Railroad Men: O. M. Barnes, Lansing, MI

From the Lansing State Journal, November 11, 1899

Death of the Hon. O.M. Barnes Early This Morning

The angel of death visited Hon. O. M. Barnes this morning. Since last Tuesday there has been no hope for the sick man. He sank into unconsciousness and it was only his faint respirations that even denoted life in the body that has suffered so much pain.

He was born at Cato, NY on November 21, 1824. His family was one of a sturdy band of pilgrims who dared the dangers of a wild and unknown land that they might be free to worship their Maker untrammeled by the edicts of a tyrant.

In 1837, when he was 12 years old, he removed with his parents to Michigan and settled on a farm in Aurelius township, Ingham County. He entered the university at 22 and graduated with honor in the class of '50. He studied law and entered the bar and began to practice at Mason.

He was appointed to prosecuting attorney of his county and subsequently elected to office for two terms between 1852-1854. In 1862, he was elected and served on term as a member of the state legislature. He has been a consistent democrat of the Jeffersonian stripe. He was a candidate for governor on the democratic ticket in 1878 but was defeated by Charles M. Croswell.

In 1867 Mr. Barnes became interested with Messrs. James F. Joy of Detroit, William D. Thompson and Henry A. Hayden of Jackson in a project to build a railroad from Jackson to the straits of Mackinaw, the primary object being the diversion of a portion of the business of the north and west to the south and opening a broad and valuable section of the country for settlement and development.

These gentleman conceived the idea of utilizing the land grant of congress made to the state of Michigan for the purpose of building what was known as the Amboy, Lansing & Traverse By railroad, by securing its transfer on the same terms to the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw railroad through congressional and state legislation. These lands, comprising 595,000 acres were transferred as desired, and were subsequently earned by the construction of their JL&S road (now known as the Mackinaw branch of the Michigan Central road).

In 1868, while Mr. Barnes was manager of this road, he, along with the other gentlemen named, visited the Saginaw valley for the purposes of interesting the people of the valley in the construction of the road. At that time there was no railroad in Michigan north of Owosso, unless possibly the Flint & Pere Marquette might have reached Saginaw.

The death of Mr. Barnes removes the sole survivor of the eminent quartette who conceived, planned and constructed the FL&S railway.

In 1871, Mr. Barnes resigned his large law practice, removed to Lansing in 1875, and devoted his time to the interests of the JL&S, of which he had been secretary since its organization, and also served in the capacity of general counselor and attorney. Since 1872, he has been its land commissioner.

Mr. Barnes has engaged in many local business, including president of the Lansing National bank, mayor of Lansing in 1877, and real estate ventures. He was a member of the state bord of prison inspectors, as well as Michigan's board of control of Jackson state prison.