http://www.rootsweb.com/~txkaufma/wall/barnessr.htm Sterling Rex Barnes *There is no photograph of Sterling, as he was a deeply religious man who did not believe in having one's likeness preserved. Sterling was born 29 Jan 1799 to Henry Barnes & Rhoda Estes. He married Martha Ann Mitchell (1809-1871) in Lauderdale Co AL On 8 Dec 1825. He was a Wagon Maker by trade. By 1840 Sterling had moved his family to Marshall Co MS in 1836 and was serving on the Police Board of DeSoto Co MS by 1844. In 1846 Sterling brought his family to Kaufman Co TX, settling in the area that was to become Rockwall County, in the community now called Heath. He was appointed the first Justice of the Peace of Kaufman Co. Precinct #1 in 1852, thus his nickname "Judge Barnes", and was running a ferry across the East Fork of the Trinity River, which was located just across the road from his house. The place became infamous and today there is a 6-laned boulevard, Barnes Bridge Road, that travels through Dallas and Rockwall Counties, which was named for Sterling. Sterling was a Mason & was a slave owner. Four of his sons served in the Confederacy & one son, Marcus, who was on his way west during the gold rush, was killed by Indians in Pike's Peak Colorado. Sterling died 15 Mar 1866 in Rockwall Co. and is buried beside Mary at Heath Cemetery. The children of Sterling Rex Barnes: Robert Edward (1839-1870) Amanda Caroline (1827-__) William Henry (1830-1900) Marcus Lafayette (1831-1859) Wiley Turner (1834-1901) Mary Virginia (1836-__) Thomas Whitley (1842-1862 CSA) George Mitchell (1844-1897) Lucy Ann (1846-1880) Missianna (1849-1850) Joseph Milledge (1851-1855) Diane Miller