----Source: Family Records

Anton and Mary (Owens-Benware) Barton (Biography & Photos)

Recollections of Virginia Barton Wainhouse:

Ernest Benware Barton was born in Neillsville, Wisconsin 30 April 1886. He was put in the orphanage with his younger brother, Leo, until they were both adopted by their mother and step-father,Mary & Anton Barton in December 1898. Ernest ran away from home and ended up in Vancouver, British Columbia. He married Ruby there. One child, Mary, was born. She was much older than I and I only saw her once. Ruby and Ernie were separated for as long as I can remember. Ernie was a steward on a ship out of Vancouver for years and then he moved to Tacoma. He was an orderly at Tacoma General Hospital. He was always broke as Ruby was constantly dunning him for money. He had a motorcycle with a side car. He always told us it was because he wasn't heavy enough to start the motor! He was a small man.

He came to visit us often. We kids loved Uncle Ernie. I guess you could call him a happy "ne'er-do-well". He never had a dime to his name.

I lost track of Mary's family when she died. She had two children, a boy and a girl.

Ernest Benware Barton, Son of John & Mary (Owens) Benware, was adopted by his uncle Anton Barton after his father's natural father's death. His mother had married Anton whose wife (Mary's sister, Josephine) had also died.

Photo courtesy of Virginia Barton Wainhouse and contributed by Barbara Benware Burt