Zenobia H. Barnes

b. 22 October 1844, d. 3 March 1911
  • Zenobia H. Barnes was born on 22 October 1844 in Texas.
  • She was known as Nonie.
  • James W. Barnes and Caroline Alice Greene appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1850 in Grimes County, Texas. Other members of the household included Zenobia H. Barnes, Eugenia C. Barnes, Mark S. Barnes and Abi Elizabeth Bowin. Also in the household was Kentucky-born lawyer F. S. Stockdale, age 22.
  • James W. Barnes and Caroline Alice Greene appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1860 in Plantersville PO, Grimes County, Texas. Other members of the household included Zenobia H. Barnes, Eugenia C. Barnes, Mark S. Barnes, Thomas Barnes, Evelina Wood Barnes and John T. Barnes. Also in the household was Robert Barnes (age 18, born in Mississippi), probably a nephew.
  • She married Henry Clay Searcy on 27 June 1866 in Grimes County, Texas.
  • Zenobia H. Barnes became a widow at the circa 13 February 1868 death of her husband Henry Clay Searcy.
  • The following appeared on 19 February 1868 in Flake's Bulletin: (from the Navasota Ranger) Our entire community was shocked last Tuesday by one of those horrible tragedies which too often blacken the escutcheon of our State. Mr. Clay Searcy, a lawyer from Anderson, was shot by a man named Dan McKinney, lately from Austin. He had a few moments before endeavored to engage Searcy in a quarrel, by entering the barber's shop where Searcy was being shaved. He abused Searcy in an outrageous manner, making serious threats, with his pistol concealed under his blanket. Searcy went off and returned with a double-barrel shot gun, and as he entered the door of the barber shop McKinney fired his pistol, and the ball took effect in Searcy's head. It was thought he was killed as he fell to the pavement, but he recovered and was taken to a room. Medical aid was called in, and it was found that the ball had penetrated the brain. His wife and friends were telegraphed for from Anderson, and they soon came to sooth his suffering.
         McKinney is reported to us as being a desperado, and left Austin on account of some unlawful act. He is reported to be a married man, his wife living in Goliad county. During the preceding part of the day he had drawn his pistol on several barkeepers and forced them to furnish him liquor without pay. He is now in the jail in Anderson, securely chained. He has no partisans or friends here. He had some horses in the wagon yard, which he brought from the West.
         Major Jones sent a party from Anderson to bring down McKinney for trial. On the way back with the prisoner, in a strip of woods, the guard was halted by a crowd of sixty armed men. They were ordered to lay down their arms and give up the prisoner. When the guard protested and remonstrated, they were ordered peremptorily to hush up. The men were disguised and blackened, and all spoke in broken English and Dutch. McKinney was hung to a limb, and the rope or limb broke and he fell down. He was then tied securely and hung over ten feet high, and left hanging. . . .
  • James W. Barnes and Caroline Alice Greene appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Anderson, Grimes County, Texas. Other members of the household included Zenobia H. Barnes, Evelina Wood Barnes.
  • She married Charles Churchill Gibbs on 8 December 1870 in Grimes County, Texas.
  • The following appeared on 23 October 1892 in The Galveston Daily News: (Anderson, Oct. 22) General James W. Barnes died at his home, about three miles southeast of this place, yesterday at 7 o'clock a. m., in the 75th year of his age. General Barnes was among the early settlers of Grimes county; was one of the commissioners to locate and lay out the town of Anderson, the county seat when the county was organized. The general was always broad and enlightened in his views, and was a successful planter here prior to the civil war. He was during the war elected to a brigadier generalship of state militia. Since the war he had been connected with a number of important business enterprises in Texas. He was the father of Mrs. C. C. Gibbs of San Antonio and the grandfather of Mrs. T. D. Cobb of Houston, who, with Mrs. Dr. R. Quinney and his faithful life partner, are left to mourn his loss. He was interred in the family burying ground to-day at 10 a. m. His death has cast a gloom over this community.
  • Charles Churchill Gibbs and Zenobia H. Barnes appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, at 905 Mason with two female domestic servants and a coachman.. Other members of the household included Marion Gibbs.
  • Charles Churchill Gibbs and Zenobia H. Barnes appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, at 905 Mason. Other members of the household included Marion Gibbs.
  • Zenobia H. Barnes died on 3 March 1911 at age 66 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, at 905 Mason . Her death was officially witnessed by Charles Churchill Gibbs.
  • Her husband Charles Churchill Gibbs became a widower at her death.
  • She was interred at City Cemetery #5, Bexar County, Texas.
  • Last Edited: 22 Dec 2012

Family 1: Henry Clay Searcy b. circa 1843, d. circa 13 February 1868

Family 2: Charles Churchill Gibbs b. 6 June 1842, d. 5 January 1927