Oscar G. Barnes was born April 18, 1855 to Hiram and Esther Barnes, at Lyme, Grafton County, New Hampshire.  In 1882 he came to Fargo, North Dakota, where he worked in the real estate business of J.B. Weaver and Company for two years, leaving that to work as superintendent in the Fargo Foundry. He then went into business in the molding trade until 1886 when he was appointed Deputy Sheriff under J.D. Benton, serving there six years until he was elected Cass County Sheriff in 1892.  He was Sheriff until 1897, after that serving as Chairman of the Cass County Board of Commissioners, as well as general manager of the Union Light, Heat and Power Company of Fargo.  He later served as vice president and member of the Board of Directors of the Merchant's National Bank of Fargo.

The first donation of Barnes papers contain correspondence and subject files.  The second donation of Barnes papers is primarily in box three with some items integrated into the original collection.  The correspondence consists mainly of letters received by Mr. Barnes while he was sheriff (1893-96).  It concerns summons, complaints, warrants, foreclosures, sales, putting people in custody and other matters of law enforcement, as well as the fees charged by the sheriff for his services.  Mr. Barnes's mail, both national and local is from a wide variety of people especially law officers, attorneys, businessmen, and state officials; including Governor Roger Allin, Governor Edwin Sarles, C.M. Dahl, Warden N.F. Boucher, M.A. Hildreth, Robert M. Pollock, Thomas A. Yerxa, the Pinkerton Detective Agency, H.G. Langlie, Commissioners A. Halbert and N.L. Stafford, H.G. Gisbson, Marshall Cronan, Sheriffs J.I. Eddy, J. Hoys, A.T. Drakely, Will Seaver, C. Hill, George Bingenhermer, and many others.  In the subject files is the 1893 and 1896 calendar for the Cass County District Court, listing all court cases and attorneys as well as the county officers and members of the Petit Jury. 
 

Politics and Government