Ford Barton

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Birth: 1881 Robeson County North Carolina, USA

Death: May 27, 1924 Pembroke Robeson County North Carolina, USA

Rufus Ford was the son of Nathaniel A. and Rosan Sanderson Barton. He married Rosie Chavis on Mar. 2, 1905 in Wishart, NC.

During the 1920 Federal Census, his maternal grandmother, Macca Jane Oxendine Sanderson, was in his household.

The following was taken from the May 31, 1924 edition of THE ROBESONIAN:

Remains of Indian Found Today in Lumber River

The remains of Ford Barton, Indian, about 45 years old, were found this morning in Lumber river about half way between Inman and Harpers Ferry bridges in Pembroke township. A coroner's jury after a thorough examination of the body and persons who advanced the idea of murder, found that death was due to accidental drowning. There was no sign of foul play.

Barton, who had been convicted several times for blockading, was considered a leader in blockading in that section of the county. He left his home, a few hundred yards from where his remains were found, Tuesday afternoon. His absence did not cause special anxiety until Wendesday, when relatives started to search for him. One man, who said he was fishing on the banks of the river, said that he saw a boat floating down the river Tuesday afternoon. A paddle was floating beside it and in the boat was someting that looked like a large piece of oil cloth or a rain coat. The boat was found further down the stream with deceased's rain coat in it.

Sheriff R.E. Lewis and deputies assisted in the search yesterday and found where a still had been in operation near where the boat was seen floating down the river. A large quantity of beer was found and destroyed. While no one stated it, many believed that the still was the property of Barton, and that he and his liquor companions had been quarreling.

When found the dead man's feet were near the top of the water and his head clinging to bushes several feet under the water, which was not bery deep. His remains were placed in a boat and brought to a landing where the jury, composed of Messrs. J.A. McCormick, J.M. McCallam, E.R. McIntyre, H.V. Brown, W. M. Lowry, and Berkly Lowry, examined them. There were no signs of deceased having been shot or struck. There were no scratches or bruises. One among the large crowd which gathered advanced the therogy that soon after he left home Tuesday there was a storm and he might have been struck by lightning. There was nothing to throw any light on that theory. Some relatives of the dead man said they heard 2 shots fired from a gun late Tuesday afternoon and that the sounds came from the direction in which he went. They also admitted that deceased was subject to heart attacks and sometimes would remain unconscious for hours.

• **NOTE: His birth year was taken from his NC death certificate.

Family links:

Parents:

• Nathaniel A. Barton (1855 - 1922)
• Rosan Sanderson Barton (1864 - 1955)

Spouse:

• Rosie Chavis Barton (1892 - 1980)*

Children:

• Hester Barton Oxendine (1906 - 1981)*
• Leola Barton (1915 - 1987)*
• Vestie Barton Sampson (1921 - 1993)*

Inscription:

age 44 Yrs

Now his labor's done; now, now the goal is won

Burial: Harpers Ferry Church Cemetery Robeson County North Carolina, USA

Created by: melanie