Nathan and Lucy King Barnes and their children were among thousands of North Carolinians, many from Wilson County, who sought greener pastures in Arkansas.

On 29 March 1877, Nathan Barnes married Lucy King in Wayne County, North Carolina.

In the 1880 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Nathan Barnes, 28; wife Lucy, 20; and children Morrison, 2, and Dinah, 6 months.

On 31 January 1897, Deana Barnes and John Edmondson were married in Cross County, Arkansas.

In the 1900 census of Searcy township, Cross County, Arkansas: farmer Nathan Barnes, 48; wife Lucy, 37; children Marson, 22, Mary Jane, 16, Claudie, 14, Elroy, 12, Maggie, 8, and Rosco L., 5; son-in-law John Edmondson, 21; daughter Diana, 21; grandson Snode, 6 months; and boarder, Mack Stewart, 19. The Barnes’ two youngest children were born in Arkansas; the rest in North Carolina. Thus, we can pinpoint their migration to years between 1888 and 1892.

In the 1910 census of Searcy township, Cross County, Arkansas: farmer Nathan Barnes, 48; wife Lucy, 37; and children Claudy, 23, Leroy, 22, May[illegible], 17, Reskin, 15, and Tike, 10. All, curiously, were described as born in Alabama except Tike, who was born in Arkansas.

In the 1910 census of Smith township, Cross County, Arkansas: Marshel [sic] Barnes, 32; wife Valley, 20; and son Thomas L., 1.

Nathan Barnes died 7 September 1917 in Searcey township, Cross County, Arkansas. Per his death certificate, he was born 1 January 1852 in North Carolina to Ben Barnes; was a farmer; and was buried in Mount Zion Cemetery. C.D. Barnes was informant.

In 1918, Morrison Barnes registered for the World War I draft in Cross County, Arkansas. Per his registration card, he was born 15 January 1878; lived in Vanndale, Cross County; worked as a farmer; and his nearest relative was Vallie Barnes.

On 11 January 1920, Roscoe Barnes married Bessie R. Vause in Cross County, Arkansas.

In the 1920 census of Searcy township, Cross County, Arkansas: Morrison Barnes, 41; wife Vallie, 31, and children Thomas, 11, Tennie, 7, Sister, 3, and Elliott, 1.

In the 1920 census of Searcy township, Cross County, Arkansas: Elroy Barnes, 31; wife Daisy, 21; and children Callie, 8, and Savannah Barnes, 3, and Ernest Futrel, 4.

Daddy [Claudie] Barnes died 11 January 1930 in Forrest City, Madison township, Saint Francis County, Arkansas. Per his death certificate, he was 44 years old; was born in North Carolina to Nathan and Lucy Barnes; worked as a farmer for C. Barton; was married to Lucy Barnes; and was buried in Hinton cemetery.

In the 1930 census of Smith township, Cross County, Arkansas: Marshal Vaughnes [sic], 53; wife Rosey, 42; children Surtina E., 13, John E., 11, and Joshway R., 9; and mother Lucy Barnes, 68.

In the 1940 census of Wynne township, Cross County, Arkansas: Lucy Barnes, 87, is a lodger in the household of Alex Abraham.

In 1942, Elroy Barnes registered for the World War II draft in Saint Francis County, Arkansas. Per his registration card, he was born 23 May 1888 in Wilson, N.C.; lived in Palestine, Saint Francis County, Arkansas; and his contact was Daisy Barnes.

On 16 October 1932, Morrison Barnes, 54, married Mary Sweeten, 27, in Wittsburg, Cross County, Arkansas.

In 1942, Roscoe Lee Barnes registered for the World War II draft in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Per his registration card, he was born 12 March 1895 in Wynne, Arkansas; lived on Valley Forde Road, Devon, Chester County; his contact was daughter Lolly Barnes; and he worked for McAlvoy Brickyard, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.

On 15 September 1945, Roscoe L. Barnes, 50, widower, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, born in Arkansas to Nathaniel and Lucy Barnes, married Thelma H. Moultrie, 39, of Philadelphia, born in South Carolina to West and Addie Hunter, in Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware.

Elroy R. Barnes died 23 December 1962 in Saint Louis, Missouri. Per his death certificate, he was born 23 May 1888 in North Carolina to Nathan Barnes and Lucy (maiden name unknown) and was a minister. Daisy Barnes was informant.

Roscoe Barnes died 24 January 1966 in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Per his death certificate, he was born 12 March 1895 in Wynne, Arkansas, to Nathan Barnes; lived in Chester, Pennsylvania; was a widower; and worked as a laborer.