The Barber Families of Portage County, Ohio

EDWIN BARBER, retired farmer, P. O. Brimfield, was born in Litchfield, Conn., June 28, lv97; son of Joseph and Abigail (Coe) Barber. On May 8, 1819, he arrived in Brimfield Township, this county, but in January, 1820, revisited Connecticut, returning to Brimtield Township in 1822, and settling on the farm where he now resides and which he cleared and improved. He was married, August 5, 1823, to Elvira, daughter of Nathan and Sarah Benedict, of Coi'wall, Conn., by whom he had three children: Frederick (deceased), Ozias, and Elvira (deceased). Ozias is a resident of Akron, Ohio, and married to Harriet Campbell, of Tallmadge. Mr. Barber is one of the few pioneers now left in Brimfield Township. After a wedded life of nearly sixty-one years, he lost his wife, who died, May 9, 1884, in her eighty-second year. Mr, Barber has been a member of the Baptist Church over fifty years. He has been Justice of the Peace of Brimfield Township one term. In politics he is a Republican.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

NELSON L. BARBER, farmer, P. O. Kent, was born in Brimfield Township, this county, June 3, 1825, son of Lyman and Julia (Landon) Barber, natives of Goshen, Litchfield Co., Conn. Lyman Barber first came to Ohio about 1819 and located at Cuyahoga Falls, then a part of this county. He was a carpenter by trade and worked there for a Mr. Griswold, building oil mills, remaining about a year. In 1820 he returned to Connecticut and married, and with an ox team and horse ahead, made the journey back to Ohio, settling in Brimfield Township, this county, on the place now known as the

Cogswell farm, where he lived two years. He then sold out, bought in the northeast part of the township and there lived until within a few years of his death. He worked at his trade in early days and had his clearing done, paying for the same in carpenter work. He had four children: Emily (deceased), Myron, Nelson L., and an infant daughter (deceased). Lyman Barber was a worthy citizen, and by his industry and perseverance accumulated a large property. He died in 1864 at the age of sixty-nine years. The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm in Brimfield Township, this county, and is still the owner of the old family homestead. His early education was received in the district school and when twenty years of age he attended a select school in Kent (taught by Rev. Mr. Bates) one term, after which he passed an examination and taught school three months the following winter in Brimfield at $12 per month, and, as was customary in those days, " boarded round." He then attended school another term in Kent, under the instruction of Frank B. Pond (author of the Ohio Pond Bill), and the winter following taught school in the Hart District at $14 per month. He afterward attended the Twinsburg Academy under the instruction of Deacon Bissell one term. He has taught school in all fourteen terms, but during the most of his life he has followed his present occupation, that of farming. On March 15, 1851, Mr. Barber closed his school and returned home, cut timber for a house 16x22 and hauled the timber to building site, raised his house and finished it off ready to be occupied. On April 21, same year, he was married, and on day following (Friday), he moved, and the next Monday he commenced plowing for his spring crops. Our subject did all the work with his own hands, except a half day's help from his neighbors at " raising." The partner of his choice was Sarah, daughter of John and Margaret (Matiers) Berkheimer, of Franklin, this county, whose father was one of the company who started the first glass works in Franklin Mills. The issue of this union was four children: Emmet N., John L. (deceased), George M. and Jessie. Mr. Barber was a resident of Brimfield Township up to 1869, when he removed to the farm in Franklin Township where he now resides. His wife died in September, 1881, at the age of forty-eight. Mr. Barber is now serving his fourth term as Justice of the Peace. In politics he was formerly a Democrat, but since the breaking out of the Rebellion has been one of the stanch supporters of the Republican party.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CHARLES H. BARBER, Postmaster, Kent, was born in East Windsor, Conn., August 9, 1839, son of Henry and Emily T. (Osborn) Barber, and was reared in his native town, where he received a common school education. He was a soldier in the late war of the Rebellion, enlisting August, 1862, in Company G, Twenty-fifth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, and was in the battle of Irish Bend, La., was wounded at the siege of Port Hudson, June 14, 1868, when he lost his left arm, and was honorably discharged August 26, 1863. He then returned home, where he remained until January, 1865, when he located in Kent and engaged with Day, Williams & Co. as traveling salesman, for whom he acted thirteen and one-half years. In 1879 he was engaged as time-keeper in the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad shops, which position he held up to November, 1883. In October, 1883, he was appointed Postmaster of Kent by President Arthur, taking possession of the office November 11. He was married in July, 1867, to Clementina, daughter of Edward and Clementine (Janes) Parsons, of Brimfield Township, this county, by whom he has had six children: William H., Edward P., Charles N. (deceased), Clementina J., Frank W. and Arthur O. Mr. and Mrs. Barber are members of the Congregational Church. He is an active member of the G. A. R. In politics he is a Republican.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ALLEN A. BARBER, merchant, Mantua Station, was born May 1, 1833, in Freedom Township, this county; son of Capt. Harmon andLucena (Daniels) Barber, natives of Ohio. Capt. Harmon Barber, an eccentric citizen, was elected to the command of a company of militia after the war of 1812 and proved himself to be one of the best commanders of the day. He was one of sixteen children, and he himself raised a family, whose names are Calvin, married to Louise, sister of Gen. Leggett, and residing in Iowa; Allen A.; Chester T., married to Ursula Halstead, also in Iowa; Brewster O., died in Garrettsville, Ohio, of disease contracted in the army, during the late war of the Rebellion (he was married to Ann Henry); Polly (deceased). Our subject was married, January 9, 1850, to Helen, daughter of William and Chloe McClintock, by whom he had four children: Fred A., married to Florence Burroughs; Will H.; Frank M. and George A. Mr. Barber for many years has been a member of the firm of Barber & Smith, one of the oldest in Garrettsville or Portage County, and for a long period was senior member of the firm of Barber & Sons, of Mantua. He is a Knight Templar, and W. M. of Mantua Lodge, No. 533, and was the first Odd Fellow initiated in Garrettsville Lodge.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.