My Genealogy Hound

B. H. Barton, a member of the firm of Gipson & Barton, and one of the leading business men of Polk County, was born in Polk County, Ark., on June 13, 1852, and is the son of Hardaman and Martha C. (McDamie) Barton, natives of Kentucky. The parents were married in that State, and moved from there to Polk County, Ark., in March, 1847, locating in a wilderness. They are now residents of Cove Township, and their home is two and one-half miles northwest of Cove. The father has always followed agricultural pursuits, and was a soldier in the late war during the latter part of the conflict. He was county supervisor in 1874, and then represented the county in the Legislature in the Brooks and Baxter War. He was, and is, a prominent citizen. He is a stanch Democrat in politics, and both he and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which he has been elder. He is a Mason, a member of Mount Meadow Lodge No. 218. He is now sixty-seven and she sixty-five years of age. Of the eight children born to their union B. H. Barton is second in order of birth. He spent his school days in this county and finished at Dallas. After this he taught school for a short time, and then commenced to farm in White Township, where he now has 163 acres of well-improved land. In January, 1880, he and D. Barton formed a partnership and commenced to sell goods at Cove, and they were among the first to sell goods at that place. About one year later he abandoned merchandising and embarked in farming and stock-raising. Two years ago he and Mr. Gipson and R. W. Johnson engaged in business again, and Mr. Johnson recently withdrew from the firm. The present firm, Gipson & Barton, are doing an extensive business and sell goods over a vast extent of territory—Sevier County, Polk County and Choctaw Nation. In 1878 Mr. Barton was elected justice of the peace, and has held that position since without solicitation on his part. Mr. Barton was married in November, 1871, to Miss Mary F. Jones, of this county. They had eight children, but only six are now living: Hardaman A., William B., Dewitt, Wyatt C., B. H., Jr., and Ovie. Mrs. Barton is a member of the Methodist Church, and Mr. Barton is a Mason, a member of Mount Meadow Lodge No. 218, is junior warden and secretary of the lodge. He has represented his lodge at the Grand Lodge three times. In politics he is a Democrat. He held the position of postmaster at this place for a short time, and when the office was in the store.