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 ILLIAM M. BARR, deceased, was a native of Loudoun County, Va., born Aug. 17, 1829, and was the son of Lot and Nancy Ann (Chin) Barr. His parents removed from the Old Dominion to Janesville, Ohio, when he was but six months old.William M. Barr was a painter by trade and followed his occupation in Ohio until his removal therefrom, in the spring of 1850. Then, accompanied by two brothers, he migrated to Terre Haute, Ind., where he worked at his trade successfully for a number of years. There also he met and married Miss Sarah Ann, youngest child of Enoch and Harriet (Dexter) Dole, who settled in Terre Haute at a very early day. The young people continued their residence in that city, and there the death of William M. Barr occurred May 11, 1876. During the progress of the late war Mr. Barr enlisted in Co. I, 16th Ind. Vol. Inf., serving until the close and being promoted Orderly Sergeant. In 1863 he was mounted at New Orleans and from that time on served in the Mounted Infantry. He passed through the Vicksburg and Red River campaigns, escaping injury although participating in some of the hardest fought battles of those campaigns. After the surrender of the confederate army he was mustered out with his comrades, and returning to Terre Haute took tip his trade again and remained a resident of that city until his death. He was Republican in politics but took no part in public affairs, otherwise than to perform the duties of an American citizen at the polls. Mrs. Barr, after the death of her husband, came to Illinois and purchased 120 acres of improved land in Mattoon Township, this county, upon which she located, with her family of nine children. These were Charles H., Joseph L., Harriett A., Frank D., Fannie M., Chattie D., Sarah, Carrie G. and Edith W. All are living and are at home with their mother. Her three sons, who are carrying on the farm, are principally engaged in grain-raising. The homestead thus built up is one of the most comfortable in Mattoon Township, and the family are held in the highest respect. Both Mr. and Mrs. Barr identified- themselves with the Universalist Church years ago. |
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