Old Barry Cemetery

Dr. Alfred Carter Baker was born in London, England on March 15, 1813. He was the son of Edward and Lucy Dickinson Baker. Alfred’s father Edward Sr. was a schoolteacher by profession and he brought his family to America in 1816 landing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where Edward Sr. established a school.

In 1825 the family moved west settling in New Harmony, Indiana, a community that had originally been settled by Lutherans who had broken away from the church in Germany. Later they left to settle in Pennsylvania. In the same year that the Bakers arrived in New Harmony, a Welsh industrialist named Robert Owen had purchased the town with visions of making it a utopian community. By 1826 the Bakers moved to Belleville, St Clair County Illinois and then Carrollton, Greene County, Illinois.

In the 1830s Alfred became interested in medicine and his older brother Edward D. Baker became interested in law and politics. Alfred attended Ohio Medical College. After completing his studies Alfred began practicing with Dr. Thomas Worthington in Pike County, Illinois. After about a year he wanted to be more independent, so he moved to Barry, Illinois, purchased a buggy and began practicing medicine. For years he was the only doctor that Barry and the surrounding community had.

In 1844 Alfred married Martha A Barney. It was said that the Barney family claimed ancestors on the Mayflower. In 1850 Alfred helped his brother Edward secure and move groups of men to Panama to help work on the Panama Railroad that would be built across the Isthmus of Panama. By 1852 Edward had moved to California and opened a law practice. In 1853 Alfred followed his brother, however the reason is not clearly known. One story said that he drove a herd of cattle west, while another says he went west to seek his fortune in the gold fields. Either way he soon returned to Barry and practiced medicine.

Edward D. Baker did read the law and was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1830. In 1835 he became friends with Abraham Lincoln. After achieving his first goal he turned his interest to getting involved with local politics. On July 1, 1837, he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives. From 1840 – 1844 he served in the Illinois Senate while living in Springfield, Illinois. In 1844 he defeated his friend Lincoln to earn nomination for 7th United States Congress running and being elected as a Whig. In 1860 Baker ran and was elected Senator from Oregon. As the American Civil War began Baker raised the California Regiment.

While leading troops at the Battle of Ball’s Bluff, Virginia on October 21, 1861, Baker was killed when he was struck by a volley of bullets that struck his heart and brain killing him instantly. It is said that his friend President Abraham Lincoln was moved to tears when he heard the news of Edward’s death.

Alfred Carter Baker continued living and practicing medicine in the Barry area for the remainder of his life. He played an important part in preserving the town park now known as Lafayette Park. On Memorial Day May 1884 he spoke at the dedication of the Grand Army of the Republic monument built in the park.

Martha Barney Baker passed away on July 19. 1887. Alfred would outlive her by eight years passing away on March 13, 1895. They were laid to rest beside Alfred’s mother Lucy Dickinson Baker.

Henry Wing Brown was born in Granville, Washington County, New York on March 26, 1841. He was the son of Josiah H. and Mariah Clark Brown who had five children Jane, Josiah B., Henry W., James, and McClintock. Josiah H. Brown was a physician, minister, and a trained shoemaker. In 1851 Josiah would die suddenly leaving Maria alone with the five children. Jane was fourteen years of age and Josiah B. was twelve when their father died.

In 1856 Mariah left New York with her three children Henry, James and McClintock traveling west with her brother-in-law Benjamin D. Brown. The family would settle in Barry, Pike County, Illinois. On July 3, 1860, Maria married Burton Gray who was twelve years younger than her.

As Henry became a young man, he hired himself out as a farm laborer until the beginning of the American Civil War. On August 27, 1861, Henry enlisted in Company I of the 28th Illinois Infantry at age twenty for three years of service.

The 28th Illinois was heavily engaged at the Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee on April 6 – 7, 1862 suffering 239 men killed, wounded, or missing. It participated in the Siege of Corinth, Mississippi, and the Siege of Vicksburg and the second battle of Jackson, Mississippi where the regiment took part in a charge upon the enemy that was not ordered or approved by General William T. Sherman. The regiment went into the attack with 128 men, losing seventy-three killed, wounded and sixteen taken prisoner. On January 4, 1864, the regiment enlisted as veterans and were granted a thirty-day furlough home. Henry W. Brown was discharged from the 28th on August 26, 1864, after his term of service had expired. He returned home to Barry where he spent the next decades working as a farm laborer. On April 17, 1890, Henry filed for a Civil War Veteran Pension which was granted. In April of 1897 Henry was admitted to the Soldiers and Sailors Home in Quincy, Illinois. Records indicate that he must have been released because he was admitted again in November 1901.

In 1864 when the men of the 28th were home on a veterans furlough the local women of Barry presented the men with a handmade national flag. The flag survived the war and was brought home only to be seen on special occasions like Remembrance Day, later called Memorial Day, parades and celebrations. It may have draped the caskets of the veterans as they were honored by the John McTucker Grand Army of the Republic Post #154 during their funeral.

As the ranks thinned Henry found himself caretaker of the flag. It was used to cover his casket when he died on May 2, 1917. Through the care of many people this flag and its story can be seen today at the Barry Museum located in Barry, Illinois.

Elisha Hurt Sr. was born in the Spartanburg District, South Carolina on May 26, 1809. He was the son of Joshua and Sarah Davis Hurt. When Elisha was a small boy Joshua moved the family to Tennessee where his mother Sarah passed away. Shortly after his mother’s death his father moved to Kentucky where young Elisha spent his youth and grew into manhood.

On July 12, 1838, Elisha married Margaret Jane Lee who was a native of Morgan County, Virginia and was born in 1818. The following year in 1839, Elisha and Margaret moved to Pike County, Illinois settling in Barry Township near the village of Barry. That same year he purchased the northwest and northeast quarters of Section 24, Barry Township from his brother Berryman Hurt for twenty-five hundred dollars. According to the deed Berryman Hurt was a resident of Montgomery County, Kentucky when the deed was filed. There is no evidence that Berryman Hurt had been to Pike County, Illinois. One must wonder how he owned the land unless it was obtained through land speculation on an old military tract.

Elisha set to work building a home and improving his land until gold was discovered in 1849 in California. Leaving his family behind and being one of the first across the prairie. He had success early on which resulted in him constructing the first building in Placerville, California. In the years of the gold rush many men made their fortunes not in the gold fields but selling the supplies that the miners needed. Elisha soon followed this pattern opening a mercantile store.

By 1852 he left California and returned to his farm and family in Barry. That same year he ran for Pike County Sheriff as a Whig and won serving in the1853-1854 term. In addition to this he invested in opening and running a mercantile business in Barry until 1861. That year as the American Civil War began Elisha raised a company which became Company I, 28th Illinois Infantry. Elisha enlisted on August 27, 1861, at Barry, Illinois at age fifty for three years. He was sworn in the same day as Captain of company I. He commanded his company until his term of service had expired. At the Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee he suffered a wound to his head but was able to return to the battlefield.

It is not surprising that Elisha raised a company and served his country. It was in his blood. His great grandfather had come to America from England and joined the continental army when the Revolutionary War began. His paternal grandfather was born in Virginia in 1782 and served in the War of 1812 fighting with Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans, Louisiana on January 8, 1815. Elisha had three uncles Jon, William P and John Smith Hurt that served in the Mexican War. John Smith Hurt would go on to be the Colonel of the 24th Kentucky Infantry (Union) during the Civil War.

Out of the twelve children (ten boys and two girls) Elisha had three sons that fought in the Civil War. Elisha Hurt Jr. enlisted as a private in Company F, 137th Illinois Infantry on May 5, 1864, at age eighteen for one hundred days. He was sworn in June 5, 1864, and discharged on September 24, 1864, at Springfield, Illinois. On May 27, 1867, Elisha Jr. would enlist in the United States Army at Jeffersonville, Indiana. He was twenty-one years of age. A clerk by trade with blue eyes, dark hair, and a fair complexion. His height was five feet three inches. He was assigned to the 45th United States Infantry, Company B. His record states that he deserted on September 3, 1868. The record continues by stating that he was released from service on April 21, 1892, under an act of congress approved April 11, 1892. This added notation to his record was due to his application for pension on April 11, 1892. His widow Carolina would file for a Civil War Widow’s Pension on October 30, 1920. Attorney George Wellington Chrysup handled the paperwork and filing.

Charles Henry Hurt enlisted as a private in Company G, 8th Illinois Infantry on April 20, 1861, in Griggsville, Illinois at age twenty for three months. Sworn on April 25, 1861, in Springfield, Illinois. Discharged July 25, 1861. Location not stated. Reenlisted in the new three-year 8th Illinois Infantry as a 1st Sergeant on July 25, 1861, at Cairo, Illinois at age twenty for three years. Sworn in same day. Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant March 26, 1862. Promoted to 1st Lieutenant on October 18, 1861. Promoted to Captain of Company G October 28, 1864. Absent on arrest April 26. 1866.

John Moses Hurt enlisted in Company G, 8th Illinois Infantry at Griggsville, Illinois on April 25, 1861, for three months. Discharged July 25, 1861. Enlisted in his father’s Company I, 28th Illinois Infantry as 1st sergeant on August 27, 1861, in Barry, Illinois at age eighteen for three years. Sworn in same day at Camp Butler, Springfield, Illinois. Wounded at the Battle of Hatchie River October 5, 1862. Reenlisted as a veteran on January 5, 1864, at Natchez, Mississippi at age twenty for three years. Sworn in February 12, 1864, at Natchez, Mississippi. Promoted to quartermaster sergeant and transferred to non-commissioned staff no date given. Reduced in rank and assigned to Company B on March 15, 1865. Listed as deserted on June 30, 1865.

John was appointed Captain of Company C, 12th United States Colored Troops Heavy Artillery on May 3, 1865, and sworn in same day. He was appointed from the 28th Illinois Infantry. He was discharged on April 24, 1866.

Elisha Hurt Sr. passed away on August 7, 1888, of dysentery and kidney trouble. He was 79 years, 3 months, and 12 days of age. His funeral was held in M.E. Church with services being conducted by Rev. W.S. Calhoun. He was laid to rest beside his beloved wife Margaret who had passed away on May 6, 1886.