Click here for the John Martin Family home page. 3rd Generation - Nancy Martin 

Nancy A. (Martin) Barnett, the sixth child of John Martin, Jr., and Mary Ann (Wheeler) Martin, was born 23 January 1846 at Camargo, Illinois (which was then part of Coles County but was included in Douglas County in 1859).  On 3 July 1867, she married James Franklin Barnett1 in Douglas County.  He had been born 29 January 1840 in Bowdre Township (which was also then in Coles County but was later included in Douglas County).  He was the son of John McConnell Barnett and Anna A. (Yarnell) Barnett.

Prior to their marriage, James had served the Union during the Civil War.  He had enlisted in the 79th Illinois Infantry, Company G, 18 Aug. 1862.  Records show, however, that he deserted 10 July 1863.

James and Nancy do not seem to be listed in the 1870 census, although the subsequent censuses of 1880, 1900, and 1910 all show them to be in Bowdre Township of Douglas County.  They probably settled there right after their marriage.  While living there, they became the parents of six children:

  • Mary Bertie Barnett, 1869–1926 (married Clark Williams).2
  • Kate Barnett, 1871–1943 (married John M. Lucas).
  • Gertrude Barnett, 1876–1964 (married Hugh Wright).
  • Roy Barnett, 1878–1962 (married Nettie Lamb).
  • Pearl Barnett, 1880–1963 (married (1) Charles E. Johnson and (2) Alexander Van Praag).
  • Harry Barnett, 1883–1958 (married Georgia Mae Green).

James and Nancy apparently lived the rest of their lives in Bowdre Township.  Both died in 1914 and are buried in the Van Voorhis Cemetery.

If you can suggest any corrections to the information above or provide any further details about the lives of James or Nancy or their descendants, please contact me at the address shown in the image below:

P L Martin C O at G mail dot com

Thanks,      
     —Pete Martin

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Footnote:

  1. Although Nancy and three of her sisters all married men named Barnett, it's interesting to note that none of these men were brothers; all had different parents. It's likely they were all cousins, though, descended from various sons of George and Delilah (Davis) Barnett. Moreover, three of them (those who married Susanna, Nancy, and Mary) may have been double cousins, as they all had mothers who had had the maiden name of Yarnell.
  2. Shown as “Bird” in later census records, and “Bernice Byrd Williams” on her tombstone.
    3.