The name Johanna Barnes is mentioned frequently on this website and it is important to give a little background on this individual and her family. On this page, you will find articles relating to Johanna and some genealogical information about her family. On June 26, 1899, the house next door to the “sallie house” was deeded to Mrs. Barnes. Johanna was recently divorced and mother of four children. Only three of her children lived with her during the time she lived next door to the Finney’s. The oldest daughter, Lydia, was sent to live with Johanna’s sister and her family in Texas for reasons unknown.
Johanna Wright was born on February 16, 1863 in Illinois to James Henry Wright and Mary Ann Ahern. James Wright was born November 29, 1825 in Bristol, Pennsylvania, and Mary Ann Ahern was born October 4, 1837 in Munster, Cork, Ireland. They were married February 21, 1860 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Their first child was Elizabeth, born in 1860 in Pennsylvania. Elizabeth later married Francis T. O’Dowd and moved to Temple, Texas. Elizabeth died on September 25, 1900. James and Mary’s third child was Robert Edward, born June 22, 1864. He married Mary Elizabeth Vandiver. Robert died March 2, 1902 in Cummings, Kansas. Lydia, born in 1866, was James and Mary’s fourth child. She married John B. Sisk. Lydia Wright Sisk died in 1913 in Kansas City, Missouri. Death Certificate for Lydia Sisk. James Henry Wright Jr. was born to James and Mary on August 13, 1868, and two years later on September 12, 1870, his brother, Joshua, was born. Both boys died within four days of each other. James died on February 21, 1871, and Joshua joined him on February 24, 1871. In 1872, James and Mary welcomed another child into their family. Lizzie was born in 1872, but she only lived for five years. She died on January 3, 1877.
In 1880, Johanna’s father, James, died. Johanna Wright married Frank Barnes on December 26, 1883 in Cummings, Kansas. Marriage Certificate for Johanna Wright and Frank Barnes. Their first child, Lydia Laura Barnes, was born on October 21, 1884 in Cummings. Two years later, their second child, Anna Harriet Barnes was born in August of 1886. Less than one year after her second child was born, Johanna’s problems began. In April of 1887, Johanna Barnes was committed to the state asylum in Topeka, Kansas, after being found of unsound mind by a judge in Atchison. What happened between April 1887 and November of 1889 is not known. More than likely, she spent that time in the asylum, and was then released, possibly because of her financial situation, or their inability to treat her condition, or perhaps they believed that they had cured her. Whatever the reason, Johanna’s third child, Elizabeth Catherine Barnes was born on November 23, 1889.
On November 28, 1898, Johanna filed for divorce. At some point the divorce was finalized, on July 13, 1899, however Frank Wright Barnes was born on June 26, 1899. The house next to the “Sallie House” was deeded to Johanna, and she lived there with her daughters, Anna and Elizabeth, and her only son, Frank. They lived in the house until April 18, 1906, when Johanna deeded the house to Agnes Finney. It is not known when this happened, but sometime before 1906, Johanna and her ex-husband, Frank, remarried and decided to move the family to Kansas City. Before they were remarried, according to an account in the Atchison Daily Globe, Johanna and two of her children moved to Kansas City, Missouri and then she left them alone and headed to Colorado. An aunt found them, most likely it was her sister Lydia Wright Sisk who found the children and contacted Frank Barnes, Sr. After that incident, Frank and Johanna were remarried. Five months later, in Kansas City, Missouri, Johanna attempted suicide. She failed to take her own life, but succeeded in taking the life of her only son, Frank. Discrepancies in Frank’s age, as it was reported in two different newspapers, has raised some question as to whether Frank was six or seven at the time of his death. Perhaps the newspapers simply made a mistake. Less than one year later, Johanna's mother, Mary Ahern Wright, died. She died April 2, 1907 in Kansas City, Missrouri. Death Certificate for Mary Ahern Wright.
After the death of Frank Jr., the family moved to San Gabriel, California. Anna married Stewart MacKenzie on August 30, 1913 in San Gabriel, California. Anna and Stewart had two children, Anna May and John R.. Anna Barnes MacKenzie died on January 14, 1919, and her husband Stewart, joined her in 1922. Anna’s sisters, Lydia and Elizabeth, raised her two children. Lydia Barnes never married, she died on January 12, 1970 in Alpine, California. Elizabeth Catherine Barnes married Jonas Ely on May 8, 1920 in Delano, California. Johanna lived to see two of her daughters marry, and buried one; she died in July of 1926. Whether Johanna was ever admitted to another mental asylum is not known, and the diagnosis of her condition is also unknown
A quick overview of the family:
* Some notes on Joanna ( Wright ) Barnes :
We know she went to a Asylum in Topeka Kansas in April of 1887 Neighbors said she was violently insane
Unsure of what happened to her from April, 1887 to Nov. of 1889
Johanna/Joanna (Josie)(Wright) Barnes
Born- Feb. 16, 1863 Keithsburg, Mercer Co, Illinios
Died- July 1926 in San Gabriel , Los Angeles Co, California
Parents :
James Henry Wright
Born- Nov. 29, 1825 Bristol Pennsylvania
Died 1880 Kansas
Mary Ann (Ahern) Wright
Born- Oct. 4, 1837 in Munster, Cork, Ireland
Died- April 2, 1884 Kansas City Missouri
James Henry Wright & Mary Ann Ahern married 1860 Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Marriages
Johanna/Joanna Wright & Frank Barnes Dec. 26, 1883 Cummings Kansas
Joanna filed for divorce Nov. 28, 1898 The divorce was finalized July, 13, 1899
Then sometime before 1906 Joanna and Frank remarry
Frank Barnes
Born- Oct. 28, 1859 in Cummingville, Atchison Co, Kansas
Died- Nov. 12, 1940 in San Gabriel, Los Angeles Co, California
Parents for Frank Barnes :
Asa Barnes
Born- abt. 1825 in New Brunswick
Died- abt. 1888 Atchison Co. Kansas
Harriet (Cook) Barnes Unsure of a marriage date for Asa & Harriet ( Cook ) Barnes
Harriet Cook's parents were Daniel & Elizabeth ( ? ) Cook
Children :
Lydia Laura Barnes
Born- Oct. 21, 1884 Cummings, Atchison, Co, Kansas
Died- Jan. 12, 1970 in Alpine Co, California
Lydia Barnes never married she lived with Elizabeth and Jonas in 1930
Anna Harriet Barnes
Born- Aug. 1886 Cummingsville, Atchison Co, Kansas
Died- Jan. 14, 1919 San Gabriel,, Los Angeles Co, California
Anna H. Barnes married Stewart Mackenzie on Aug. 30, 1913 in San Gabriel California
They had two children Anna May/Mae Mackenzieb. June 26, 1914 and John R. MacKenzie b. Jan 2, 1917 and d. Oct 13, 1987 in Houstan, Texas.
Stweart Mackenzie died in 1922 and after Anna's death, her sisters, Lydia & Elizabeth took care of their children through 1930
Elizabeth Catherine Barnes
Born-Nov. 23, 1889 Cummingsville, Atchison Co, Kansas
Died- Dec 20, 1973 California
Elizabeth C. Barnes married Jonas Ely on May 8, 1920 in Delano, California
There were two children from a previous marriage, John Ely and Ruth Ely.
Elizabeth and Jonas had two children: Fred b. May23, 1922 los Angeles Co, California d. march 4, 2002 Orlando, Glenn Co, California, and Martha b. abt 1924 also in California.
Frank Wright Barnes Jr.
Born- June 26, 1899 Cummingsville, Atchison Co, Kansas
Died- Sept. 24, 1906 Kansas City Missouri
Joanna Barnes attemped suicide by turning on the gas she lived and Frank Jr. died.
Sources: Ancestry.com- Census, Family trees, Atchison Daily Globe.
Please note genealogy is not 100% Names, dates, Birth Places can be wrong. Sometimes they used a first name on one census then a middle or nickname on another. Spellings are often off. Records referenced within this site can be backed up by census or other online records or references.
last updated 8-08'