Born in Deerfield, Massachusetts, Joseph Henry Barnard (1804-1861) practiced medicine in Chicago and Canada before moving to Texas in 1835. In Texas, Barnard enlisted in the Texas Army as private, serving with the Red Rovers. He served as surgeon to James W. Fannin's command and was captured at Goliad with Fannin's forces on March 20, 1836. His life was spared from the Goliad Massacre so that he might treat the wounded Mexicans at Goliad and San Antonio. Following his release in June 1836, he continued to serve in the Texas Army until October of that same year. He moved to Fort Bend County in 1837, was county clerk (1838-1839), and represented the county in the Eighth Congress of the House of Representatives (1843-1844)(. He married Nancy Maria Handy in 1838 and had three children. Dr. Barnard moved to Goliad County where he ranched and practiced medicine until 1860, when he went on a visit to Canada, where he died in 1861.
From the guide to the Joseph Henry Barnard Papers AR 82-99; 88-348., 1836-1860, 1949-1982, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)
