1890 Portrait & Bio Album of Green Lake, Marquette & Waushara Counties Benjamin A. Barr
BENJAMIN A. BARR, a prominent business man of Pine River, Waushara County, is a native of Ohio. He ws born in Mt. Gilead, the present county seat of Morrow County, on the 14th of January, 1835, and is of Holland and English extraction. His father, Michael D. Barr, was born near Millersburg in Holmes County, Ohio, Nov. 17, 1809, and throughout his entire life followed the wagon maker's trade. His original ancestors came to this country from Holland, and were among the early settlers of Pennsylvania. Mr. Barr married Sarah E. Thornburg, who was born in Ohio, in 1812, and is a daughter of William Thornburg. Both her parents were natives of Ireland. Seven children, four sons and three daughters, were born of their union: Susan, Alfred, Benjamin A., Nancy Ann, William, Barbara, and Henry Harrison. Mr. Barr died April 22, 1845. In political sentiment he was a Whig.
The subject of this sketch remained in Morrow County, Ohio, with his parents until he had almost attained his majority. He remained at home with his mother, mostly working as a farm hand, until seventeen years of age, when he began learning the cabinet maker's trade with Clinton Peck, of Westfield, Ohio, serving an apprenticeship of two years. He then engaged in job work for about six months, after which he came to Pine River, the date of his arrival being May 17, 1855. The whole country round was but sparsely settled, and but a few buildings marked the site of the present village. During the first summer succeeding his arrival, Mr. Barr woked at his trade for Samuel Cook, and in the following autumn was employed by the day as a carpenter for two or three months.
One of the most important events of his life occurred about this time. On Christmas Day of that year, he wedded Miss Caroline McClead, who was born near Westfield, Ohio, September 4, 1837, and there resided until she grew to womanhood, when with her parents, she settled on a farm three-quarters of a mile southwest of Pine River. She was one of nine children, and the daughter of Ira and Louisa (Wood) McClead, natives of Morrow County, Ohio. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Barr: Ellsworth, born Nov. 22, 1856, in the village of Pine River, married Maggie Dudley, and resides on a farm two miles west of the village; Charles, born in Pine River, June 25, 1858, wedded Ella Bartram, and was killed while at work in a sawmill, March 9, 1888. His wife who survives him, resides with her parents in Waupaca County. Four children were born of their union, but one died in infancy. Carrie B., the next of the family, who was born Nov. 2, 1863, is a teacher in the high school of Berlin; Nettie, born Jan. 8, 1865, is teaching school in Saxeville; Benjamin A. Jr., is still at home; Frankie, born Oct. 12, 1880, died Feb. 20, 1886.
Immediately after his marriage, Mr. Barr removed to the village of Auroraville and engaged in cabinet making, working for a short ime for Matthew Bros. His next employer was George Heald, with whom he remained until May 21, 1856, making bedsteads and doing general cabinet work. In May, 1856, he removed to Centerville, and worked for Mr. Barnard for a short time, after which he entered the employ of Aaron Kelly, working as a carpenter and joiner during the remainder of the summer. In the following fall he purchased a hoouse and lot in Pine River, where he has since made his home. During the summer he was employed by various persons at carpentering and cabinet making until 1873, when he purchased the Dolittle House, formerly known as the Frisbie House, which he carried on for a period of ten years. In 1880, he built the Barr & Frisbie Hall, which is used as a place of public entertainment. In 1883, he built the store room which he now occupies, since which time he has been engaged in the general merchandise business and has been quite successful in that line. It will have been seen that Mr. Barr has been prominently connected with the upbuilding of Pine River and the promotion of the public interests, and is now one of the leading merchants of the village. He also owns a good farm of seventy acres adjoining the corporation limits. He is truly a self made man. Starting in life a poor boy with only a common school education, during his first year of apprenticeship he received only the meager sum of $5 per month, and the next year his wages were increased $1. Later he accumulated $84 as the result of his industry and perserverance, and with that amount started for the West with a party of fifty-three persons. They journeyed across a wild country in wagons, sleeping twenty four night on the ground. He made his first purchase of land, a tract of eighty acres situated five miles north of Pine River, in 1855, at a cost of $199, but several years later sold for $540. Mr. Barr was a Republican until 1884, since time he has voted with the Democratic party. He was a member of the Board of Supervisors for two years, and socially is a member of the I.O.G.T., of which he has been Chief Templar for several years. His wife has long been a member of the Congregational Church, and both are held in high regard throughout the community, being numbered among the best citizens of Waushara County.
