BARRET, R. A., DR.

BARRET, TREAT, HARDING, FINNEY, FARER, ALEXANDER

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 1/31/2025 at 23:46:45

BURLINGTON CITY.
(P. O. BURLINGTON)

BARRET, R. A., DR., was born in Green Co., Ky., June 22, 1835, and spent his early youth in Illinois, principally at Springfield. At this time, Mr. Barret's father, Richard F. Barret, was Fund Commissioner of the State of Illinois. The elder Barret was a heavy land-owner in Illinois and Iowa. Dr. Barret was a pupil in Judge Samuel Treat's private school at St. Louis, Mo.; he also attended the St. Louis University, and was privately instructed by Chester Harding, who, in 1849, accompanied him East, where he was, by the latter, placed in Phillips Exeter Academy, in New Hampshire; there remained three years preparing for college, which he commenced in 1852; the degree of M. D. was conferred upon him in 1854, and that of Master of Arts in 1856. In the latter year, he went to Europe and graduated at Heidelberg University, where he received the degree of PhD.; for a time, he acted as Secretary of Legation to Mason (of Mason & Slidell notoriety), who was then Minister from the United States to France, and located at Paris. At the expiration of his sojourn of three years in Europe he returned to St. Louis; there he studied law with his uncle, Aylett Buckner; was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1859, and became his uncle's partner. In 1861, he was appointed Attorney for the United States Government, and installed in the office of Gen. B. G. Farar, General Supervisor of confiscated and contraband property, remaining until June, 1864, at which time he was transferred to the office of Gen. E. B. Alexander, Provost Marshal General United States, for that District, acting as his Chief Clerk and Private Secretary until April, 1866 ; then Dr. Barret came to Burlington to settle up the estate of his father; in August, 1867. he purchased the Burlington Gazette, which paper he edited and managed until 1869; from 1869 to 1872, he was editor-in-chief of the St. Louis Dispatch; in 1874, he was commercial and city editor of the St. Louis Times ; subsequently, private secretary to his brother, then Mayor of St. Louis. After his brother's death in April, 1875, he continued in his former position of Secretary to James H. Britton, Mayor, until the spring of 1876. From April until December, 1877, he conducted the Barret House. Mr. Barret married Miss Mary Finney, daughter of the late William Finney, one of the earliest settlers and most prominent citizens of St. Louis. Of late years, the subject of our sketch has been principally engaged in the practice of law in St. Louis, spending, however, much of his time in Burlington, in the attention of his property.

Source: BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY IOWA
CHICAGO: WESTERN HISTORICAL COMPANY, 1879

Transcription typed/proofed as article was originally published in 1879