Robert Coffee Barling was the son of Aaron Barling and Rebecca Tucker Barling. "Aaron Barling was born in London, England, June 4, 1792, and his father, Moses Barling, sailed for America August 31, 1793, and landed on American soil November 5 of the same year. He brought his family with him, and lived in Baltimore the balance of his life. He was born April 29, 1767, and died in 1796. He was married in England to Miss Mary Cooper, March 7, 1787, and she died in Baltimore, at the age of twenty-six years. Aaron Barling was one of five children born to his parents, and was by trade a sail-maker. Being left an orphan at an early age, he was reared by an aunt. When quite a boy he went to sea, and followed a seafaring life for twelve years. During this time he was married to Miss Rebecca Tucker, a native of Maryland, born October 14, 1781. After his marriage, Mr. Barling followed the sea until he joined the United States army, and with the first troops came to Arkansas, where he helped locate Fort Smith. He was in the Federal service for about five years, when he finally received his discharge. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant. His family had previously joined him at Fort Gibson, and of the six children born to his union, three are now living: Sophia..., Henry and Robert. After resigning his position in the army Mr. Barling bought a farm in what is now Sebastian County, and upon this farm the family was reared. About 1835 Aaron Barling was employed by the Government to issue supplies to the Seminole Indians, and in the spring of 1841 he moved back to his farm. In 1853 he moved with his family to Fort Smith, and here Mrs. Barling died July 27 of the same year. On March 22 of the following year Mr. Barling also died (The Goodspeed Histories of Sebastian County Arkansas, c. 1889, page 1332)."

In the early 1850's it is said that Robert joined the gold rush for a couple of years before returning to Arkansas to farm. After his return, Robert became the husband of Matilda Hill. They married in 1853.

During the 1860's, the Civil War erupted and Robert enlisted in 1862 with the Confederacy. He served as a private in Company B of the Arkansas 35th Infantry Regiment. The war ended in 1865 and Robert returned home to again farm on the family home place established by his father.

1870 Census - Sulphur, Sebastian Co., AR

Robt Barling 36
Mattilda Barling 33
Aaron Barling 14
Frank Barling 11
Jese Barling 8
Robert Barling 5
William Barling 2
Mary Ann Tig 21

1880 Census - Sulphur, Sebastian Co., AR

Robert Barling 45
Matilda Barling 43
Jerry Barling 18
Robert Barling 15
William Barling 12
Albert B. Barling 7

"In 1888 R. C. Barling...gave land for a Methodist Church building and a new school building. The church was completed and dedicated in September 1888. The original church, which now is in the center of the building, is probably the oldest building in Barling, with the possible exception of one or two houses.

On January the 24th 1890 Spring Hill (where they resided) got a post office...but there was another Spring Hill post office already in operation. So William Fishback, who later became governor,...suggested that the post office be named Barling in honor of the first settler Aaron Barling, Robert's father (Remembering Our Barling, by Lillie Bugg Wingfield, c. 2007. pages 8-9)."

1900 Census - Mont Sandels, Sebastian Co., AR

Robert C Barling 66
Matilda E Barling 62

Matilda passed in 1892. Robert was left a widower with his youngest son, Albert Blanton, still in the home.

Robert passed some twelve years later in 1904. Both he and his wife are buried at Oak Cemetery.