ROBERT LEE BARRETT.  The present collector of county taxes in Jones county has been a resident of Texas for the past fifteen years, and while much of his time has been taken up by official labors, he has regularly followed farming and still considers himself an agriculturist, which vocation he has made profitable and the means of providing liberal home and comforts for himself and family.
   Robert Lee Barrett was born in Gibson county, Tennessee, December 12, 1867, and was the oldest of four sons, two of whom died in infancy. The other brother, William F. Barrett, is also a resident at Anson, in Jones county. The father was William F. Barrett, a native of Tennessee, where he died in 1873 at the age of thirty-two. Throughout the period of the Civil war he served in the Twenty-Second Tennessee Infantry, and was a very active politician, filling several offices, and also took much part in Masonic circles. Though a member of no church, he was a man of deep religious conventions, and held in high esteem by his home community. The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Burns, who was born in Tennessee, where they were married, and she now lives in Anson. She is a member of the primitive Baptist church, and takes much interest in her church affairs.
   Robert Lee Barrett spent about thirty years of his life in his home state of Tennessee, and about 1897 came to Texas, first settling in Fannin county, where he followed farming for nine years. Moving to Jones county, he bought a farm, and still owns a good landed estate in this vicinity. He was active as a farmer for four years, until his election to his present office as county tax collector brought him into the county seat, and he now turns over the management of his property to a tenant. For two years previous to his election as tax collector he served as deputy sheriff of Jones county. Mr. Barrett had his early education in the public schools of Tennessee. He was six years old when his father died and it became necessary for him to support himself as soon as he was able. He worked at different light occupations until he was sixteen, and then started out to do battle with the world on his own account. He took up farming, and as already stated, has made that his regular vocation.
   In Gibson county, Tennessee, December 26, 1895, Mr. Barrett married Miss Minnie Lee Armstrong, daughter of Squire and Mrs. E. J. Douglas Armstrong of Gibson county. To the marriage of Mr. Barrett and wife have been born eight children, three sons and five daughters, as follows:  Jessie Myrtle, deceased; Kyle David, Mildred M., Alline L., Wilfred C., Bobbie and Minnie, twins, and Joseph Newman. The family are members of the Primitive Baptist church, and in politics Mr. Barrett has for many years taken an active interest in Democratic affairs. He enjoys outdoor life, especially hunting and fishing, and is a broadminded and liberal man in all his relations with society.

from A History of Texas and Texans, by Frank W. Johnson.  The American Historical Society.  Chicago, 1914.  Vol. III, pp. 1093-1094.