Louie F. Barney

LOUIE F. BARNEY, M. D. - Dr. Barney has won secure place as one of the representative physicians and surgeons of his native state, where his father was a pioneer in the same line of professional endeavor, and he is engaged in active practice in Kansas City, the capital and metropolis of Wyandotte county, where he has gained special prestige as a surgeon, and where he controls a large and profitable practice, the same standing as voucher for his technical skill as well as for his personal popularity in the community. The Doctor has depended upon his own resources in making the battle of life, has shown the determination and integrity that denote the strong and loyal nature, and has therefore never been denied the full quota of popular confidence and respect.

Dr. Louie F. Barney was born at Cherokee, Crawford county, Kansas, on the 19th of November, 1876, and was the second in order of birth of the two sons and two daughters of Dr. James K. and Susan (Fundenberger) Barney, the former of whom was born in Illinois and the latter in Ohio. The father died in 1902, at the age of fifty-five years, and the mother now maintains her home near Cherokee, Kansas. Dr. James Knox Barney carefully fortified himself for the work of his chosen calling, as he was graduated in the old St. Louis Medical College, at St. Louis, Missouri, an institution now known as Washington Medical University. From this college he received his degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1871, and his initial work in his profession was done at Marmaton, Bourbon, county, Kansas, where he remained for a brief interval. In 1872 he removed to Cherokee, Crawford county, where he continued in practice until 1877, when he established his home at Weir, Cherokee county, where he followed the work of his profession until his death. He was a man of sterling character and much ability and as one of the pioneer physicians of Kansas he ministered with all of devotion and self-abnegation to those in affliction. He did not accumulate a fortune through his earnest labors, but he left the gracious heritage of a good name, the while his memory is cherished by the many whom he served so effectively and unselfishly. He was identified with various medical societies and in politics was a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Republican party.

Dr. Louie F. Barney was afforded the advantages of the public schools of Weir, Cherokee county, including a course in the high school, and he suplemented this by a course in the Pittsburg Business College. For three years thereafter he was a successful and popular teacher in the public schools of his home town of Weir, where he was principal of a school and had five other teachers under his direction before he was twenty-one years old, the enrolment of pupils in the school having been about two hundred and fifty. He thus early showed his pedagogic powers as well as his ability as an executive. In gaining his education he depended upon his own exertions for maintenance and incidental funds demanded, and in this connection he turned his attention to any honest employment that would afford his adequate returns. Thus it may be stated that for a time he was employed in a drug store and that he also did effective service as a driver of teams used in stripping the soil from coal lands, as a preliminary to the development of the properties. It may well be understood that a young man of so definite energy and ambition would early formulate plans for his future life work, and thus Dr. Barney was led to adopt the profession which his honored father had followed. With this end in view he finally entered the Kansas City Medical College, at Kansas City, Missouri, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1903, and from which he received his well earned degree of Doctor of Medicine. In a competitive examination at the time of his graduation Dr. Barney and one of his classmates gained equal standing in a race for first prize. Following graduation he secured the position of physician at St. Margaret's Hospital, Kansas City, Kansas, an incumbency which he retained for fifteen months. For a period of about seven years he was assistant to Dr. George M. Gray in the department of surgery at St. Margaret's Hospital, and his marked skill in surgery has caused him to devote special attention to this branch of practice, in which his success has been on a parity with his recognized ability. The Doctor is a valued member of the Wyandotte County Medical Society, the Kansas State Medical Society, the Kansas City (Missouri) Academy of Medicine, the Northeast District Medical Society and the Southwest Medical Society, besides which he is also identified with the American Medical Association.

Though essentially broad-minded and progressive in his civic attitude, Dr. Barney has found neither time nor inclination to enter the turbulence of so-called practical politics, and he gives his support to men and measure meeting the approval of his judgment, without regard to strict partisan lines. He is affiliated with the Scottish Rite body of the Masonic fraternity, and it is worthy of note that he received his degree of Master Mason in Wyandotte Lodge, No. 3, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of its founding.

On the 20th of February, 1907, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Barney to Miss Minnie C. Wahlenmaier, who was born and reared in Kansas City, Kansas, and who is a daughter of William and Caroline Wahlenmaier, the former of whom died about twenty-five years ago and the latter of whom still resides in Kansas City. Mr. Wahlenmaier came from Germany to America when a boy and he eventually gained place as one of the pioneer lumber dealers in eastern Kansas. He was one of the honored citizens and influential business men of Wyandotte county, and accumulated a substantial estate through his well directed endeavors. His widow Caroline erected the Wahlenmaier block at the corner of Eighth street and Minnesota avenue, in Kansas City, Kansas, and the same is one of the best modern business blocks of the city.