Born on a farm in Maplewood in 1873, Raeburn Epler Barnes came from a family deeply rooted in American history. Her great-grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War, and her grandfather Thomas Epler fought in the Civil War. The Epler family came to Shelby County in 1815 “having no means of support but their willing hands.” Perhaps this sturdy pioneer background was one of factors that encouraged Raeburn Epler Barnes to create an amazing legacy upon her death in 1964. Her lasting impact was the Raeburn E. Barnes Student Loan Program that continues to support the post- high school educational goals of the youth of Shelby County.
After her graduation from Sidney High School in 1892, Raeburn Epler went on to teach in the Shelby County Schools until her marriage in 1899, to Joseph D. Barnes. Marriage forced her to leave teaching as was the rule at that time. But her interest in her community and its youth did not stop with that forced retirement. Instead, she devoted her adult life to broadening her horizons with memberships in the Daughters of the American Revolution, the New Century Club, the Hospital Benefit Club, and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.
While her husband served a long and distinguished career as a judge, eventually serving on the Second District Court of Appeals of Ohio until illness forced his retirement, Raeburn was always interested in helping others. Though childless, she determined that her legacy after her death would be a student loan program for any student who resided in Shelby County. It was to be not a scholarship but a loan that would encourage the same strong work ethic that was the heritage of her pioneering family.
Since the initial loan period, the program has helped almost 3,000 Shelby County students with more that $23 million dollars loaned through spring of 2023. The Raeburn E Barnes Student Loan program will continue in perpetuity as a lasting legacy of a woman who had to give up teaching but loved education.