Barnes, Thomas H.—Civil War Pension File, National Archives, Washington, DC: Born 25 September 1842 in Noble County, Ohio to Jesse Barnes and Mary Anne McIlyer, both of Ohio

“Jesse Barnes died of cholera at 37 years of age about one year after arriving in Illinois. Mary Ann [his mother] died of cancer of the stomach in 1880. Doctor had to give her poison to make her die. She was born in Guernsey (Cambridge) Ohio and died at age of 67 years. Her brother was a preacher in Cincinnati, Ohio (Methodist Episcopal).”

Thomas Barnes went to school four miles from home in a log schoolhouse in Illinois. “Had the third year arithmetic and fifth grade reader. He quit about the age of 20. Went to school in the

winter and worked on the farm in the summer. He had measles but they didn’t amount to anything, an old quack doctor advised him to take sheep nanny pills like ordinary pills with cold water. So he did not break out with the measles. Had stomach trouble after eating some bad pork, this was cured with whiskey and iron. This was during Civil War. Had an auto accident about 12 years ago and broke leg. Worked as a farmer and also worked on brickyard

and stripped coal before service. He is always frank and open. Was modest and courteous. After Civil War patient took up farming again and thrashed grain amount farmers. Took stock

in a state bank and was one of the directors. Speculated on gain and made a lot of money but also lost a lot. I have lost over $40,000 in bad debts. I have not done much since my leg was

broken about 12 years ago. Bought a shoe store in 1890 and ran it for about ten years. Paid too much for it because many were button shoes and had to sell them for 10₵ when they were

out of style. Gave away almost $35,000 to relatives. Sister got a preacher to bring me here, who stated that if I didn’t like it here to write and they would come for me, but they failed to

do it.”

“The patient is fairly pleasant as a general rule but is annoyed by his persecutors which he believes are beneath his chair and bed. Hallucinations of two small devils who plague him.”—

Notes from physician’s interview at National Home in Danville, Illinois, 1935