Barnes was born on May 14 , 1843 in Hampton , Connecticut , to Eunice A. ( Hubbard ) and William Barnes . His father was a Yale-educated Presbyterian minister while his mother was related to Nathan Hale . The family moved to Alton , Illinois , when Barnes was 10 . There , he was educated in public schools before graduating from Illinois College . After receiving his Bachelor of Arts , Barnes studied law at the University of Michigan where he graduated in 1865 . He was admitted to the Illinois bar the next year . After leaving school he established a legal practice in Jacksonville , Illinois , where he specialized in corporate law . Among his clients was the Wabash Railroad . During the early 1860s he married Belle Jane Daily . The union produced one daughter , Josephine . Barnes ' fraternal commitments included the Freemasons , Independent Order of Odd Fellows , and Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks In Jacksonville , Barnes became active in Democratic party politics . From 1865 till 1885 , he was a delegate to the party 's state convention . Barnes was a delegate to the Illinois constitutional convention in 1870 and represented Morgan County in the Illinois General Assembly , in the Illinois House of Representatives , in 1872 . He also represented Illinois at the 1876 , 1880 , and 1884 Democratic National Convention
1884 Democratic National Convention
1884 Democratic National Convention
William H. Barnes (jurist)