She grew up on the family farm near Wind Ridge. 

Jesse Barnett Courtesy Carl Hoge/Virginia (Simms) Toney

She was united in the bonds of holy matrimony with Jesse Lazear (or "Lazier") Barnett (1839-1910), a native of Rock Lick, Greene County, and one of 11 children of John and Margaret (Stoughton) Barnett, and a grandson of Ezekiel Barnett. The ceremony was held at "Big Tree," Aleppo Township, Greene County on Oct. 30, 1870 by justice of the peace A.J. Hinerman. At the time of marriage, Nancy was age 16 and Jesse 31. The original marriage certificate today is in the National Archives in Washington, DC. 

Immediately after the wedding ceremony concluded, the newlyweds traveled to the home of Nancy's sister Eliza Finnegan for their wedding reception, or "infare" as it was called at the time. Eliza's husband John later wrote, "They came to my house for their infare and staid over night at my house..." 

Jesse stood five feet, nine inches tall and weighed 145 lbs. During the Civil War, he overcame two battle wounds to rise from the rank of private to become captain of Company B of the 7th West Virginia Infantry. A granddaughter later recalled that he "was said to have been one of the bravest men who ever shouldered a gun. He was severely wounded several times."

His first wound was at the Battle of Fredericksburg on Dec. 13, 1862. He and his regiment were involved in heavy fighting near the fairgrounds in the town streets before advancing toward the deadly enemy stronghold on Marye's Heights. Shrapnel from an exploding shell struck him in the right hand, breaking several bones.

While at Hatcher's Run, VA, on Oct. 27, 1864, Jesse received word that he had been commissioned as a second lieutenant of his regiment. But cruel fate intervened later in the day while in battle, when his right arm was hit with an enemy minié ball, below the elbow. He was sent for treatment to Fairfax Seminary near Alexandria, VA. Dr. W.P. Hicks, an assistant surgeon with the 7th West Virginia, recalled the treatment: "...the surgeon of said regiment, Dr. Isaac Scott was absent detached at said time; that in consequence of said injury it was necessary to remove about four inches of the ulnar producing partial or almost total loss of the arm."

Because of the timing of his wound at Hatcher's Run, Jesse never had a chance to be sworn in as lieutenant. Later, he was transferred from Fairfax Seminary to a hospital in Grafton, WV. But on Feb. 18, 1865, he was commissioned captain of Company B.

On May 19, 1865, despite the fact that the war was over, he enlisted again in the army at Munson's Hill, WV, as captain of the 7th West Virginia Veteran Infantry. He was discharged from that obligation a month and a half later, on July 1, 1865. 

Jesse began receiving a federal pension for his disabilities just three months after the war's end in July 1865. Friends Richard Bingham and Samuel Kraus, members of the 7th West Virginia, provided supporting testimony on his behalf. 

Five years after the end of the war, our Nancy married Jesse, in Greene County.

The Barnetts had eight children -- John Barnett, Jane "Jessie" McCullough, Margaret Hughes, Daisy Bowers, Maude Carney, Ella Bushager, Orpha Mahan and Charles L. Barnett. 

In May 1884, the family doctor was called when Jesse's hand and arm became completely paralyzed to the point where friend Maggie H. Fletcher had to care for him constantly. She wrote that he was not able to "feed or dress himself  and for the last two years he has required assistance all the time in dressing and cutting of his meat ... owing to the loss of use of his right arme." Another friend, R.J. Booker, noted that Jesse was "not able to get on a Horse or in a wagon without assistance..." A government physician giving him a checkup wrote, "The right arm is almost completely paralyzed, there is slight motion in forearm and fingers. The right leg is also partially paralyzed."

Circa 1886, the Barnetts migrated to Cameron, Marshall County, WV, where their home was on Maple Avenue. Circa 1984, almost a century later, their house was "reported to be one of the oldest in Cameron and still standing," wrote a granddaughter.

A newspaper once said that Nancy was "one of Cameron's most prominent and highly esteemed women." The federal census of 1900 shows them in Cameron, with Jesse's occupation given as farmer.

Nancy died in Cameron at the age of 85 on Dec. 30, 1936. Following a funeral in their home, she was laid to rest in the Cameron Cemetery. Her obituary was reprinted the following year in the inaugural issue of the Younkin Family News Bulletin. 

Nearly five decades after Nancy's death, this family was featured in a chapter in the book History of Marshall County, West Virginia, 1984, published by the Marshall County Historical Society. The chapter, appearing on page 101, was authored by their granddaughter Mary L. (Carney) Null. In concluding that chapter, Mary wrote: "To my knowledge, there are no descendants of Jesse L. Barnett and his wife, Nancy, living in Marshall County at this time."

Son John Barnett (1872-1955) was born on March 20, 1872 in Greene County.

He married Cora M. Young (1874- ? ) in the day after Christmas 1896, when he was age 24 and she 22. The ceremony took place in Noble County, Ohio, led by J.M. Shafer.

They had three known children -- Clara F. Barnett, Charles S. Barnett and John J. Barnett. Circa 1910, their home was on Waynesburg Avenue in Cameron, Marshall County, WV. There, John earned a living as a traveling salesman for a dry goods firm.

John was employed circa 1930 as a "commercial traveler" (traveling salesman) for the Sun-Kist Flower Company.

Sometime after 1991, they moved to the village of Summerfield, Marion Township, Noble County, OH in 1930-1936. The federal census of 1930 shows that Cora's 67-year-old sister Sarah L. Young lived under their roof.

He died in Summerfield on March 17, 1955, at the age of 82.

Daughter Clara F. "Claire" Barnett (1906- ? ) was born on May 16, 1906 in Cameron. She was a teacher prior to marriage. At the age of 19, on June 20, 1925, she wed 19-year-old clerk Harold Knowlton (1906- ? ), son of Harvey and Bertha (Morrison) Knowlton of Marion County. Rev. John D. Keller officiated.

Son Charles S. Barnett (1908- ? ) was born in about 1908 in Cameron. He relocated to Noble County, OH with his parents and family. He married Molly Barnes (1912- ? ), a fellow resident of Summerfield. They returned to Moundsville, WV to secure their marriage license and to be wed. They were united in marriage on April 12, 1933, when he was age 25 and she 21, by the hand of Rev. Joseph C. Hoffman of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Moundsville.

Son John J. Barnett (1911- ? ) was born in about 1911 in Cameron. Nothing more is known.

Daughter Margaret "Maggie" Barnett (1874-1960) was born on March 26, 1874 at Rock Lick, Marshall County. She grew up attending the Presbyterian church and early in life began singing in its choir.

At the age of 24, on July 13, 1898, the 24-year-old Maggie wed 35-year-old George Valentine Hughes (1863- ? ). The son of James and Hattie Hughes, George was a native of Greene County, PA. The ceremony was held at the home of Rev. S.T. Montgomery, who performed the nuptials.

They resided in Cameron where George labored as a carpenter. They produced one son, Vernon Hughes Sr.

Tragedy rocked the young family 28 months into the marriage. In the fall of 1900, George suffered an abscess, and on Nov. 26, 1900, at Moundsville, he died at the age of 38. 

Maggie survived her husband by more than six decades and went on to become "a very prominent business woman in Cameron throughout her lifetime," said the Moundsville Daily Echo. She "was a partner in the old Hughes and Carney Department store for many years. Since that time she has owned and operated the Margaret Hughes Hat Shoppe in Cameron until her final retirement in 1958. She was a highly skilled milliner and was perhaps the last member of her trade in Marshall county."

She also was busy in the community, as a member of the Cameron unit of the American Legion Auxiliary and as its honorary chaplain. 

During World War II, Maggie's heart broke again when one of her two grandsons -- Vernon Hughes Jr. -- was killed in military service. The details are being researched. As such, she was considered a "Gold Star grandmother." 

In 1959, she lost her only son Vernon Sr.

Maggie died on July 19, 1960 at the age of 86. The Daily Echo noted that she was survived by her grandson Richard Hughes and two great-grandchildren of Apollo, PA, in addition to four sisters. Interment was in Highland Cemetery. In her lengthy news obituary, the maiden name of Maggie's mother was misspelled as "Yocum."

Son Vernon Hughes died in 1958 or 1959.

Daughter Jane "Jessie" Barnett (1876-1949) was born on Dec. 6, 1876 at Rock Lick, near Cameron, Marshall County. 

She married Charles H. McCollough (1874-1958) in about 1906 and lived at 104 Maple Street in Cameron.

They had no known children.

In 1910, when the federal census was enumerated, after four years of marriage, the McColloughs made their home in Littleton, Wetzel County, WV, where they operated a hotel. That year, they employed Lizzie Fox as a servant, and among their long-term residents were three English born stone cutters working at a local quarry. Littleton was a stop along the main branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and at the time was enjoying a local oil boom with related need for pipeline construction. Only four years earlier the town had been swept by fire, but had since rebuilt.

By 1930, lured by the promise of the lucrative and flowing oil and gas fields of the region, Charles was a drilling contractor. The 1930 census shows him and Jessie living in Cameron, on Maple Avenue, with his widowed older sister Mollie Bral in the household.

Stricken with cancer of the ovaries for two years, she succumbed in Cameron on Sept. 19, 1949. Burial was in Highland Cemetery.

Charles survived her by nine years. He died in 1958.

Daughter Ella Barnett (1880-1968) was born on April 2, 1880 in or near Cameron, Marshall County.

Ella married Joseph Bushager (or "Bushyager") (1857-1938) of Harrison City, Westmoreland County, PA. She was age 17 at the time, and he was 40, a difference in their ages of 23 years. (Other sources give his birth year as 1855 and 1863.) The ceremony was held on Feb. 25, 1897 at the Barnett's home, led by Rev. S.T. Montgomery. Joseph's parents are thought to have been German immigrants.

They had three known children -- Harold Milton Bushager, Clarence Barnett Bushager and Wanda Bushager.

When the federal census was taken in 1910, the family lived in Cameron. That year, Joseph earned a living as an oil and gas driller. By 1930, with prospects for exporting his talents to the oil fields of Texas, the family relocated to Reagan County. That year, Joseph worked as an oilfield laborer, and they resided in Texon, Precinct 5.

They lived in Sinton, San Patricio County, TX in 1936. 

Sadly, suffering from decomposition of his heart, and chronic arthritis, Joseph died in Sinton on May 23, 1938. Interment was in Del Rio.

Ella survived her husband by more than 30 years. She resided in Benton, TX in 1960. Ella passed away of bronchial pneumonia in the Sinton Nursing Home in San Patricio County, TX at the age of 88 on Aug. 19, 1968. Burial was in the Masonic Cemetery in Del Rio, TX.

Son Harold Milton Bushager (1900- ? ) was born on July 29, 1898 in West Virginia. As a young man he learned the trade of oil field drilling from his father. He married Oklahoma native Margaret (?) and lived in Oklahoma before moving to Texon, Precinct 5 of Reagan County. They had one known son, Cecil L. Bushager. In 1930, Harold was employed as an oil driller in and around Texon, and he remained in the oil business until retirement. In later years he resided in Shannon, Clay County, TX, a rural area about 22 miles north of Jacksboro, TX. At the age of 75, on Dec. 18, 1973, he died of acute cardio-respiratory failure in Jack County Hospital. Burial was in the Masonic Cemetery in Del Rio, TX.

Son Clarence Barnett Bushager (1902-1986) as born on Aug. 9, 1902 (or 1900). He wed Malinda Murrah (1906-1979) in about 1928. She was the daughter of Jake R. and Fannie (Horde) Murrah of San Angelo, TX. They made their home in Precinct 5, Val Verde County, TX in 1930, where Clarence labored as a ranchman handling livestock. In the 1970s, their residence was at 506 East Losoya in Del Rio, Val Verde County. Malinda died of cancer at the age of 74 on Nov. 5, 1979 at Val Verde Memorial Hospital. She was placed into eternal rest in Del Rio in the Masonic Cemetery. Clarence survived his wife by seven years. he died at age 84 in 1986.

Daughter Wanda Bushager (1906- ? ) was born in 1906. She migrated to Texas with her parents and was unmarried and living in Reagan County at the age of 24.

Daughter Orpha Barnett (1885-1971) was born on March 17, 1885 in Marshall County.

She wed Charles Ross Mahan Sr. (1878-1970) in about 1905, when she was age 20 and he 27. They had five known children -- Freda L. Murphy, Elva L. Mahan, Helen E. Mahan, Margery E. Mahan and Charles R. Mahan Jr.

In 1908, the Mahans made their home in Oklahoma, where their eldest daughter was born.

By 1910, they relocated to Hannibal, Marion County, MO where the rest of their offspring were born. They resided in Hannibal for the remainder of their lives. There, in 1910, Charles secured work as a bookkeeper for a newspaper. During the decade of the 1910s, he became a bookkeeper for a milling company.

When the federal census was taken in 1930, Charles at age 52 had changed occupations and was employed by the United States Census Bureau as a distribution enumerator.

Heartache enveloped the family in the spring of 1948. Son Charles, age 19, served in the U.S. Armed Forces and is believed to have lost his life in some sort of military action on April 19, 1948. His remains were returned to Hannibal for burial.

Charles died in 1970 at the age of 92. he was buried in Grand View Burial Park in Hannibal, Ralls County, MO.

Orpha followed him to the grave a year later. She passed in 1971 and rests with her husband. [Find-a-Grave]

Daughter Freda L. Mahan (1908- ? ) was born in 1908 in Oklahoma. She married Charles W. Murphy (1904- ? ). Circa 1930, Charles was a manager with the Atlantic & Pacific (A. & P.) Tea Company, while Freda was a clerk with a local rubber plant.

Daughter Elva Louise Mahan (1910- ? ) was born in about 1910 in Hannibal.

Daughter Helen E. Mahan (1914- ? ) was born in 1914 in Hannibal. She never married. Helen is thought to have died on Jan. 21, 1991 in Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau County, MO.

Daughter Margery E. Mahan (1922- ? ) was born in 1922 in Hannibal.

Son Charles R. Mahan Jr. (1925- ? ) was born in about 1925 in Hannibal.

Daughter Daisy Barnett (1887-1969) was born on Oct. 8, 1887 in Marshall County.

On Nov. 27, 1907, at the age of 20, Daisy married 20-year-old Roy Bowers (1887- ? ). He was a native of Marshall County and resided in Cameron at the time. Rev. J.I. Gregory officiated.

When the federal census was made in 1920, 32-year-old Daisy and her nine-year-old son Jesse lived with Daisy's widowed mother on Howard Street in Cameron. Roy's whereabouts at that time are not known. The couple divorced during the decade of the 1920s.

Now a single parent, Daisy supported herself through employment as a servant for private families. In 1930, she worked in the Jacob Street household of steel mill packer Adam Rader in Wheeling, Ohio County.

She died in Cameron, at the age of 82, just three days before Christmas 1969. She rests in Cameron Cemetery. [Find-a-Grave]

Son Jesse Bowers (1911- ? ) was born in about 1911. Nothing more about him is known.