and at the age of 25 years held a State teacher's certificate, and at the age of 27 years was admitted to the bar. He was elected county superintendent of free schools soon after. Mr. Barnhart has for many years devoted himself to the law and to the sale of real estate. In politics he is a Democrat and has taken an active part in politics. The mother of our subject was born in 1852 in Marshall County, Virginia, now West Virginia, and is a daughter of William I. and Eliza A. Hartley. In 1870 she was united in marriage with Lewis Barnhart. She is a devout member of the Christian Church. In addition to being a successful attorney, Lewis Barnhart is also a civil engineer and has had completed a fine map of Putnam County, which he surveyed, on which are located the district outlines, the villages, roads, streams, and the industries of the county. He is fraternally connected with Wilkes Lodge, No. 60, Knights of Pythias, at Winfield. Hon. William G. Barnhart was educated in the common schools, and began teaching at the age of 17 years, at the same time beginning the reading of the law with his father. After a short course in the law department at the West Virginia University, he was admitted to the bar, and located at Winfield, the county seat of Putnam County. In the spring of 1902 he was nominated by the Democratic party for the House of Delegates, and was elected, in a Republican district of 460 plurality, by a majority of 360 over Hon. James H. Collins, one of the best known Republicans in the district, who had already served two terms in the Legislature. Mr. Barnhart is a clear and forcible speaker, a thinker of unusual ability and an active member of the House. His rapid rise in his profession and in public esteem are but indications of still higher honors awaiting him in the future. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Register of Marriages, Kanawha County, WV (Page 12?, Line No. 1107) William G. Barnhart age 28, single, born in Putnam Co., residing in Kanawha Co. Frankie Ellen Goodwin age 18, single, born in Putnam Co., residing in Kanawha Co. were married Jan. 1, 1908 in Charleston by Ernest Thompson - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Register of Marriages, Kanawha County, WV (Page 167, Line No. 1835) William Gray Barnhart age 39, divorced, born in Putnam Co., residing in Kanawha Co. Nettie Ellen Gillespie age 24, single, born in Braxton Co., residing in Kanawha Co. were married December 23, 1919 in Charleston by B. A. Winn ------------------------------------------------------------------- From Death Certificate, Kanawha County, WV #8679 FULL-NAME: William G. Barnhardt BIRTH-DATE: April 15, 1880 BIRTH-PLACE: Buffalo, W.Va. DEATH-DATE: December 24, 1921 (at age 41y-8m-9d) DEATH-PLACE: St. Francis Hosp., Charleston, Kanawha County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Married OCCUPATION: Attorney at Law FATHER: Louis Barnhardt (born in Greene Co., Pa.) MOTHER: Isabelle Hartley (born in Wetzel Co., W.Va.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Septicemia / Peritonitis INFORMANT: Alvin Barnhardt (of Charleston, W.Va.) BURIAL: Winfield, W.Va. Tombstone is in Winfield Cemetery, Winfield, Putnam County, WV Wm. Gray Barnhart (Apr. 15, 1880 -- Dec. 24, 1921 ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Kanawha County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/kanawha/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------