By ELLE HUTCHINSON
Barton County Media Consultant
A piece of Barton County history is finally home.
After a lengthy effort to locate, secure, and preserve the firearm, Sheriff Brian Bellendir announced during this week’s Commission meeting that the Colt Model 1860 Army percussion revolver belonging to George N. Moses, Barton County’s first Sheriff of record, has officially returned to Barton County.
Bellendir traveled to New Jersey over the weekend to retrieve the historic firearm from the family that had preserved it for generations. He shared that the previous owners were pleased to see the revolver return to the community where Moses later served.
“They feel like it has come home finally,” Bellendir said.
The revolver was purchased earlier this year entirely through private funding and will ultimately be placed on public display in the foyer of the Barton County Courthouse, allowing residents and visitors to experience a tangible piece of the County’s earliest history.
Along with the firearm, Barton County received extensive documentation tracing its history and ownership back to Moses, including appraisal and provenance records. Bellendir noted that having that level of documentation is especially valuable because it helps preserve not only the artifact itself, but the story behind it for generations to come.
Before going on display, the revolver will undergo careful conservation. Bellendir explained that the firearm will not be restored or altered. Instead, it will be gently cleaned and protected using preservation methods intended to maintain its current historic condition.
A museum-quality display case is also being prepared for the courthouse exhibit.
The revolver shows the wear expected from a working firearm of its age, something Bellendir said adds to its historical character. Despite its age, the firearm remains mechanically intact, providing an extraordinary connection to the man who served as Barton County’s first Sheriff.
For Bellendir, bringing the revolver back has been about much more than acquiring an antique firearm. The goal from the beginning has been to ensure this piece of Barton County history remains publicly accessible and preserved long into the future.
Once the exhibit is complete, residents will be able to see the firearm firsthand at the Barton County Courthouse.
After generations away, George Moses’ revolver is back where its story belongs: home in Barton County.