COLUMBUS — The Columbus-Lowndes Public Library System has completed the processing and digitizing of the Barrentine and Wells Family Photographs collection covering the 1860s to the 1980s.
Now open to researchers, the collection includes 70 loose photographs, two photo albums, and three newspaper clippings all primarily covering the 1860s to 1920s. The photographs capture the family and friends of Henry Barrentine (1824-1911) and continuing down through his daughter’s line, Julia Ann “Mittie” Barrentine Wells (1854-1924).
Henry was born in 1824, in Crawford County, Georgia. He married Jane Elizabeth King in 1845, and had seven children: Thomas Howell, Antoinette E. “Nett,” Robert “Bob,” Rodolphus R. “Dock,” Julia Ann, Susan Wooden “Susie,” and Janie E. After the death of his first wife in 1859, Henry married Charlotte Ann “S.A.” Groves in 1861, and had seven more children: Martha Luna, Lorena, Lavonia “Vona.” Ida M., Lester David “Les,” Willie, and Kellie J.
Sometime between 1850 and 1860 the family moved from Georgia to Monroe County, Mississippi. By 1870, the family was living in Caledonia. Henry opened one of the pioneer stores in Caledonia known as H. Barrentine, General Merchandise, Harness and Farm Supplies. He was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Henry’s daughter, Julia Ann, also known as “Mittie,” married Nimrod M. “Nim” Wells in 1883. Nimrod worked as a farmer and was a Freemason. Together they had nine children: Lazo E., Lucy E., Lucian Ernest, Nettie Lou, Harry Bennett, Henry Washington, Thomas King, John Benjamin “J.B.,” and Annie Sue.
It is this branch of the family most represented within the collection.
In addition to processing the collection, staff and volunteers have uploaded the identified images from the collection to their respective entries on the Findagrave.com database. This provides a face to those who previously only had a tombstone.
The entire collection has been digitized and made available on the Mississippi Digital Library. The CLPLS works with the MDL out of the University of Southern Mississippi to make collections housed in the library archives available online to researchers worldwide.
To view the digited Barrentine and Wells Family collection, visit msdiglib.org/columbus.
For more information call (662) 329-5304 or email [email protected].
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