E.L. Barber

            E.L. BARBER was born in Genesee County, N.Y., August 28, 1831, and came with his parents to this county (Whitley, Richland Twp., IN) at the age of eight. Being not over-strong, his early days were spent in catching small game and keeping depredatory birds and animals away from the crops on his father’s farm. After a visit to a step-sister for a couple of years, he went to Miami County, Ohio, to live with Dr. E.H. Sutton, as a student of medicine, and worked for his board, and did odd jobs to supply himself with clothing. Here he stopped three years, and the last winter taught school. In the spring, he passed some time in the dissecting room, and then attended private school at Fort Wayne the rest of the summer. On his return home, he taught geography from outline maps; then made a trip to New York, taught geography again on his return, and then took a third interest in a dry goods store in Larwill.

     In 1852, he organized a company and started overland for California, and there remained seven years, engaged in mining most of the time. In 1859, he returned home to take care of a brother very low with consumption. The following spring, he began selling goods from a wagon, and in 1861 started as a general dealer in the town then known as Huntsville. He did business for some time in Etna, and then sold his store building and removed his stock to present place, where he is continuing the same trade. During his residence in Larwill, he served as Postmaster seven years.

    He was married, in 1868, to Rachel Jameson, and became the father of five children –one daughter and three sons of whom are now living.

Source: Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana. Weston A. Goodspeed and Charles Blanchard, 1882. Page 309.