Madness Monday- Hiram Lindsey Barnes & Harriet Newell Simmerson

Madness Monday is a daily blogging prompt used by many genealogy bloggers to help them post content on their sites. To participate in Madness Monday we simply create a post with the main focus being an ancestor who either suffered some form of mental illness or an ancestor who might be hard to locate and drives you mad.

John Barnes and Margaret Rattz had 8 children:
1) Hiram Lindsey Barnes
2) Sarah Ann Elizabeth Barnes
3) Charles Adolphus Barnes
4) John Thomas Barnes
5) Lewis Frances Barnes
6) William Henderson Barnes
7) James Roberts Barnes
8) John William Barnes

Our direct ancestor is Lewis Frances Barnes. But this story is about his brother, Hiram Lindsey Barnes.

Hiram Lindsey Barnes was born 4/4/1839 in Davidson County, NC to John Barnes (DOB 11/13/1816 in Davidscon County, NC; DOD 9/19/1892 in Davidson County, NC) and Margaret Rattz (DOB 10/30/1817 in Davidson County, NC; DOD 1/7/1890 in Davidson County, NC). Margaret was also known as Margaret Ratts, Margaret Ratz, Margaret Rats. John was sometimes known as Pink Barnes. Hiram was sometimes known as H.L. Barnes or Hiram L. Barnes.

1850 U.S. Census of Northern Division,  Davidson County,  North Carolina; Roll:  M432_628; Page:  281B; Image:  127, Lines 23-28, "John Barnes"
John Barnes, 33 yrs old (DOB 1817), M(ale), W(hite), Farmer, $800 Real Estate Value, Born in NC
Margaret Barnes, 33 yrs old (DOB 1817), F, W, Born in NC
Sarah An Barnes (sic), 8 yrs old (DOB 1842), F, W, Born in NC
Hiram L. Barnes, 6 yrs old (DOB 1844), M, W, Born in NC
Charles A. Barnes, 4 yrs old (DOB 1846), M, W, Born in NC
John T. Barnes, 1 yrs old (DOB 1849), M, W, Born in NC

1860 U.S. Census of Northern Division, Lexington,  Davidson,  North Carolina; Roll:  M653_895; Page:  358; Image:  188; Family History Library Film:  803895, Lines 20-28, "John Barnes"
John Barnes, 43 yrs old (DOB 1817), W(hite), M(ale), Farmer, $1,200 Real Estate Value, $585 Personal Estate Value, Born in NC
Margaret Barnes, 43 yrs old (DOB 1817), W, F, Dmst, Born in NC
Sarah Ann Barnes, 18 yrs old (DOB 1852), W, F, Dmst, Born in NC
Harrison Barnes (this is Hiram), (sic), 15 yrs old (DOB 1855), W, M, Farm, Born in NC
Charles Barnes, 13 yrs old (DOB 1857), W, M, Born in NC
Lewis Barnes, 8 yrs old (DOB 1852), W, M, Born in NC
William Barnes, 5 yrs old (DOB 1855), W, M, Born in NC
James Barnes, 3 yrs old (DOB 1857), W, M, Born in NC

U.S. Civil War Soldiers Records and Profiles
Data compiled by Historical Data Systems of PO Box 35, Duxbury, MA 02331
Ancestry.com
Name: Hiram L Barnes
Residence: Davidson County, North Carolina
Occupation: Farmer
Age at enlistment: 18
Enlistment Date: 3 Apr 1862
Rank at enlistment: Private
Enlistment Place: Davidson County, NC
State Served: North Carolina
Survived the War?: Yes
Service Record: Enlisted in Company A, North Carolina 54th Infantry Regiment on 26 May 1862.
Mustered out on 09 Apr 1865 at Appomattox Court House, VA.
Birth Date: abt 1844
Sources: North Carolina Troops 1861-65, A Roster

U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865
Name: Hiram L. Barnes
Side: Confederate
Regiment State/Origin: North Carolina
Regiment Name: 54 North Carolina Infantry.
Regiment Name Expanded: 54th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
Company: A
Rank In: Private
Rank In Expanded: Private
Rank Out: Private
Rank Out Expanded: Private
Film Number: M230 roll 2

He was shot twice in The War but survived to continue fighting. He was at Appomattox Courthouse when Lee surrendered and had to walk back home from Virginia. He evidently had a hard time re-adjusting to life after the War.

Hiram married Harriet Newell Simerson on 2/22/1866 in Davidson County, NC.


Harriet Newell Simerson was born on 3/10/1844 in Davidson County, NC to William Henry Simerson and Francis Caroline Nunnally aka Fannie Nunnally or Fannie Simerson.

North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
Groom: H L Barnes
Bride: H N Simeson
Bond Date: 21 Feb 1866
Bond #: 000037838
Marriage Date: 22 Feb 1866
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 007249
County: Davidson
Record #: 02 004
Witness: W C B Leonard D
Performed By: John Wilson, Justice of the Peace

N.C. Marriage Records, Davidson County, NC, Marriage Records 1823-1868, by Frances T. Ingmire, Iberian Publishing Company, Athens, GA
Pg 00002 and Pg 00052
"Simeson, H. N. to Barnes, H. L. on 2/22/1866"
"Barnes, H. L. to Simesen, H. N. on 2/22/1866"

Hiram and Harriet had a little girl, Sallie Fannie Barnes. She was born on 7/6/1866 in Davidson County, NC.

Hiram was unable to cope even after his marriage and birth of his daughter. When his daughter was only 14 months old and his wife was only 28 yrs old, Hiram hung himself in his father's backyard on 9/7/1867. He was only 27 yrs old. It was 2 years after the end of the Civil War and during the terrible Reconstruction era. Hiram must have really been suffering. But he left his wife and baby daughter to face this new harsh world. Times were very tough in the South after The War.


As a suicide the church wouldn't allow him to be buried in their church cemetery. That must have been very hard on Hiram's parents. John and Margaret had been members of Piney Meeting House. It became Churchland Missionary Baptist Church and now is Churchland Baptist Church. Anyway, they were charter members and had donated land for the church and I'm sure Hiram grew up in that church. Now, their son couldn't be buried there. So John took some of his land that was next to the church cemetery and created the Barnes Family Cemetery. Hiram was buried there. John and Margaret are buried there too. John and Margaret remained as members of their church for the rest of their life so I assume their fellow members helped them through their grief even though they wouldn't allow Hiram to be buried in the church cemetery.

My photo
Harriet and little Sallie moved back home with her parents.

1870 U.S. Census of Boone,  Davidson County,  North Carolina; Roll:  M593_1134; Page:  18A; Image:  38; Family History Library Film:  552633, Lines 28-31, "W. H. Simeson" (sic)
W.H. Simeson, 50 yrs old (DOB 1820), M(ale), W(hite), Farmer, $2,200 Real Estate Value, $1,000 Personal Estate, Born in NC
Frances Simeson, 45 yrs old (DOB 1825), F, W, Keeping House, Born in NC
Harrel Simeson (sic, should be Harriet Simerson), 30 yrs old (DOB 1840), F, W, At Home, Born in NC
Sallie Simeson, 4 yrs old (DOB 1866), F, W, Born in NC


1880 U.S. Census of Boone,  Davidson County,  North Carolina; Roll:  961; Family History Film:  1254961; Page:  155D; Enumeration District:  36; Image:  0321, Line 7-10, "Wm Simerson"
Wm Simerson, Head, W(hite), M(ale), 60 yrs old (DOB 1820), Married, No occupation listed, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Fannie Simerson, Wife, W, F, 56 yrs old (DOB 1824), Married, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Harriet Simerson (sic), Daughter, W, F, 34 yrs old (DOB 1846), Single, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Sally Simerson (sic), Granddaughter, W, F, 14 yrs old (DOB 1866), Single, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC


Harriet remarried to William Cicero Grubb on 2/10/1881 in Davidson County, NC. William Cicero Grubb was born 10/28/1852 in Davidson County, NC to Henry A. Grubb and Luvena Shoaf. He was a handsome man.


They had a son named Sidney Ferris Grubb. Sidney was born on 8/13/1885 in Davidson County, NC.

1900 U.S. Census of Boone,  Davidson County,  North Carolina; Roll:  T623_ 1192; Page:  4B; Enumeration District:  28, Lines 51-53, "Wilson C. Grubb"
Wilson C. Grubb, Head, W(hite), M(ale), Born Oct, 1852, 47 yrs old, Married 19 yrs, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Artist, Owns farm free of mortgage
Harriet N. Grubb, Wife, W, F, Born March, 1845, 55 yrs old, Married 19 yrs old, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Cydney F. Grubb (sic, should be Sydney Grubb), Son, W, M, Born Aug, 1885, 14 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC

Wilson Grubb died on 12/28/1908 in High Point, Guilford County, NC. He was buried at Churchland Baptist Church Cemetery, Davidson County, NC

The Dispatch, December 1908
Monday (Dec 28) Mr. Wilson Grubb died at his home in High Point (Guilford County). He was buried yesterday at Piney Church, Boone township, where he formerly lived. He had been a deacon at Piney and was a well-known citizen. The cause of his death was consumption.

1910 U.S. Census of High Point Ward 4,  Guilford County,  North Carolina; Roll:  T624_1114; Page:  11A; Enumeration District:  118; Image:  296, Lines 7-8, "Harriet Grubb"
Harriet Grubb, Head, F(emale), W(hite), 65 yrs old (DOB 1845), Widowed, 2 children with 2 still living, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Can read & write, Owns home free of mortgage
Sydney F. Grubb, Son, M, W, 24 yrs old (DOB 1886), Single, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Pictures Photo

1920 U.S. Census of High Point Ward 4,  Guilford County,  North Carolina; Roll:  T625_1302; Page:  8A; Enumeration District:  160; Image:  374, Lines 17-28, "Harriet N. Grubb"
Harriet N. Grubb, Head, Owns home free of mortgage, F(emale), W(hite), 75 yrs old (DOB 1845), Widowed, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, No occupation
Sydney F. Grubb, Son, M, W, 38 yrs old (DOB 1888), Married, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Furniture Finisher
Della M. Grubb, Daughter-in-law, F, W, 27 yrs old, Married, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Wilson C. Grubb, Grandson, M, W, 8 yrs old, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Gladis N. Grubb, Granddaughter, F, W, 6 yrs old, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Perry L. Grubb, Grandson, M, W, 5 yrs old, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Lillian R. Grubb, Granddaughter, F, W, 2 4/12 mos old, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
James F. Grubb, Grandson, M, W, 9/12 mos old, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Major Shoaf, Boarder, M, W, 19 yrs old, Born in NC, Both parents born in US, Rubber at Furniture Factory
Robert Rodden, Boarder, M, W, 25 yrs old, Born in NC, Both parents born in US, Upholstery in Upholstery factory
Sanford Keller, Boarder, M, W, 22 yrs old, Born in NC, Both parents born in US, Upholstery in Upholstery factory
George Shaw, Boarder, M, W, 19 yrs old, Born in NC, Both parents born in US, Upholstery in Upholstery factory

Harriet Newell Simmerson Barnes Grubb died on 11/21/1921 in Boone, Davidson County, NC. She is buried in the Barnes Family Cemetery in Churchland, Davidson County, NC

NC Death Certificate #220 (? it's been written over), Registration District #295354, Register #12, Harriet Newell Grubb, DOD: 11/21/1921 in Boone, Davidson County, NC
Female, White, Widower, Widow of Wilson Grubb
Age 77 yrs, 8 mos, 10 days, No DOB listed, Born in Davidson County, NC
Father: William Simerson born in NC
Mother: don't know
Informant: W. H. Lomax of Linwood, NC
DOD: 11/21/1921 at 10:00 pm
Cause of Death: Chronic interstitial nephritis
Burial: Pimley Cemetery (sic) on 11/22/1921



Sallie Fannie Barnes married James Monroe Greene on 11/10/1887 in Davidson County, NC. J.M. Greene built Sallie a house and they raised their family there. James Greene died on 4/9/1937 in Davidson County, NC. Sallie Fannie Greene died on 5/6/1943 in Davidson County, NC. They are both buried in the Barnes Family Cemetery in Churchland, Davidson County, NC.











Sydney Ferris Grubb married Della Marie Barbee on 5/19/1910. Sydney Grubb died of congestive heart failure on 4/22/1859 in Washington, DC. Della Grubb died on 1/7/1984 in Lancaster County, PA. She is buried in Lancaster in Riverview Burial Park beside Sydney.

(Unless otherwise noted, photos were found on Ancestry.com from the Bucher/Grubb Family Tree. How thankful I am that I found these photos. I was also able to fill in some of my missing info using this family tree.)

If you have any comments, corrections or additonal information, please email me at Mom25dogs@gmail.com.