Judge of Probate Court Newaygo Co., Michigan

Oakland Co., MI Dibean Marraiges Index:
James Barton
Reliance Jenny
Married: 25 March 1832 Oakland Co., Michigan

1850 U.S. Federal Census Newaygo Co., Michigan Dw. 421 Fam. 421
James Barton, 37, M, Farmer, Ireland
Relience Barton, 35, F, NY
Charles Barton, 17, M, Laborer, MI
Emily Barton, 15, F, MI
Henry Barton, 11, M, IL
Mary Barton, 8, F, IL
Mark Barton, 6, M, IL
Ellen Barton, 4, F, W, MI
George O. Barton, 1, M, MI

1860 U.S. Federal Census Big Prairie Twp., Newaygo Co., MI Page 72 Fam. 495
James Barton, 1812, 48, Ireland, M
Reline Barton, 45, 1815, NY, F
Mary Barton, 18, 1842, IL, F
Mark Barton, 15, 1845, IL, M
Ellem Barton, 13, 1847, MI, F
George Barton, 11, 1849, MI, M

1870 U.S. Federal Census Big Prairie Twp., Newaygo Co., MI, Page 2, Dw. 13, Fam. 13
James Barton, 57, M, W, Lawyer, 5000, 1000, Ireland
Reliance Barton, 54, F, W, Keeping House, NY
Ellen Barton, 23, F, W, School Teacher, MI
George Barton, 21, M, W, Farmer, MI
Marie Barton, 11, F, W, Attending School, MI (Granddaughter- daughter of Charles Barton)
William H. Clark, 21, M, W, Farm Laborer, Canada West

1880 U.S. Federal Census Big Prairie Twp., Newaygo Co., MI Page 304A
James Barton, 1813, Ireland, Self, FB & MB Ireland, W, M, Married, 67, Judge of Probate
Reliance Barton, 1816, NY, Wife, FB & MB Mass., W, F, Married, 64, Keeping House
Obed Jenne, 1800, Mass., Other, FB & MB MA, W, M, Married, 80, Farmer
Edwin Mansfield, 1866, OH, Other, FB OH, MB IN, W, M, Single, 14, Laborer

Michigan Marriages 1868-1925:
James Barton, 75, 1812, Ireland, Residence: Croton, Farmer & Judge
Catherne Neville, 61, 1826, Ireland, Residence; Croton
Married: 11 Jan. 1887 Big Rapids, Mecosta Co., Michigan by H.W.P. Grumie, Priest
Witnesses: Joseph & Willia Barton, both of Big Rapids, Michigan

Michigan Marriages1868-1925:
James Barton, 82, 1812, Ireland, Father: William , Mother: Susannah Culton
Polly Herrington Barton White, 72, 1822, NY, Father: Lucius Herrington, Mother: Mary Rennels
Married: 15 Oct. 1894 White Cloud, Newaygo Co., Michigan

1900 U.S. Federal Census Big Prairie Twp., Newaygo Co., MI, Sheet 1A, Dw. 10, Fam. 10
James Barton, Head, W, M, June 1812, 87, Married 6 years, Ireland, FB & MB Ireland
Polly Barton, Wife, W, F, Oct. 1823, 76, Married 6 years, 9 children - 4 living, NY, FB & MB VT

Portraits and Biographical Album of Newaygo County, Michigan....by Chapman Brothers, 1884
Pages 293, 294, And 295
Hon. James Barton, Probate Judge of Newaygo County, resident of Section 8, Big Prairie Township, was born June 4, 1812, in County Tyrone, Ireland. His parents, William and Susannah (Culton) Barton belonged to the sturdy, upright and uncompromising race in the north of Ireland known as Scotch-Irish, and were members of the Presbyterian element peculiar to the upper counties of the Emerald Isle. William Barton was born in County Tyrone, in 1775, and died in Ionia Co., Mich., in 1848. The Mother of Judge Baryon was a native of the same County, and was born in 1777, and died in 1824, in Quebec, Can., on the very night of the arrival of the family in that city. After a brief tarry, the bereaved husband and mortherless children proceeded to Lyons, Wayne Co., N.Y., where they remained until October, 1829, when they came to Bloomfield, Oakland Co., Mich., and settled on a farm. Later on, this property was sold, and theycame to Otisco, Ionia County.
Judge Baryon was a boy of 12 when his parents removed their family to the New World, and he remained a member of the household band until he attained to man’s estate, and put on the dignity of a Benedict in 1832. He was 17 years old when his father came to Michigan, and two years after coming to Bloomfield, he spent the alternating winters and summers in teaching and farming. He obtained his education in a desultory manner. He received five years regular instruction in his native country, and packed up fragmentary learning in the common schools of Lyons. But his good sense and correct judgement stood him in better stead than crude school privileges and instructions. He studied his understanding dictated, and he chose judiciously in reading, which he recognized as a more practical benefit than the curriculum of such schools as those to which he had access. In August, 1833, he removed toWhite Pigeon, where he resided for two years. John S. Barry, Third Governor of Michigan, was then an obscure provision merchant of White Pigeon, and Judge Barton was one of his constituents in the first public office he ever held - that the member of the first Constitutional Convention which framed the Constitution upon which Michigan was admitted into the Union in 1837. The ability, wisdom and judgement, and incorruptible integrity displayed by Mr. Barry, whose Course in the Convention and afterwards as Governor, was studiously watched by Judge Barton, undoubtedly exercised a great influence over his own public career, and, in addition to the peculiar traits of his own inherited character, undoubtedly colored all his after life.
Judge Barton went, in 1835, to Thornton, Cook Co., Ill., where he spent ten years in agricultural pursuits, and during the time officiated four years as a justice of the Peace. In the spring of 1845, he returned to Michigan and settled on a farm in Berlin, Ionia County. He was there a resident two years, engaged in farming and in 1846 was elected Dipervisor of Berlin. In January, 1847, he bought a farm in Otisco, in the same county and continued to manage his agricultural interests there until his removal to Newaygo County, in February, 1850. He prospected through the unsettled, unorganized townships and bought 200 acres of land in township 13, range 11 (now Big Prairie), designated as State or Asylum land. The specific name of this land was Salt Spring land, and referred to the appropriation, by the Government of ‘ichigan, of tracts of land for the purpose of furthering the development of the saline resources of the state. A few years later, a re-appropriation, for the benefit of the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Asylum, was made of the same tracts, and they are still “Asylum” lands.
The Judge’s purchase was wholly Prairie, and was all put under the plow during the first year of his residence there. He is still a successful Farmer in the township with which he identified his interests more than thirty years ago. He has been a factor in every progressive step of Big Prairie, from its days of incipient to the present period. He aided in the organization of the county in 1951, and his name and position are perpetuated in the names of its northeastern township. At the meeting for arranging the municipal regulation of Newaygo County, Judge Barton and Isaac D. Merrill, who died Dec. 14, 1883 (current year) were elected its two Supervisors. The former has held the incumbency, without intermission, ever since, and is one of the oldest continuous officials in the position of Supervisors on record, having acted in that capacity an aggregate of 32 years, and has been Chairman of the Board every year, with one exception. In Oct., 1852 he was elected County Judge to fill a vacancy, and was selected for the same position at the regular election, in fall of 1853. He was elected the first Probate Judge of the county and served six years. In 1863, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney, and discharged the duties of the position five years. In 18y0, he was appointed by Gov. Henry P. Baldwin to fill the office of Probate Judge, the vacancy having been created by the resignation of the Hon. A.H. Giddings (who had been elected Circuit Judge), and filled three years of the term of his predecessor. He has held the same position, by regular election, ever since. Judge Barton has also been Circuit Court Commissioner six years. When he came to Newaygo County it had no attorney, and he applied himself to the study of law and was admitted to the Bar in 1858. In 1852, Judge Barton was put in nomination to represent his district in the Legislature of Michigan; was according to the general understanding, elected and proceeded to Lansing with his credentials. On arrival there he found “King Strang” the Mormon chief of Beaver Island, ready to occupy the seat to which Judge Barton supposed himself the sole and legitimate claimant. Mutual ignorance of the other as candidate had prevailed, and on investigation it appeared that Strang was within the district; though 14 miles from the main land. Beaver Island belonged to Emmet County, and on comparing numbers Strang exhibited a proportion of 30 votes in his own favor to one for Judge Barton. The length, breadth and thickness of the matter were too stupendous for any adequate arrangement under the circumstances, and a Judge Barton quietly beat a retreat. Mrs. Barton received him on his return with wide-eyed amazement, and inquired as to the “wherefore””Mrs. Barton said the Judge in his phenomenal chest-tones, and with an assumption of all his official dignity, “I have but one wife, and King Strang has four.” The response is one of the best reminiscences of Judge Barton that can be recorded. It shows he has the keen, satiric wit which characterizes his nation, and his ready aptness on occasion. The spacious character of James Strang’s Claims to the seat he held in the legislature of a Michigan were afterward proven. When a George W. Peck ran for Congress he was assisted materially by 600 votes furnished by James Strang as the result of the election on Beaver Island within his domain. Strang was shot within the year, and his subjects betook themselves to,other,fields. The aggregate of men, women and children who emigrated from the island made an exhibit of 150 persons.
Judge Barton was married March 25, 1832, in Oakland Co., Mich., to Reliance, daughter of Lettes and Fear (Swift) Jennie. Her father was born in 1762, in Rochester, Plymouth Co., Mass. His ancestors were born in Holland, and belonged to the Quakers who,were banished from that country for their religious belief, and settled in Massachusetts. Mr. Jennie went to Lyons, Wayne Co., N.Y., in 1814, and finding no Quaker society there he united with the Methodist Church, of which his wife was a member. He died at Sodus, Wayne County, in 1828. Mrs. Jennie was born Aug. 12, 1770, in Massachusetts, and died in Lyons, N.Y., April 10, 1825. Mrs. Barton is a member of the Disciples or Christian Church. She is one of eight children born to her parents -,five sons and three daughters. Herself and one sister now residing in Farmington, Oakland Co., Mich., are the only survivors.
The sons and daughters of Judge Barton and his wife were born as follows; Charles, born March 25, 1833, Died At Bald Hills, Humboldt County, California, January 30, 1875; Emily, Born May 10, 1835 (Died July 27, 1861); Mary, March 7, 1837 (Died June 11, 1841); Henry, June 2, 1839 (see sketch); Mary E., born June 6, 1842 (see sketch of Robert Fisher); Mark, Aug. 14, 1844 (see sketch); Ellen, Oct. 10, 1846 (Died May 28, 1874); George O., April 13, 1849. The latter resides with his parents and manages his fathers agricultural affairs. He was married April 13, 1873, to Mary, oldest daughter of Patrick and Catherine Neville (see sketch). She was born Jan. 8, 1854, was reared and educated a Roman Catholic, and in October of that year connected herself by baptism with the First-Day Adventist Church. Two children have been born of her marriage - Charles, June 11, 1874 (Died Nov. 23, 1875) And Jenne C., July 19, 1876.
The salient points in the character of Judge Barton and his noble wife are clearly defined in their portraits, presented on other pages. Their incorporation among the biographical records of Newaygo County, where they have wrought their life-work, will afford the most general satisfaction among the patrons of this Album.

Muskegon Chronicle (Muskegon, MI) Pg. 5, Monday, March 30, 1903
MICHIGAN NEWS
The Newaygo Repulican publishes a biographical sketch of James Barton, familliarly known in these parts as Judge Barton, who is approaching his 91st birthday, and embellishes the article with a good picture of the judge, who is Prosecuting Attorney Barton's grandfather. The old gentleman was born in Ireland in 1812, and came to this country when twelve years old. His mother died the night the family arrived in Quebec, and after a short stop there the father and children pushed on to the United States. They dwelt in New York State awhile, and then removed to Oakland county, this state, where they remained about five years. The judge taught school awhile near Pontiac, and after a time he went to White Pigeon, where he resided two years. Then for ten years he resided in Ionia county. He then went to Illinois and remained ten years, and then came back to Michigan settling in Big Prairie, Newaygo county, where he has since resided. He was the first supervisor of the county and held the office for thirty-eight years. For twenty-one years he was judge of probate, for five years prosecuting attorney and for eight years circuit court commissioner. And during all the time he was engaged in the practice of law. He still in possession of good health and gets around as lively as a good many men who are not half his age.

Muskegon Chronicle (Muskegon, MI) Pg. 7, Saturday, June 4, 1904
JUDGE BARTON OF NEWAYGO COUNTY IS NINETY-FOUR YEARS OLD
Lewis M. Stinson of Casnovia, who is serving as circuit court juror for the present term, went to Big Prairie, Newaygo county, this morning to participate in observing the ninety-fourth birthday anniversary of James Barton. The plans for the day included a family reunion, which all the near descendents of Judge Barton living in this part of Michigan are expected to attend.
Judge Barton is one of the best-known pioneers of Newaygo county. He was born in Ireland and came to America when thirteen years old. He has lived in Newaygo county fifty years. He holds the remarkable record of having served Big Prairie township for forty years as supervisor, and was eleceted for the forty-first term, but declined to qualify. He was also judge of Probate for Newaygo county thirty-six years.

State of Michigan Death Certificate:
James Barton, Died: 16 Feb. 1905, Big Prarire Twp., Newaygo Co., Michigan, Male, White, Married, Born: 4 June 1812 Tyrone, Ireland, 92years 8months 12days, Age at 1st marriage: 24 years, Parent of 8 children of whom 3 are living, Sawyer, Father; William Barton, Born: Ireland, Mother: Susan Colton, Born: Ireland, Burial: 19 Feb. 1905 Big Prairie, Michigan, Casue of death: Acute gastritis, Informant: J.C. Bagych, White Cloud, Reg. No. 3, File no. 527.

A HISTORY OF BIG PRAIRIE - EVERETT CEMETERY
Newaygo County, Michigan
In 1850, James Barton, Alexander Dalziel, Benjamin Olney and their families and Mr. and Mrs. William S. Utley became settlers also. Dr. U. P. French arrived in 1852.

James Barton arrived in 1850 and bought 200 acres on the prairie near his brother. He also established a fine farm and pretentious buildings. He was one of a group of men, who helped to organize Newaygo County in 1851. At that time Newaygo County conta ined only two townships -- Newaygo and Brooks. James Barton was one of the first supervisors. In 1852, Big Prairie was the third township of the county to organize, but it included much more territory than it does now. In that year, James Barton was nomin ated as delegate to the Michigan state legislature from the Newaygo district and was elected according to general understanding. On arrival at Lansing, he found King James Strang, the Mormon leader on Beaver Island, ready to occupy the seat to which Barto n thought he was the sole claimant. Strang proved that Beaver Island was a part of Emmet County and that he had received more votes than Barton to the satisfaction of all concerned and Mr. Barton went home. Mrs. Barton, being very surprised at his returni ng so soon, began to question him. Mr. Barton drew himself up to his full height and replied with great dignity, "Mrs. Barton, I have only one wife; King Stang has four." It was later proven that Strang received his votes by fraudulent means. In 1870, Jam es Barton was appointed Probate Judge by Governor Henry P. Baldwin and hereafter was known as "Judge" Barton.

The Barton and Utley families have a great many descendants, many of whom still live on or near the prairie. Many of them have given much time to civic and professional service. The histories of other early settlers and their descendants would also pro ve interesting, but further digression is not desirable.

By 1878, as was said, all the settlers had left the center of the prairie, which had become a sandblow. This was mostly located on section 18 and the two Bartons, heretofore mentioned, who it must be remembered, had fine well-kept farms, were among tho se who were forced to leave. James moved to the outer edge of the prairie and settled on section 8 and William moved several miles away.