Biographies B
Eddie Porter Barnes
The secret of Eddie Porter Barnes' success can be summed up in two words - application and ability; and if a third ingredient were to be added, we could look to the opposite end of the alphabet and add the word zeal. There may be many men who apply themselves just assiduously Eddie Barnes has, and with as much zeal and zest for the work in hand. There are, however, few men with his ability, which has been time tested and proved in many places, and in distinctly different lines of endeavor. In the last few years Mr. Barnes has lightened his business load somewhat, but he is still carrying what would be more than enough for most men half his age. He still owns a store in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, another store in Central City, and he is a director of the Beaver Dam Deposit Bank. Mr. Barnes has been in business since before the turn of the century, and during this long span of years he has gained the respect and admiration of those with whom he has had dealings. He has had the confidence of the buying public and the loyalty of those whom he employed. Mr. Barnes is an upright and honorable man who has proved that success in business is not at all a matter of chance, and that it can be achieve without compromising high principles and decent ideals.
Eddie Porter Barnes was born on a farm near Beaver Dam, Kentucky, on January 27, 1866. His father, George H. Barnes, was born on a farm near Beaver dam on September 23, 1839, and died in 1919. He was a farmer. George H. Barnes was a devout member of the Methodist Church. He was a strong and influential leader in Democratic circles, taking a keen interest in questions of government, and possessing the gift of convincing oratory to a marked degree. The mother of Eddie P. Barnes was Kittie (Metcalfe) Barnes. She was born near Beaver Dam, Kentucky June 14, 1841, and died in 1907. both parents are buried in Goshen Cemetery, Goshen, Kentucky.
After completing preliminary school work at Beaver Dam, Eddie Barnes went to Hartford College, Hartford, Kentucky, for a period of two years. His first employment on leaving college was as a clerk in Hocker & Company's general store at Beaver Dam, Kentucky. At the end of four years, Eddie Barnes and a partner bought out the Hocker Company. In 1899 the partner died, and Eddie Barnes offered his brother the opportunity to join him as partner. The firm then became E.P. Barnes & Brother. This store was continued until 1920, when the brothers sold out in Beaver Dam and started a store in Hopkinsville, In 1905, Eddie Barnes opened up a store at Central City, which is still being conducted under the name of Barnes Mercantile Company. In 1936 the partner-brother of Eddie P. Barnes died. During that year, to somewhat lighten the labor. Mr. Barnes sold out a store he owned in Earlington, Kentucky. He continues to control the establishments in Hopkinsville and Central City.
Mr. Barnes was always a man of far-sighted vision, and this can be appreciated from the fact that back in 1911 he organized the Barnes Automobile Company. This company had the agency for Ford cars in five cities, and in the early days of the automobile that was certainly a matter of putting a lot of eggs in one basket. Mr. Barnes, however, was correct in his faith in the future of automobiles, and he was right on the future of the Ford. The five cities in which he had Ford automobile agencies were Beaver Dam, Central City, Greenville, Madisonville and Hopkinsville, all in Kentucky. The Barnes Automobile Company stayed under the control of Eddie Barnes from the time he organized the group in 1911 until he sold out his interest in 1942. He was, and still is, a director of the Beaver Dam Deposit Bank.
In 1907, Eddie Porter Barnes was married to Adeline Davis Sublette, who was born in Ballard County, Kentucky. Mrs. Barnes was born Adeline Davis Sublette, and throughout her life has been known as “Dee.” Her father, James Hinchey Sublette was an extensive tobacco grower in Ballard County, and was one of the first growers to flue cure his tobacco. He produced exceptionally fine grades of tobacco and often showed his crop at the surrounding fairs. At one time he sold his prize crop for $4.98 per pound. The Sublette family came to Kentucky from Virginia, where a town is named in honor of the family, and came to America from France. Mrs. Barnes' mother was Margaret Kuykendall, of Butler County, Kentucky.
After completing the common schools, Mrs. Barnes attended Baptist College at Blandville, Ballard County, Kentucky, and beginning at the age of eighteen she taught school in Ballard County for fifteen years. In 1902 she was elected superintendent of the schools of Ballard County, and served for four years. Following this tenure of office she taught school in Elkton and was principal of the school at Nortonville. She was once a candidate for the office of State Librarian.
Always active in public affairs, Mrs. Barnes became Social, Church and Educational Editor on Dr. Greer's publication, “The Green River Country” and in 1900 she travelled over the state making speeches in the interest of the candidacy of William Jennings Bryan and J.C.W. Beckham. In 1907 she was married to Mr. Barnes and went to Central City to make her home.
Mrs. Barnes found Central City not exactly to her liking, but instead of criticizing and doing nothing she set about immediately to improve it. At that time there were ten saloons there but no schools. She organized the Woman's Club and the School Improvement Club and personally established the public library. She led in the local option fight which was successful in closing the saloons in Central City, and through her efforts two churches were built.
After Mr. and Mrs. Barnes moved to Hopkinsville in 1921, Mrs. Barnes assisted in the organization of the first Woman's Club and in 1922 she was a delegate at large to the conference of Woman's Clubs at Chautauqua, New York. In 1923-24 Mrs. Barnes made a tour around the world with the American Express Company. She brought back a royal costume from every country she visited as well as rare antique souvenirs and tapestry. Her hobby is gardening, and in 1933 her garden took second prize in the contest sponsored by the Lousville Courier-Journal covering southern Indiana and Kentucky.
Mr. Barnes has never had the time nor inclination to take any deep interest in politics, but he votes Democratic, and follows the course of government closely. The years have dealt kindly with Eddie Porter Barnes. He has lived a useful life, never gaining an advantage at the expense of another, and always ready with encouragement for those striving to get ahead. The name of Eddie Barnes is well known far beyond the confines of Hopkinsville or Christian County, and when men speak of him they praise him as a man whose recollection brings back pleasant memories.
Source: Wallis, Frederick A., and Hambleton Tapp, eds. A Sesqui-Centennial History of Kentucky. Vol. 4. Hopkinsville, KY: Historical Record Association, 1945. Pages 2038-2041.
Updated June 8, 2018