Husband Col. James Elder Barnett 1 2 3
Born: - Elders Ridge, Young Twp, Indiana Co, PA
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Rev. John Morrison Barnett, D.D. (1826- ) 3 4 5 6
Mother: Martha Robinson Elder ( - ) 3 4 5 6
Wife
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Children
General Notes: Husband - Col. James Elder Barnett
He attended Elder's Ridge Academy, later taking the degree of Master of Arts at Washington and Jefferson College and the Bachelor of Laws degree at the Law School of Columbia University, New York City. In 1890 he was admitted to the bar of Washington County and in 1899 to that of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Since that period he carried forward his professional work in a most helpful and constructive way. Late in life, though a resident of Washington, he maintained offices in the Oliver Building, Pittsburgh, and carried forward his legal work.
Not content with professional achievement alone, Colonel Barnett became active in public life and in military affairs at an early stage of his career. Serving as deputy prothonotary in Washington County and as clerk to the county commissioners, he was appointed in 1895 to be deputy secretary of the Commonwealth under Governor Frank Reeder, holding that position until his resignation in 1897. Two years later, in 1899, he was elected treasurer of the State of Pennsylvania.
He began his military career in 1884 by enlisting in Company H, 10th Regiment, National Guard of Pennsylvania, and in 1897 was made lieutenant-colonel. In 1898, at the time of the Spanish-American War, he volunteered with his regiment for service and obtained an assignment for himself and the regiment to duty in the Philippines. He and his men participated in the service rendered at the time of the Philippine Insurrection, being present at the attacks on Manila, Chinese Hospital, La Loma Church, Caloocan, San Francisco, Del Monte, Tuliahan River, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Giuguinto and Malolos, and engaging in much of the dangerous fighting in that area. In May, 1899, Colonel Barnett was placed in command of the district of Cavite, including the town and peninsula of Cavite, Luzon Island, and two battalions of California heavy artillery acting as infantry, one battery of Wyoming Light Artillery with four guns, one troop of Nevada Cavalry, and the 10th Pennsylvania Regiment. When he returned from the islands, he commanded the transport "Senator." In 1900 he was promoted to the rank of full colonel of the reorganized 10th Regiment by unanimous election. In 1905 he was reelected to that office, but he resigned from it in 1907. Beginning in 1924 he was chief of the Third Procurement District of the Chemical Warfare Service of the Army, consisting of the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee and Kentucky.
He was educated at Elder's Ridge Academy, Washington-Jefferson College and Columbia Law School, graduating from college in 1882 and being admitted to the bar of Washington County in 1890 and of Allegheny County in 1899. He took considerable interest in politics and in the fall of 1893 was selected on behalf of Washington County to meet representatives from Beaver County to adjust the respective claims of these counties to priority in the ensuing Republican nomination of a candidate for state senate from the senatorial district composed of those counties. He served as deputy prothonotary of Washington County under John W. Seaman and for several years as clerk to the county commissioners. July 1, 1895, he was appointed deputy secretary of the Commonwealth by Gen. Frank Reeder, which office he resigned Oct. 19, 1897. In 1899 he was named for state treasurer of Pennsylvania, elected by 110,000 majority and served the full term of two years. He then resumed the practice of his profession and is a member of the law firm of Scandrett & Barnett, of Pittsburg, Pa. In 1884 he enlisted in Co. H, 10th Reg., N. G. P., as a private and passed through the various grades of service, being elected as first lieutenant in 1887, captain in 1890, major in 1893 and lieutenant colonel in 1897. In 1898 he volunteered with his regiment for the Spanish- American War. Realizing that the Philippines were to be the real center of interest and action, he secured permission from Col. Hawkins to try to get an assignment to that point and through the assistance of Senators Quay and Penrose, Deputy Attorney John P. Elkin, State Treasurer P. J. Haywood, Harry C. Fry of Beaver County and Second Assistant Postmaster General of United States W. S. Shallenberger, the Tenth Regiment was ordered to San Francisco to embark for the Philippines, leaving there June 15, 1898. Lieut. Col. Barnett was ordered back to Pennsylvania by Col. Hawkins to recruit more men for the regiment. He established " Camp Hawkins" camp at Washington, Pa., and on July 10 reported in San Francisco to Brig. Gen. Charles King with 256 men and immediately had assigned to him the recruits for the First California, Second Oregon, First Colorado and First Nebraska, in all about 1,000 men. Under command of Gen. King he sailed about Aug. 1, 1898, for Honolulu with the Pennsylvania, First Nebraska and First Colorado recruits. Here the expedition was side-tracked, but by order of President McKinley to the Secretary of War, he was directed to proceed to his regiment at Manila, being in command of the transport Arizona, now Hancock, from Honolulu to Manila, reaching there Sept. 28, 1898. He served with his regiment in the Philippine Insurrection, taking part in the engagements of Attack on Manila, Chinese Hospital LaLoma, Caloocan, San Francisco Del Monte, Tuliahan River, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Guiguinto and Malolos. About April 14, the regiment was ordered to Cavite from Malolos, Col. Hawkins being made commander of that independent military district and placing Lieut. Col. Barnett in command of the regiment. Colonel Hawkins became sick and requested that Col. Barnett be made commander of the district which was granted by Gen. Otis with the proviso that he should also retain command of the regiment, thus entailing double duty. Under his command were the Peninsula and town of Cavite, the Island of Correggidor, two batteries of the First California Heavy Artillery, one battery of the Wyoming Light Artillery, four guns, one troop of Nevada Cavalry and the Tenth Pennsylvania. The command of this district was retained until embarkation for the United States July 1, 1899, and of the regiment until mustered out Aug. 22, 1899. He was in command of the transport Senator on the return voyage and as Col. Hawkins was getting weaker he directed the regimental surgeons to obtain instruments and embalming fluid at Yokohama. Col. Hawkins died two days out from this port and by this precaution, his body was preserved for burial at home. In 1900 he was unanimously elected colonel of the reorganized Tenth Regiment and unanimously re-elected 1905, resigning in 1907. Under his command the regiment maintained its efficiency and took part in the Anthracite Strike in 1902, being stationed at Shamokin. Out of deference to the memory of Col. Hawkins, Lieut. Col. Barnett refused promotion to the rank of colonel of the Tenth Regiment in the United States service. After the earthquake and fire at San Francisco, he inaugurated the movement by which the members of the Tenth Regiment through the generosity of their friends in their respective company towns, were enabled to send approximately $10,000 to their stricken benefactors, the people of San Francisco.