Robert F. Barnett

Barnett was born in 1807 in Bourbon County, Kentucky.^[1] In 1832, he moved to DeWitt County, Illinois where he farmed land his father had purchased for him and served as a justice of the peace.^[1] Barnett was a Democrat known for his strong anti-slavery views.^[1]

Barnett served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1840 to 1842 in the 12th Illinois General Assembly representing Macon and DeWitt counties; and then as a state senator from 1842 to 1844 in the 13th Illinois General Assembly representing McLean, Livingston, DeWitt, Piatt, and Macon counties.^[1][2] He returned as a state representative in the 17th Illinois General Assembly from 1850 to 1852 representing DeWitt and McLean counties.^[1][2]

In 1831, he married Margaret J. Mills; they had 10 children.^[1] He died in 1864 in Clinton, Illinois.^[1] His son, Nathan Barnett, ran for governor of Illinois on the Populist ticket in the 1892 Illinois gubernatorial election.^[1]