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Note: Find A Grave: Joana Mainor/Mainer was born 1838 in Tarboro, Edgecombe County, NC the 2nd of 6 known surviving children (1 boy/5 girls) born to wealthy planter Thomas L. Mainer (ca. 1811-aft 1870) and his wife, Catherine Pitt. The family later removed to Wilson County.
She was the paternal grandchild of Zachariah Maner/Mainor/Mainer of Edgecombe and his wife, Penelope Ing; and gr-grandchild of Aaron Josiah Maner/Mainor of Gates County who came to Edgecombe ca. 1772 and served in the Revolutionary War at the Battle of Kings Mountain.
Joana was 21-yrs old on February 23, 1860 when she married 22-yr old attorney, Arthur Barnes, of Wilson. The couple set up housekeeping in the town of Wilson near other family members, and where Arthur practiced law. They would soon become parents to 3 daughters: Maud (1860-1939), May (1862-1933), and Blanch (1867-1924).
When Civil War broke out in May, 1861, Arthur was serving as County Solicitor for Wilson County. On November 25, 1862, the 24-year old headed up an enlistment campaign in Wilson County recruiting a regiment for the NC 59th. His 3 brothers: John T. Barnes, Dr. Edwin Barnes, and Lafayette Barnes, immediately joined him. Capt. Barnes served honorably until May 26, 1864 when his health had become so impaired that he reluctantly offered his resignation, which was accepted by his superiors. He was discharged from active service as "permanently disabled from service by disease".
The 27-year old veteran was released from service on on June 8, 1864, after which he returned home and served again as Wilson County Solicitor. The war would end 10 months later, and 2 of his 3 brothers would also come home to Wilson. Brother, Lafayette Barnes, was reported killed in Virginia in 1861.
By 1870, Arthur had been elected Mayor of Wilson and was serving as Probate Judge in the city. Three years later Joana would die at the age of 35, leaving her husband with 3 young daughters to raise with the help of family.
Her husband of 13 years would never remarry. He remained in Wilson until his daughters were educated and settled into their careers or marriages. In 1880 or early 1881, 43 year old Arthur left Wilson for Washington, DC, at the invitation of his friend, Brig. Gen. Matt W. Ransom (of "Ransom's Brigade" fame), who was then serving as U.S. Senator, and later Ambassador to Mexico. Capt. Barnes spent the next 18 years in Washington serving in the honorable position as doorkeeper of the Senate Marble Room at the Capitol, and doorkeeper for the Democratic National Convention.
Capt. Barnes died in Washington DC in 1899 at age 62. His remains were returned to Wilson and laid to rest near his beloved wife.
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