Lt. Col. Charles Ridgely Barnett

LTC Charles Ridgely Barnett BIRTH 4 Sep 1844 Warrensburg, Johnson County, Missouri, USA DEATH 5 Jul 1902 (aged 57) Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Michigan, USA BURIAL United States Military Academy Post Cemetery West Point, Orange County, New York, USA Show Map PLOT Section XIII, Row A, Site 78. MEMORIAL ID 121929349 · View Source

MEMORIAL PHOTOS 1 FLOWERS 2 USMA Class of 1868.

Thirty-Fourth Annual Reunion Of The Association of the Graduates Of The United States Military Academy, At West Point, New York, June 10th, 1903, Seeman & Printers, Saginaw, Michigan, 1903. Charles Ridgely Barnett No. 2235. Class of 1868. Died, July 5, 1902, at Battle Creek, Michigan, aged 58. Charles Ridgely Barnett was born in Warrensburg, Missouri, September 4, 1844. His father, William H. Barnett, was of French extraction, his ancestors coming to the United States nearly 100 years before the Revolution. Some of them served in the first war with England. Through his mother, Mary Jane Delaney, he was a direct descendant of the Shelbys, one of the oldest families of Kentucky, Governor Shelby being the third Governor of that State. Shortly after his birth, Charles Ridgely Barnett moved with his parents back to Kentucky, their native State. He was fourth of a family of twelve children and was named for Charles Ridgely of Maryland, who had been a college mate of his father at Princeton, between whom there existed always an intimate friendship. When twelve years of age, his father allowed Charles, at the latter’s earnest request, to go to Nashville, to live with his mother’s sister and her husband, John D. James, in order, as young Barnett expressed it, to learn to take care of himself and be a business man. Mr. James was a banker and it was to the training received in his uncle’s banking house that Colonel Barnett always attributed such success as he had in the business world.

His father died when he was eighteen years old, leaving the family practically dependent upon young Barnett for guidance and support. He accepted the responsibility and from that time onward fulfilled loyally and generously every obligation towards them – caring for his mother and educating his brothers and sisters. He was nineteen when his mother secured him an appointment at the United States Military Academy at West Point. At first young Barnett demurred strongly against giving up his business career, in which by this time he was well started. But finally he decided to accept the appointment, a step he never regretted and from that time the service always had his deepest interest and devotion.

On January 30, 1878, Colonel Barnett married Sallie Falls Shoemaker, second daughter of Samuel Moore and Augusta Eccleston Shoemaker (Moore), of Baltimore, Maryland. Samuel M. Shoemaker, as the name suggests, was of German origin, though his ancestors came to this country early in the seventeenth century, landing in Philadelphia and remaining there many years. Augusta Chambers Eccleston comes of English stock and the family name is well known in Maryland, her father for a long time having been a Judge of the Court of Appeals of that state.

To Charles R. and Sallie F. Barnett three children were born – Eccleston, December 13, 1878; Charles Ridgely, on June 23, 1881 and Ruth, on October 3, 1882. Had Colonel Barnett chosen a commercial rather than a military career his success would have been equally assured. In the latter part of 1881, he obtained a year’s leave of absence and entered the service of the Adams Express Company in Baltimore as Assistant Manager. On account of the poor health of his father-in-law, Mr. Shoemaker, Colonel Barnett took complete charge of his business and personal affairs. At the end of his leave, Mr. Shoemaker insisted most strongly that Colonel Barnett should resign his commission in the army and remain permanently with the Adams Express Company. Colonel Barnett, however, refused to give up his chosen vocation and returned to the service. He went West immediately, where he remained, serving at various posts until 1888. He then returned to Baltimore and in 1889, at the earnest solicitation of his friend, William T. Walters, of Baltimore, he obtained another year’s leave of absence and being elected a member of the Board of Directors of the Safe Deposit and Trust Company of Baltimore, he entered the service of that company as Vice-President. After a year’s service in this position, he received flattering offers to become President of this company, Mr. B.F. Newcomer, the President at that time, being anxious, on account of ill health, to retire. His love for the army, however, was too strong and he refused this and also an offer to accept the Presidency of the First National Bank of Baltimore, resuming his duties in the Quartermaster’s Department at the New York depot and from that time until his death he was closely identified with his corps, the War Department recognizing his marked executive ability and taking advantage of it. He was Depot Quartermaster at Washington from November 1894 to April 1895. He was made Major, Quartermaster's staff, February 11, 1894 and on July 16, 1898, was appointed Lieutenant Colonel and Chief Quartermaster United States Volunteers. During the Spanish War he was stationed at Jeffersonville, Indiana, the largest depot of supplies in this country and rendered notable service during the period of the contest with Spain. The heavy work exacted of him and the responsibility attaching such a great distributing centre as Jeffersonville in that eventful period caused a physical and nervous breakdown, from which he never wholly recovered. On November 13, 1898, he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel, staff, Quartermaster’s department in the regular army and on December 15, 1898, he was honorably discharged from the volunteer service. In 1901 he was ordered to the St. Louis Department, where he was stationed at the time of his death, July 5, 1902. He thus completed his service.

The great characteristic of Colonel Barnett was his passionate love for the service and for West Point. Although eminently successful in every business undertaking and sorely tempted by flattering offers to continue in the commercial world, his love for the army overcame these and the department, recognizing his ability and usefulness, was always ready to place him in high and responsible positions. A few years before his death he was appointed head of an important commission to arrange and equalize rates of the government with the various railroads and the work of this board under his direction accomplished much for the good of the service. To show how his services were recognized by the department, in the official bulletin announcing his death, the following language was used:

Colonel Barnett had suffered from ill health for many years and on March last obtained leave of absence in order to try the benefit of the treatment of the Battle Creek sanitarium. Colonel Barnett was an excellent officer, performed his duties with energy, zeal and ability and was in every way a man of refinement and culture.

Family Members Parents William Harris Barnett 1814–1864

Spouse Photo Sallie Falls Shoemaker Barnett 1856–1909

Siblings Photo Henry D. Barnett 1842–1902

Willie H. Barnett 1847–1862

Medora Emma Barnett 1850–1862

Edward Davis Barnett 1861–1926

Children Photo Eccleston Barnett 1878–1951

Photo Charles Ridgely Barnett 1881–1936

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