Vego E. Barnes

VEGO E. BARNES was born near Fruit Hill, Ky., April 4, 1889. His father, George W. Barnes, was a prosperous merchant and trader, and gave him the advantage of a good education in Christian County and Hopkinsville schools and he took the B.S. degree at Southern Normal School. He came to Hopkinsville well equipped for business, and his first employment was in the office of the county clerk, in 1910, for eight years. When the war came he enlisted in June, 1918, and was promoted to Second Lieutenant September 15th, and served until June, 1919. After the war he bought and operated the Crystal Creamery Company, at Paducah, until 1922. He then returned to his old job as deputy county clerk, serving five years. In 1927 he was elected county treasurer, and in 1929 was again elected for a term of four years, which position he now fills. Mr. Barnes early evinced a rare capacity for political organization, and this characteristic has made him a local leader in the Democratic party. In several recent campaigns his services have been utilized by the party in state campaigns, and in 1928 he was elected a permanent organization director of the state committee for four years. On July 19, 1917, he was married to Miss Emma Gooch, a daughter of Paul Mc Kenzie Gooch. Her father was a Confederate soldier who enlisted from North Carolina when sixteen years of age, and served four years in General Lee's command. Her mother was Mrs. Sarah (Prather) Gooch, of Evansville, Ind. Mr. Barnes helped to organize Troop C, 54th Machine gun Squadron, in February, 1922 and was appointed Second Lieutenant. In October, 1922, he organized the 125th Wagon Company and was commissioned Captain, and is still in command. He was one of the company commanders who helped to secure the State-County-city Armory. He was Exalted Ruler of the Elks Lodge in 1916, and Grand Lodge representative in 1917. He is also a Mason and a member of the Universalist Church.