De Wells Barton was born in the shadow of
Wood Junior College on October 19, 1909. He attended
elementary school in Mathiston and two year of high school
at Wood Junior, where he played in the orchestra and took
violin lessons. In 1925, his father retired, and the family
moved to West Point, Mississippi. There he finished high
school and was in the band under the director of H.G. Long,
a dedicated band director. In 1929 he entered Mississippi A
& M (now MSU), where he was a member of the Maroon Band
under the direction of H.E. Wamsley; thus they began a
friendship that continued for a lifetime.
In 1935, Barton obtained his teaching
certificate and taught for five years in Houston,
Mississippi. He was a man of rare talents in bother music
and his love of his students. His years in Houston
were very rewarding. In 1936 he married Marry L.
Harrington, and to this marriage, two sons were born: De
Wells Jr. and William David.
In 1941, he moved to Starkville as band director for
the public schools. During these he attended many clinics
and established links and friendships with such clinician as
H.E. Nutt (VanderCook School of Music) and William D.
Revelli. Later many of these prominent directors were
invited to come to Mississippi and make their services
available to all Mississippi band directors.
Barton continued his work at Starkville High
School until 1955. when his disability became so severe that
he was forced to resign. He died March 19, 1956. Though his
year of service were short, he made each day a day of joy
and a source of pride for his students.
A quote from his former superintendent at
Starkville, C.A. Johnson, says it vest; “A band program can
be wrecked and a school administrator completely frustrated
by the lack of the right discipline in a band. I never heard
D.W. Barton caused this writher to cease being a reasonably
good band supporter. He became an ardent and enthusiastic
one.”
