Presented by Mary Morgan

During the Civil War, Mr. Barkley was captured and held prisoner until the war ended. When the war was over, he and about 1,800 other released prisoners were on their way home on the Sultana, a steamboat designed to carry 376 passengers. The Mississippi River's strong currents and the ship's heavy load were more than the boilers could take. Around 2 a.m., just north of Memphis, the Sultana exploded. More than 1,400 people died, including Mr. Barkley. Sarah moved to Yellow Springs in 1870 so her children could attend Antioch College. She lived on Davis Street until her death in 1914.