LEWIS T. BARRY, a prominent and esteemed citizen of Mount Sterling, Illinois, was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, on a farm four miles northeast of La Fayette, September 29, 1827.
His parents were John and Priscilla (Richards) Barry, the former a native of Pennsylvania. His father removed to Ohio in an early day, where he married his first wife, and continued to reside in Scioto valley, that State, until her death. He then removed to Kentucky, where he was again married, his second wife being the widow of Mr. Reynolds and became the mother of the subject of this sketch. About 1826, he and his wife removed to Indiana, at that time the frontier of civilization. They were pioneers of Tippecanoe county, that State, where the Indians were then more numerous than the whites. The father here secured a large tract of Government land and built a log house, in the construction of which no sawed lumber was used. The floor was of puncheon and the roof was covered with rived boards, held in place by weight poles, while the chimney was made of earth and sticks, called in those days a "cat-and-stick chimney." Both parents resided here until their death, the mother expiring in 1830 and his father in 1836. They both enjoyed the universal esteem of their community and were widely and sincerely lamented.
Thus the subject of this sketch was left an orphan at the tender age of nine years, and early became self-supporting. He attended a pioneer subscription school which was taught in a log house, the furniture being of the most primitive kind. Rough slabs, supported by wooden pins for legs, formed the seats, which had neither backs nor desks; holes burned in the wall, on which a plank was laid, served as a desk for larger scholars to write on. The country was without railroads or canals for many years, and La Fayette was the nearest market. People used to team wheat to Chicago, a distance of about 150 miles. He thus continued to live on the home farm and attended school until he attained the age of eighteen years. He then commenced to clerk in Carroll county, Indiana, where he remained for about five years. After this, he engaged in tanning and the manufacture of boots, shoes and harness, at which business he continued four years. At the end of this time, he sold out, and for a couple of years served as Deputy County Auditor, after which he did bookkeeping in Delphi, Carroll county. In 1861, he came to Mount Sterling, where he engaged in the boot and shoe business, besides which, for some years, he made harnesses and saddles. He is still engaged in the boot and shoe trade, and is the only exclusive dealer in that line in the city, being one of the few successful merchants of the place.
He was married in Delphi, Indiana, in 1850, to Ann L. Richardson, an estimable lady, a native of Carroll county, that State, and a daughter of John Richardson, a highly respected citizen. To this union five children were born, all living: A. Priscilla, wife of E. W. Reid, a prosperous resident of Los Angeles, California; Ellen E., wife of Isaiah Price, living in Springfield; Kate L., wife of William Mumford, of Pittsfield, who have one son, named Barry; John H. and Bert.
Mr. Barry is a member of Hardin Lodge, No. 44, A.F.&A.M., and in politics supports the issues of the Democratic party.
Whatever success Mr. Barry has achieved in life has not been acquired without effort, as might be inferred. On the contrary, his prosperity and popularity is directly traceable to his unremitting energy and careful supervision of all the details of his various occupations, and to his uniform integrity and courtesy, thus deservedly attaining success and esteem.