The Courier-Mail, Friday 8 February 1935
(Brisbane, Queensland, Australia)

Obituary
Mr. J. Barnes
The death has occurred at Crow’s Nest of Mr. John Barnes (92), a native of Cornwall, who came to Queensland in 1863. He followed mining at Bendigo, Stanthorpe, and the Palmer. At the last named place he found gold, but his two mates died and he himself contracted fever. He left the field and walked to Cooktown. Fear of the blacks had prevented his lighting fires, so the only food he had on the long trip was flour, mixed with water. About 1875 he went to the Crow’s Nest district, where he entered into partnership with his brother in grazing pursuits. This partnership was dissolved in the early ‘80s. In 1883 he married Miss Harriet Thatcher, a sister of the late Rev. Thatcher, and until the time of his retirement he was engaged in dairying and cattle-raising. He is survived by his widow and two daughters.

Contributed by Bob Bolitho