Maw Maw, where is Paw? "He ran off to Arkansas".

"Maw, Maw! Where Is Paw?"
"He ran off to Arkansas."

The above rhyme is one I have heard from the old folks of Stanly County, and has survived even to this day.

In my research of the old court record of  the case of Joyce Ann Fisher, and Wiley Monroe Barringer, I found the story of a love story gone wrong. Of the relationship of a young couple who lived on the border of Stanly and Cabarrus Counties in the reconstruction era of the 19th century and who had a daughter, but the relationship did not end in marriage.

Sadly, the young man married another shortly after his daughter was born and started a large family. He met his legal financial obligations, but apparently never looked back and showed no legal recognition, as often, but not always, happened during those years.


The mother of the child, Joyce Ann Fisher, lived with family, and later, her daughter and son-in-law, for the remainder of her days. She kept herself and her daughter up for awhile, apparently, running a boarding house and renting rooms, while her daughter Ada, found work at a young age in the Cotton Mills of the era.

Wiley Monroe Barringer and his wife BellaZorra or Isabell Zorra Page Barringer went on to have a large family of 11 children, which they raised in Cabarrus County, near Gold Hill, around the Cabarrus/Rowan County line, not far from the northern end of Stanly County.




In this story, I want to focus on one son, who seemed to have disappeared, but not so entirely that he was unable to track down.

For whatever reason, Arkansas was a common destination for many area young men and even families, looking for a greener pasture. A well-known and often told story of "the only man to be hanged in Stanly County", was that of Alex Whitley, a local scoundrel and petty criminal, who headed off to Arkansas with his half-sister (and reputed girlfriend) and several associates, to escape from accusations of crimes here, only to commit a proven murder there, of school teacher and Stanly Count resident,  Burt Tucker.

And, for whatever reason, George Wesley Homer Barringer, the fourth child of Wiley and Belle, was another of these Arkansas rangers.

Name:	George W Barringer
Age:	17
Birth Date:	Aug 1882
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1900:	Reed Misenheimers, Cabarrus, North Carolina
House Number:	2
Sheet Number:	17A
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation:	271
Family Number:	274
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Son
Marital Status:	Single
Father's name:	Wiley M Barringer
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's name:	Bell Z Barringer
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Occupation:	Farm Laborer
Months not employed:	1
Attended School:	1
Can Read:	Yes
Can Write:	Yes
Can Speak English:	Yes
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age Wiley M Barringer 46 Bell Z Barringer 39 Cara L Barringer 19 George W Barringer 17 Paul M Barringer 15 John A Barringer 14 William A Barringer 11 Clarlie L Barringer 9 Clarence R Barringer 7 Lawson R Barringer 0

Born in 1887, Wesley, as we will call him, first shows up as a teenager in his parents home in 1900, in the Misenheimer area, which is on the northernmost edge of Stanly County, but they lived on the Cabarrus side of the line.

Shortly afterward, and oddly, on Christmas Day in 1902 , he married Lucy Roxie Isenhour, daughter of  Daniel M F Isenhour and wife Roseann Powles Isenhour of the same area, "Reed Misenheimer's", Cabarrus County. Lucy was a little older than he was, and nearly exactly to the day, nine months later, their first child, Elsie Irene arrived, on September 24, 1903.

Elsie was quickly followed by two younger brothers, Roy Glenn Barringer on April 20, 1905 and Howard Franklin Monroe Barringer in February of 1909.

Name:	George W Barringer [Geroge W Barringer]
Age in 1910:	27
Birth Year:	abt 1883
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1910:	Township 7, Cabarrus, North Carolina
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Marital Status:	Married
Spouse's Name:	Lucy R Barringer
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Native Tongue:	English
Occupation:	Farmer
Industry:	General Farm
Employer, Employee or Other:	Employer
Home Owned or Rented:	Rent
Farm or House:	Farm
Able to Read:	Yes
Able to Write:	Yes
Years Married:	7
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age George W Barringer 27 Lucy R Barringer 28 Elsie I Barringer 6 Roy G Barringer 4 Howard F M Barringer 1

The 1910 census shows a typical young farm family of 5, renting a farm in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, having all three of their children survive, and having been married for 7 years.

But something was restless in Wesley's soul. Something was awry, because in the next decade, his world, and that of his family will have changed.



Fold 3 link to George W. Barringer card
There may have been a military explanation, or behind the action. Or perhaps, another explanation may have been something to do with the railroad.

The 1920 census gives this information on Lucy and her children;

Name:	Lucie R Barringer [Lucie R Bannen]
Age:	39
Birth Year:	abt 1881 [abt 1883]
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1920:	Reed Misenheimers, Cabarrus, North Carolina
House Number:	Farm
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Marital Status:	Married
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Native Tongue:	English
Able to Speak English:	Yes
Occupation:	Owner
Industry:	Farm
Employment Field:	Own Account
Home Free or Mortgaged:	Free
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age Lucie R Barringer 39 Elsie I Barringer 16 Roy G Barringer 14 Howard F Barringer 10

She appears to be living in the same house, in the same area. She owns her farm and all three children are listed as farm labour. Many of her neighbors are Isenhours, and possibly, and hopefully, for her benefit, were relatives that could help out. Her marital status is "Married", not widowed, not divorced. Lucy was, obviously, an abandoned woman. Whether she knew the whereabouts of her husband is unknown.

In the Cabarrus land records, a deed exists that can help to explain Lucy's mode of survival.

Book 100 Page 247  March 23, 1923

An Indenture between R. C. Isenhour and Lucy Barringer. For the sum of $1.00, 21.01 acres in Number 7 Township, Cabarrus County. "The conditions of the above declare that at her death the said lands divert to her three children. 

R. C. Isenhour referred to her mother, Roseann Camilla Powles Isenhour.



However, this is the family of George Wesley Homer Barringer in 1920.

Name:	Wesley Barringer
Age:	37
Birth Year:	abt 1883
Birthplace:	Tennessee
Home in 1920:	De Roche, Hot Spring, Arkansas
Street:	Unnamed
House Number:	X
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Marital Status:	Married
Spouse's Name:	Ninie Barringer
Father's Birthplace:	Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace:	Tennessee
Able to Speak English:	Yes
Occupation:	Grademan
Industry:	Railroad
Employment Field:	Wage or Salary
Home Owned or Rented:	Rent
Able to Read:	Yes
Able to Write:	Yes
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age Wesley Barringer 37 Ninie Barringer 27 Albert Barringer 8

Upon first glance, it looks like, "Whoa, this is not the right person." He's a grademan for the railroad, but it has him as "Wesley" and not ""George" and it claims his birth place is Tennessee.

And oddly, on his application for Social Security, he also goes by only his middle two names, and lists his birthplace as "Chattanooga, Tennessee", HOWEVER, his parents are listed as Wiley Barringer and Belle Page.  But the 1900 census claims his birthplace as North Carolina with the rest of his siblings.

Name:	Wesley H Barringer
Gender:	Male
Race:	White
Birth Date:	15 Aug 1887
Birth Place:	Chattanoga, Tennessee
Father:	Wiley Barringer
Mother:	Bell Page
Type of Claim:	Original SSN.
Notes:	Feb 1937: Name listed as WESLEY H BARRINGER

The fact is, there was no other combination of a Wiley Barringer and Bell Page living anywhere in America at this time that could have produced this son, only our Wiley and Bell, and certainly none in Tennessee at the time. Wesley H. Barringer HAD to be George Wiley H. Barringer of Gold Hill Township, Cabarrus County, North Carolina.

His Veteran's Administration Pension Payment Card corroborates the fact that his first name WAS, Actually "George".




As does the Headstone Application for US Veterans, Listing Fayetteville, Arkansas as his residence.





While listing the "H" in his name as Homer in some instances,  on his WWI draft registration card, in 1914, his middle name is listed as "Howard" instead. He apparently was ambivalent there for awhile about what his middle, or third name should be.

World War I Draft Card

His WWII Draft Card, part of "The Old Man's Draft" for those aged 45 to 64, gives ambivalence a new oddity, on the same card. Under "name" he is listed as Wesley Homer Barringer, yet he signs it, Wesley Herman Barringer.




Here, he lists his birthplace as Hamilton, Tennessee. But there were no Wesley H. Barringer's born in the 1880's in Hamilton, Tennessee.

So......Where did the Hamilton, Tennessee come from and who was Nina Barringer?

Nina Irma Wagner was born on September 15, 1893 in Danbury, Red Willow County, Nebraska. She was the daughter of George Leroy Wagner and Alverda Emily Wagner. She grew up in Jaspar County, Missouri, and the family is there by the 1900 census. Her father was born in Ohio and her mother in Kentucky, yet the 1920 census also gives her birthplace as Tennesse and the same for both parents. Neither was true.

Name:	Nina I Wagner [Nina I Wayner]
Age in 1910:	17
Birth Year:	abt 1893
Birthplace:	Nebraska
Home in 1910:	Duval, Jasper, Missouri
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Relation to Head of House:	Daughter
Marital Status:	Single
Father's name:	Geo L Wagner
Father's Birthplace:	Ohio
Mother's name:	Verda E Wagner
Mother's Birthplace:	Kentucky
Native Tongue:	English
Attended School:	No
Able to Read:	Yes
Able to Write:	Yes
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age Geo L Wagner 52 Verda E Wagner 54 Nina I Wagner 17 Stanley P Wagner 14

Nina and Wesley claim to have married, yet I've not been able to find a marriage license. It could be that Hamilton County, Tennesse is where they met, and thus became "reborn". Wesley may have figured being guilty of fornication was a lot less trouble than being guilty of bigamy, as the former was not prosecuted in the 1920's as it was in the 1880's, but the latter most certainly was.

There is not a marriage license listed for them in Hamilton County, Tennesse or in Arkansas.


Wesley Barringer and  Nina Wagoner's first census together was the 1920 one. It gives us a few clues as to how their relationship may have came about.

Name: Wesley Barringer Age: 37 Birth Year: abt 1883 Birthplace: Tennessee Home in 1920: De Roche, Hot Spring, Arkansas Street: Unnamed House Number: X Race: White Gender: Male Relation to Head of House: Head Marital Status: Married Spouse's Name: Ninie Barringer Father's Birthplace: Tennessee Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee Able to Speak English: Yes Occupation: Grademan Industry: Railroad Employment Field: Wage or Salary Home Owned or Rented: Rent Able to Read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Wesley Barringer 37 Ninie Barringer 27 Albert Barringer 8

It tells us that Wesley was working for the Railroad, which gave citizens greater mobility. It claims their place of origin as Tennessee, where no one who could be mistaken for either of them existed.

Their 8 year old son Albert is said to be born in Arkansas, which would place them in Arkansas by 1912. This means that shortly after the 1910 census, George Wesley Barringer obtained a job with the railroad, probably in nearby Salisbury or Spencer, most likely ended up in Tennessee or Missouri, where Nina's family was in 1910. There began their relationship and they somehow chose the popular destination of Arkansas to begin their family.

Name:	Wesley Barringer
Birth Year:	abt 1890
Gender:	Male
Race:	White
Birthplace:	Tennessee
Marital Status:	Married
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Home in 1930:	De Roche, Hot Spring, Arkansas
Map of Home:	View Map
Dwelling Number:	87
Family Number:	89
Home Owned or Rented:	Owned
Radio Set:	No
Lives on Farm:	Yes
Age at First Marriage:	20
Attended School:	No
Able to Read and Write:	Yes
Father's Birthplace:	Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace:	Tennessee
Able to Speak English:	Yes
Occupation:	Farmer
Industry:	Own Farm
Class of Worker:	Working on own account
Employment:	Yes
Household Members:	Name Age Wesley Barringer 40 Nina Barringer 36 Ralph Barringer 9 Eughene Barringer 4

Two more sons have joined the family. They claimed to be married and Wesley gave his age for first marriage as 20 while Nina gave hers as 15. Here, Wesley claims to only be 4 years older than Nina, while in 1920, he was 10 years older than her. Oldest son Albert had already married by 1930 and had established his own household by age 18.

Name:	Albert Baringer [Odbert Baringer]
Birth Year:	abt 1912
Gender:	Male
Race:	White
Birthplace:	Arkansas
Marital Status:	Married
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Home in 1930:	De Roche, Hot Spring, Arkansas
Map of Home:	View Map
Dwelling Number:	58
Family Number:	60
Home Owned or Rented:	Rented
Radio Set:	No
Lives on Farm:	Yes
Age at First Marriage:	18
Attended School:	No
Able to Read and Write:	Yes
Father's Birthplace:	Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace:	Tennessee
Able to Speak English:	Yes
Occupation:	Farmer
Industry:	Rented Farm
Class of Worker:	Working on own account
Household Members:	Name Age Albert Baringer 18 Edna Baringer 17

Name: Wesly Barringer Age: 52 Estimated birth year: abt 1888 Gender: Male Race: White Birthplace: Tennessee Marital Status: Married Relation to Head of House: Head Home in 1940: De Roche, Hot Spring, Arkansas Map of Home in 1940: View Map Farm: Yes Inferred Residence in 1935: De Roche, Hot Spring, Arkansas Residence in 1935: Same Place Sheet Number: 3B Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 54 Occupation: Farming House Owned or Rented: Owned Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 200 Attended School or College: No Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 5th grade Class of Worker: Working on own account Weeks Worked in 1939: 52 Income: 0 Income Other Sources: Yes Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Wesly Barringer 52 Nina Barringer 47 Ralph Barringer 19 Eugene Barringer 14 The last census we have to observe this family is that of the 1940. Ralph and Eugene are now in their teens and Wesley and Nina are in the same place, farming.  Name: Albert Barringer Age: 28 Estimated birth year: abt 1912 Gender: Male Race: White Birthplace: Arkansas Marital Status: Married Relation to Head of House: Head Home in 1940: De Roche, Hot Spring, Arkansas Map of Home in 1940: View Map Farm: Yes Inferred Residence in 1935: De Roche, Hot Spring, Arkansas Residence in 1935: Same Place Sheet Number: 4A Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 56 Occupation: Farming Industry: Farm House Owned or Rented: Rented Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 1 Attended School or College: No Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 8th grade Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 60 Class of Worker: Working on own account Weeks Worked in 1939: 52 Income: 0 Income Other Sources: Yes Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Albert Barringer 28 Edna Barringer 27 Louise Barringer 4 Albert was also still living in Hot Springs and farming. Below is the obituary for the middle son of this union, Ralph Barringer.

GENCY FUNERAL HOME MALVERN, ARKANSAS

Ralph "Slim" Barringer

( February 17, 1921 - December 18, 2006 )

Ralph “Slim” Barringer, age 85, of New DeRoche, Arkansas passed away December 18, 2006 at his home. He was born February 17, 1921 at New DeRoche, the son of Wesley and Nina (Wagner) Barringer. He was a WWII Army veteran serving in an Infantry 30th Division “Old Hickory”, and was also in the Airborne and Engineers Division. He served in the invasion at Normandy and received a Purple Heart and 2 Oak Leaf Clusters. He worked for General Motors, and for Reynolds Metals Company in the holding furnace, and was a farmer. He was also affiliated with Bismarck United Methodist Church.

He is preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Tonya Barringer, and two brothers, Albert and Eugene Barringer.

Survivors are his wife of forty years, Sandra (Hudgens) Barringer; daughter, Rhonda Barringer and granddaughter, Whitney Barringer, all of New DeRoche; niece, Louise Loy of Natches, Mississippi; great-niece and nephew, Debbie Draper, of New DeRoche, and Steve Loy of Dallas, Texas; and a host of friends.

Visitation will be Tuesday, December 19th from 6:00 to8:00 p.m. at Regency Funeral Home in Malvern.

Graveside Services will be at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 20th at Prairie Bayou Cemetery with full military honors by Thaddeus H. Caraway Post 2278. Reverend Gail Baldwin and Brother Bobby Looper will officiate.

Pallbearers are Arvin Booy, Adolph Hughes, Mark Johnson, Jim Harsh, Gary Burroughs, Bill Hudgens, Tommy Barton, and Wesley Anderson. Honorary pallbearers are Waymon Prince and Darrell Clifton.

Arrangements are by Regency Funeral Home, Malvern, Arkansa

Meanwhile, in North Carolina:

Name:	Lucy R Barringer
Birth Year:	abt 1883
Gender:	Female
Race:	White
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Marital Status:	Married
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Homemaker?:	Yes
Home in 1930:	Township 7, Cabarrus, North Carolina
Map of Home:	View Map
Street address:	Connon Dist road
Home Owned or Rented:	Owned
Radio Set:	No
Lives on Farm:	Yes
Attended School:	No
Able to Read and Write:	Yes
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Able to Speak English:	Yes
Occupation:	Farmer
Industry:	General Farm
Class of Worker:	Working on own account
Employment:	Yes
Household Members:	Name Age Lucy R Barringer 47 Elsie J Barringer 26

Lucy is still living on her property with her daughter Elsie and claiming to be married, still waiting on her missing husband, George Wesley Barringer.

By 1940, she has assumed he is dead, and listed herself as a widow. Her daughter Elsie still with her. Elsie did not marry until later.

Name:	Lucy Barringer
Respondent:	Yes
Age:	58
Estimated birth year:	abt 1882
Gender:	Female
Race:	White
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Marital Status:	Widowed
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Home in 1940:	Reed Misenheimers, Cabarrus, North Carolina
Map of Home in 1940:	View Map
Farm:	Yes
Inferred Residence in 1935:	Reed Misenheimers, Cabarrus, North Carolina
Residence in 1935:	Same House
Sheet Number:	8A
Number of Household in Order of Visitation:	128
House Owned or Rented:	Owned
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented:	225
Attended School or College:	No
Highest Grade Completed:	Elementary school, 6th grade
Weeks Worked in 1939:	0
Income:	0
Income Other Sources:	Yes
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age Lucy Barringer 58 Elsie Barringer 36

But Wesley was not dead, he was very much alive.

George Wesely Homer (or Howard) Barringer passed away on November 2, 1957 in DeRoche, Hot Springs County, Arkansas.




He was buried next to his second wife Nina Wagoner Barringer.

Lucy Isenhour Barringer died on September 26, 1957, just two months before Wesley. She passed away in Cabarrus County, North Carolina and was buried at Lower Stone Church near Gold Hill, Rowan County, North Carolina.



Her death certificate lists her as a widow and her husband as George Wesley Barringer.


The Complete Lineage of George Wesley H. Barringer is as follows:

Married Lucy Roxie Isenhour (1881-1957) on December 25, 1902

1)  Elise Irene Barringer b September 24, 1903 d March 7, 1981
      Married  Arey Franklin Sides. 

2) Roy Glenn Barringer b April 20, 1905 d Jan 9 1980 
     Married Margie Pauline Barringer.

3) Howard Franklin Monroe Barringer b February 17, 1909 d December 22, 1986
     Married  Mary Pauline Hatley


With Nina Irma Wagner (1893 Danbury, Red Willow County, Nebraska, grew up in Jaspar, Missouri, met Barringer, possibly in Tennessee in 1910. Died 1986 in Hot Springs, Arkansas.)

4) Albert Wesley Barringer b November 13, 1911  d June 22, 1974 Buried Hot Springs, Arkansas
      Married Edna Phillips

5) Perry Ralph "Slim" Barringer b February 17, 1921 d December 18, 2006 
      Married Sandra Hudgens

6) Eldrid Eugene Barringer b September 12, 1925 d December 13, 1944 in France. WWII. Buried in  Hot Springs, Arkansas.