George Barber

    George Barber -firm of Barber & Cravens, paper manufacturers, Broadway and Fifth Street, Madison, Indiana - was born in Madison, June 28, 1836, and reared here and attended the city schools. In 1854 he went on the river, learning the business of steamboat piloting from Cincinnati to New Orleans, which business he followed from 1858 to 1873. In the year 1873 he formed a partnership with Mr. Henry C. Watts, for the manufacture of paper, and built the mill in which he is at present making paper, the firm name being Watts & Barber. this firm continued until 1885, when Mr. Charles Cravens bought out Mr. Watt's interest. Since then the firm name has been Barber & Cravens. The mill turns out about 2,400 pounds of paper every twelve hours. They employ seven men, and sell the paper principally in Louisville, St. Louis and Memphis.

    The parents of Mr. Barber were Timothy and Susan (Horton) Barber, and were natives of Connecticut and Ohio, both of them coming to Indiana when quite young. The father died in 1874, at the age of 71 years. His mother is still living.

    Mr. Barber was first married in 1859, to Miss Sallie Fisher, of Madison, Indiana. She died in 1865, leaving two children, one of whom died the next year after its mother; the other, Carrie, is still living, and married to Mr. Charles Friedersdorff, of this city. Mr. Barber was married a second time to Miss Mary Zuck, daughter of Mr. Andrew Zuck, of this city. They have four children: Willie, Nellie, Clay W. and George Cravens. Mr. Barber is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Barber is a good citizen, of quiet, retiring disposition, and well liked by those who know him.

Source: Biographical and Historical Souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington, Indiana. By John M. Gresham & Co., 1889.