Charles E. Barnett is a son of James and Rebecca F. (Oleacher) Barnett, and was born in Mason county, West Virginia, December 13, 1854. He received a liberal education in the public and private schools of his native state. At the age of twenty-four he started out in life on his own account and came to Delaware county, Indiana. There he engaged in teaching for two years. But the teacher's profession proving uncongenial and for the most part unprofitable, he began to look around for other employment. This he found in the nursery business at Wabash, Indiana. He traveled for many years in the various duties of this business and has become thoroughly identified with the horticultural interests of the state.

        He has continued this business to the present as a grower, dealer and salesman of approved varieties of nursery stock, small fruit, shrubbery and flowers. In this business he has been financially successful and has established an enviable reputation for fair dealing, honesty and integrity.

        On the 25th of December, 1888, Mr. Barnett was married to Miss Keturah Gordon, daughter of William I. and Sarah A. Gordon. Her father was a native of Darke county, Ohio, and her mother was born in Ripley county, Indiana. Ervin Gordon paternal grandfather of Mrs. Barnett, was one of the pioneers of Ripley county. He married his cousin, Sarah Gordon, and they had a family of twelve children, named as follows: William I., Samuel, Newton, Jonathan, Sarah Ann (Mrs. Allen Carmichael), Virginia and Paul. These lived to years of maturity and the others died in infancy or early childhood.

        Mrs. Barnett's parents also had a family of twelve children: Cicily, now Mrs. L. Ballard; Virginia, Mrs. Charles Brown; Mary, Mrs. Forrest Wheeler; Keturah, Mrs. C. E. Barnett, of this sketch; Minerva, who married Robert Augustine; May, Mrs. Samuel Auger; Anna, Mrs. Thomas Hamilton; Ervin W., William James and Sarah are deceased.

        The Gordon family was established in America by the great-grandparents of Mrs. Barnett. They were natives of Ireland. The Barnett family was established in America by William Barnett, the great-grandfather of our subject. He was a Frenchman by birth, but emigrated from England and located in Mason county, Virigina, now West Virginia.

        He reared a family of eight children, seven of whom lived to years of maturity. These were John, William, Robert, Ann (Mrs. Riffle), Hannah (Mrs. Lewis), Ellen (Mrs. Thompson), Nancy (Mrs. Raymond).

        The parents of our subject had ten children, viz.: Christopher Columbus, William Penn, Benjamin B., Isaac F., Charles E., George W., Mary Susan, who is now Mrs. Edward Green, of Montpelier, Indiana; Sarah Ellen, wife of John Childs, of Mason county, West Virginia; James L. and Rebecca F., twins; Rebecca is the wife of William Hall, of Wabash county, Indiana.

        Mr. and Mrs. Barnett have two children: Gordon R., born January 25, 1889, and Cicily May, born December 25, 1895. Our subject and his estimable wife represent two long established families of America. The Gordon family was represented in the Revolutionary war.

        Mr. Barnett is prominently identified with the public affairs in the town of Swayzee and is an active working Republican in politics. He is a member of the town board or city council of Swayzee.

        In religious views he is a Methodist. The family is prominent and well known in the community where they have lived for many years.