An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties, 1902
published by Western Historical Publishing Company

Lemuel M. Barnett

Mr. Barnett was born in McMinn county, Tennessee, on February 13, 1830, being the son of Lemuel and Cecilia (White) Barnett. He was reared on a farm and at the early age of twelve years started into the realties of life for himself, migrating first to Georgia, and then, four years later, returned to his native state, whence he went to Arkansas, and on June 7, 1847, enlisted in Company C, Twelfth Volunteer Infantry, for service in the Mexican war. He was soon sent to the City of Mexico, and was there transferred to Company A, and participated in many skirmishes. In August, 1848, he was honorably discharged and returned to Arkansas, whence, in 1854, he started across the plains with ox teams for Yreka, California. In that place he mined for a decade, and then came to Canyon City, this state, where he continued the search for nature's hidden treasures until 1889, when he added farming and stocking raising to his other employment. He is in partnership with his nephew, Lemuel D. King, and they own three hundred and twenty acres of fine land, well watered, that produces an abundance of hay, and which is situated at the mouth of China creek, about eight miles below Whitney. They also have a large herd of cattle and some very valuable mining property - one fourth interest in the Phoenix mine, located in the Greenhorn district in Baker county.

The marriage of Mr. Barnett and Miss Mary J. King was celebrated at Mount Vernon, Arkansas, on January 8, 1851. For thirty-eight years Mr. Barnett has been a master Mason. During his long residence in this county he has conducted himself with such uprightness and integrity that he has won the confidence and admiration of all that have the pleasure of his acquaintance. Mr. Barnett's grandfather fought in the Revolutionary war, and his father served under Jackson in the Creek war.

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