Milton Barnes

Who was Milton Barnes?

Milton Barnes was a Republican politician who was Ohio Secretary of State from 1877-1881.

Milton Barnes was born April 26, 1830 in Barnesville Belmont County, Ohio. He attended country schools and at eighteen became a teacher, and at nineteen attended Allegheny College at Meadville, Pennsylvania, but went home due to failing health. He studied law and higher mathematics at an academy at Salem, Ohio, then at a law office in Mount Vernon, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1859. He moved to Cambridge, Ohio and opened a law office.

At the start of the American Civil War, Barnes raised a company and enlisted as Captain in the Sixty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He returned home on sick leave, resigned his command and re-enlisted in the Ninety-seventh Regiment as Lieutenant Colonel. He was twice wounded severely, and mustered out June, 1865.

In 1867 and 1869 Barnes was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Guernsey County. In 1876 the Republican Party nominated him for Ohio Secretary of State, and he defeated William Bell Jr. in the general election. He won re-election with a plurality over David R. Paige and two others in 1878, and did not run again.