Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: Na Jacksonville, Barnes ghọrọ onye na-arụsi ọrụ ike na ndọrọ ndọrọ ọchịchị Democratic party. Site na 1865 ruo 1885, ọ bụ onye nnọchi anya na nnọkọ ogbako steeti nke otu ahụ. Barnes bụ onye nnọchi anya na mgbakọ iwu nke Illinois na 1870 ma na-anọchite anya Morgan County na Illinois General Assembly, na Illinois House of Representatives, na 1872. Ọ nọchitekwara anya Illinois na 1876,
N'afọ 1880, na 1884 Democratic National Convention.