JAMES FRANKLIN BARTON - Logan County Kansas History Book 1887 - 1987 excerpts
James Franklin was born January 16, 1878 to Thomas and Cynthia Ann (Reynolds) Barton on a farm near Garrettsburg, Missouri south of St. Joseph.
He came by emigrant train to western Kansas in 1906. On the train he brought horses, plow, lister, cultivator and wagon, also household necessities. He filed August 14, 1906 on the homestead SW1/4 10-14-36, four miles south and eight west of Russell Springs (Kansas). He lived in a dug-out while dry land farming and constructing a four room stone house.
Frank batched for seven years before marriage February 26, 1913 to Lena Blau born April 25, 1890, daughter of Heinrich (Henry) Johann Jacob and Maria (Mary) Eva (Oehmig) Blau. A double marriage ceremony was preformed at the Blau Ranch. The other couple was Lena's cousin, Anna Blau and Ed Deaver. The bridesmaids were Misses Louise "Lula" Rhubottom and Rosa Blau. Louie Blau and August Blau were the groom's best men.
They were parents of Harold Thomas, Mary Citha who died of pneumonia at age five, Robert Edward, Lena Emmaline, James Franklin Jr. and Sterling Henry. Lena lost her life due to complications of measles following the birth of Sterling on May 25, 1924. After the death of her sister, Emma stayed and cared for the family until she had to return to her home in Utah. Anna Deaver took the children and cared for them along with her young family. Could be considered care of several sets of twins.
Frank rented the farm and moved to Missouri. His brother Carroll and wife Laura took Sterling, his sister May Ellen took Franklin and Emmaline, while Harold and Bob lived with their father. The separation of the family wasn't satisfactory, so Frank with the children, except Sterling returned to western Kansas in 1933.
After the family was grown and married he returned to Missouri in 1946 ... only to arrive in Colby, Kansas in 1956 to live with his son Bob. He died of a heart attack following surgery on July 26, 1959 while on a trip to Missouri. Burial was in the Beulah Cemetery, Marienthal, Kansas (11 miles north and 5 miles west, 1/4 mile north).
The homestead was purchased by Leonard Fairchild at public auction April 16, 1980, the same date the Blau Ranch sold. - Submitted by Lena (Barton) Peters