Background
Barnes, William was born on May 26, 1824 in Pompey, New York, United States. Son of Orson and Eliza (Phelps) Barnes.
Barnes, William was born on May 26, 1824 in Pompey, New York, United States. Son of Orson and Eliza (Phelps) Barnes.
Academic education, Manlius (New York) Academy. Studied law, 1840-1846.
Thurlow Weed, July 10, 1849 (died 1889). Married second, Mistress Lizzie Balmer Williams, June 1, 1891. Children—Thurlow Weed, William B., Junior and Catharine Weed Barnes Ward.
Organized and managed with his father the first teachers’ institutes in New York, 1843-1844. Was long special counsel bank department State of New York. One of organizers Saratoga Springs Convention, held August 1854 (probably 1st state convention ever held by Republican party).
Organized New York State Kansas Convention, 1856, and 2 National Kansas Aid convs., at Cleveland and Buffalo. 1st superintendent of insurance of New York, 1860-1870. Appointed by President Grant, 1872, United States delegate to International Statistical Congress at St. Petersburg, Russia.
Was presented by the Czar, Alexander II, with a diamond ring with the imperial monogram as a souvenir of services at this Congress, and was appointed member of Permanent Commission. Special counsel for City of New York in Astor and other cases against city for vacation of assessments, 1874. Specialist in insurance law.
Superintended compilation 16 vols. of insurance statistics and edited 1st New York State life insurance valuation tables and condensed insurance reports.
Member of Permanent Commission. Member International Peace Congress, Boston, 1904.
Married Emily Peck Kempshall, d.; married second, Mistress. Children: Thurlow Weed, William B., Junior.