Ingham County Biographical Sketches



J. T. Barber


Among the early settlers in the Township of Waterloo, Jackson county, Mich., was Mr. John Barber and his wife, Caroline. He came direct from the Emerald Isle. Mrs. Barber was a native of New York state. Mr. Barber was born in 1801. They were the parents of twelve children, and the subject, Jackson T. Barber, was one of the number. He was born on September 7, 1848, at Waterloo, Jackson, county, Mich. The elder Barber was but a young man upon his arrival to this country, but he brought with him pluck and stick-to-itiveness, essential elements of success. He began clearing up his farm, and with but limited means and an increasing family, as the years went by, but they were hardly pioneers and equal to the emergency, adapting themselves to existing circumstances won out, and each year added to the comforts of living.

Jackson T. Barber started out for himself at the age of twenty-two years in Henrietta township, near the place of his birth. Borrowing $1,000.00 from his father, he purchased a piece of land, made some improvements, and seven years later sold out, and bought sixty acres on section thirty-six, Township of Vevay, which has since been the home of his family. To this he has added, as he has prospered, until today his farm embraces one hundred forty acres, well improved and stocked; good farm buildings, and is financially on "Easy Street."

On November 10, 1872, Mr. Barber was married to Gustina, daughter of Patrick Ryan, an old respected resident of Jackson county. When but a young man, Mrs. Barber's father, Patrick Ryan came from Ireland. His wife's maiden name was Catherine Quinn. They were the parents of eleven children, three of whom are still living.

When the family are all at home, and gathered about the frugal board nine pairs of feet including the parents' are under the table: Edith, born October 18, 1874, wife of Thomas Barr; Maud, born September 10, 1875, at home with her parents; Ruby, born June 17, 1878, a public school teacher, in Glasston, N. Dak.; Gustina, born September 30, 1880, also teaching; William, born July 6, 1882, graduated from Mason high school and later spent a year at Olivet College; Catherine, born November 11, 1886, graduated from Mason high school in June, 1904, Caroline, born March 24, 1895.

Mr. Barber has patronized the Mason high school continously for the past thirteen years; no less than six children having at various times been attendance, and five have already graduated with honor. All seem to have desired to be well educated, and have been helped and encouraged by their parents. Mr. Barber, while farming for a business, has dealth in stock "on the side" and has annually added to his exchequer by so doing. His dealings in this line amount to several thousand dollars yearly. He is known as a good feeder of both cattle and sheep. As a buyer, he is a favorite among the farmers for miles around, and the farmer who has something good can usually deal with Mr. Barber. Bearing the sirname of "Old Hickory" and being "to the manor born" he could not well be otherwise than a pronounced Democrat. Mr. Barber has no liking for office, as he is a busy man with his own personal affairs. Genial, warm hearted, generous and frank, make him a most desirable friend and neighbor.

Mr. and Mrs. Barber are members of the M. E. society, and the family are regular attendants and supporters of the church. Mr. Barber is a Master Mason, and also a member of the fraternal order of the Maccabees.

If a man who causes two blades of grass to grow whre but one grew before, is a benefactor to the race, then Mr. Barger may rightly line up in this class.

Mr. Barber cheerfully yields space in this brief biographical sketch to record the names and date of birth of his four grand-children -- children of his eldest daughter, Mrs. Thomas Barr, as follows: J. T., born March 17, 1895; Emery D., born October 30, 1897; L. B., born July 8, 1899; Muriel Evelyn, born December 5, 1903.






Taken from:
"Past and Present of the City of Lansing and Ingham County, Michigan", by Albert E. Cowles.
Published by The Michigan Historical Publishing Association Lansing, MICH., 1905.
Pages 544-545




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