San Diego County Biographies
            
DR. GEORGE W. BARNES

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San Diego, is of Scotch ancestry; he was born in Frederick County, Virginia, 
December 9, 1825, son of Stephen, a native of Frederick County, Virginia, and 
Eleanor (Scarf) Barnes, also a native of Frederick County. Dr. Barnes' father's 
mother was from the north of Ireland, and his ancestors were Scotch. When ten 
years of age the Doctor moved with his parents to Newark, Ohio. Having decided 
to follow the profession of medicine he became a student of Dr. A. O. Blair, 
then one of the most prominent homeopathic physicians of Ohio. After attending a 
course of instructions at the Medical College of Ohio, the Eclectic Institute of 
Cincinnati, and the Cleveland Homeopathic College, he graduated in the latter 
institution in 1851. He then located at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, where he enjoyed an 
extensive practice for over fourteen years. In 1865, having been elected a 
professor in the Cleveland Homeopathic hospital College, he removed to that 
city. In 1869 his health failed by reason of excessive labor, and compelled him 
to resign his position and seek a milder climate. He came to California and 
spent nearly a year in the study of its climate. At the end of that time he gave 
San Diego the preference and settled there. Several years since the Doctor 
received a spinal injury from the rearing and bucking of his horse, from which 
he has never recovered, but, notwithstanding this, he continues his professional 
work far beyond his apparent ability. Dr. Barnes had associated with him in 
practice from 1881 to 1884, Dr. E. A. Clark, now of Los Angeles, and from the 
latter date to the first of November last, he had as his associate Dr. A. 
Morgan. He now has associated with him Dr. P. F. Gamber, late of Cleveland, 
Ohio.
        Dr. Barnes was largely instrumental in organizing the San Diego Society 
of Natural History. He has been its president since its organization and has 
faithfully labored to promote its prosperity. Since 1853 he has been a member of 
the American Institute of Homeopathy, and since 1878, in consequence of a 
membership of over twenty-five years, he has belonged to the association of 
seniors of that body. He aided in the establishment of the first medical 
dispensary of Cleveland and the Homeopathic Hospital, still in operation there, 
and was one of its consulting physicians. He was physician to the Cleveland 
Protestant Orphan Asylum, was secretary of the Cuyahoga County Medical Society 
and treasurer of the Western Institute of Homeopathy. He was associated in the 
establishment of the Ohio Medical and Surgical Reporter, and its editorial 
management during its first volume. Ever since his resignation as professor in 
the Cleveland College, he has had the honorary title of Emeritus Professor of 
Materia in that institution. He is now a member of the California State 
Homeopathic Medical Society, and an honorary member of the Los Angeles 
Homeopathic Medical Society. He is also a corresponding member of the St. Louis 
Academy of Science, and of the Wisconsin State Historical Society. He has 
contributed to many medical journals, and is the author of a seventy-page 
pamphlet, entitled "The Hillocks and Mound Formations of the Pacific Coast."
        After what has been above stated we need not add that the Doctor stands 
eminent in his profession. His is a most enviable position. He invested 
considerably in city property during his early residence here, and this having 
increased in value, he is now independent. The Doctor's physical disability has 
been such that he has many times been carried up stairs to see a patient. He now 
does an office business, and goes out only to engage in consultation.
 
SOURCE:  An Illustrated History of Southern California:  Embracing the Counties 
of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower 
California… Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890.  p.-  339-340