Silas Reynolds Barton (May 21, 1872 – November 7, 1916) was an American politician. A

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

, he represented

Nebraska's 5th congressional district Nebraska's 5th congressional district is an obsolete district. It was created after the 1890 United States census and eliminated after the 1940 United States census The United States census of 1940, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined ...

for one term in the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...

Biography

Barton was born in

New London, Iowa New London is a city in Henry County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,910 at the time of the 2020 census. History New London was originally called Dover, after its founder Abraham C. Dover, who came to the area from Illinois in 1833. ...

on May 21, 1872, the son of Eli B. Barton and Teressa (Nugen) Barton. He moved with his parents to

Hamilton County, Nebraska Hamilton County is a county in the U.S. state Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 9,429. Its county seat is Aurora. The county was named for Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury in the new United ...

in 1873, and graduated from Aurora High School. He attended

Peru State College Peru State College is a public college in Peru, Nebraska. Founded by members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1865, making it the first and oldest institution of higher education in Nebraska, it underwent several name changes before receiving ...

. He married Adah Michell and had two children who died in infancy. After his first wife's death in 1909, he married Ellen Tazwell Metcalfe. His son, Silas Barton Jr., died in 1964 at age 50 and is buried at Forest Lawn.

Career

Barton was a farmer and teacher. From 1898 until 1901, he was the deputy treasurer of Hamilton County. In 1901, he became the grand recorder of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and served in that capacity until 1908. He was president for two terms of the Grand Recorders' Association of the United States. Barton became the

Nebraska State Auditor The auditor of public accounts of Nebraska, more commonly known as the "state auditor", is an elected constitutional officer in the executive branch of the U.S. state of Nebraska. Twenty-five individuals have held the office of auditor of public a ...

in 1909 and served until his election to the

United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washing ...

in 1913. During his two terms as auditor he was an insurance commissioner and a member of the National Executive Committee of Insurance Commissioners. Elected in 1913 to the 63rd Congress, Barton was in office from March 4, 1913, until March 3, 1915. He ran for the 65th Congress, but died before the election.

Death

Barton died in

Grand Island, Nebraska Grand Island is a city in and the county seat of Hall County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 53,131 at the 2020 census. Grand Island is the principal city of the Grand Island metropolitan area, which consists of Hall, Merrick, ...

, on November 7, 1916, at the age of 44. He is interred at Aurora Cemetery in

Aurora, Nebraska Aurora is a city in Hamilton County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 4,479 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Hamilton County. History In 1861, David Millspaw became the first permanent settler in the area of what was to ...

References

External links

*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barton, Silas Reynolds 1872 births 1916 deaths People from Henry County, Iowa People from Hamilton County, Nebraska Peru State College alumni Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Nebraska 19th-century American politicians Nebraska Auditors of Public Accounts