Demas Barnes

Demas Barnes (April 4, 1827 – May 1, 1888) was an American businessman and politician and a United States representative from New York, serving one term from 1867 to 1869.

Demas Barnes
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 2nd district
In office
March 4, 1867 – March 3, 1869
Preceded byTeunis G. Bergen
Succeeded byJohn G. Schumaker
Personal details
Born(1827-04-04)April 4, 1827
Gorham, New York, U.S.
DiedMay 1, 1888(1888-05-01) (aged 61)
New York City, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseAnna Dorinda Blaksley
ChildrenMildred Barnes Bliss
Occupation
  • Politician
  • patent medicine manufacturer
  • writer
  • editor

Early days

Born in Gorham Township, Ontario County, New York, Barnes was the son of Demas Barnes and attended public school, then engaged in mercantile pursuits.

Career

Barnes moved to New York City in 1849 and entered in the drug business, including Charles Henry Fletcher's Castoria. Barnes crossed the continent in a wagon and studied the mineral resources of Colorado, Nevada, and California.

Business

Upon returning to New York City Barnes wrote articles and published works concerning his experiences in the United States. He also started his wholesale drug business in New York City in 1853 and was highly prosperous as a patent medicine manufacturer. He was one of the first to request private die stamps after they were authorized, and the first three Barnes stamps were approved by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue in September 1862. These were the 1¢, 2¢, and 4¢ D.S. Barnes stamps in a vertical format printed in black and in vermillion.[1]

Barnes established and edited the "Brooklyn Argus" in 1873 and was also engaged in the real-estate business. He was a member of the board of education, and was one of the original trustees of the Brooklyn Bridge project.[2]

Congress

Elected as a Democrat to the Fortieth Congress Barnes served as a U.S. Representative for the second district of New York from March 4, 1867 to March 3, 1869,[3] though was not a candidate for renomination in 1868.

Personal life

Barnes died in New York City, New York, on May 1, 1888 (age 61 years, 27 days). He is interred in Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York.[4]

References
  1. "Demas Barnes". Dalessandris.net. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  2. "Demas Barnes". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  3. "Demas Barnes". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  4. "Demas Barnes". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved August 15, 2013.


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