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1907 Past and Present Biographies

Scott Barber

Scott Barber was born in Rutland county, Vermont, December 5, 1837. His grandfather, Russell Barber, was with Putnam on his famous march to Ticonderoga. The father, Jervis Barber. was a native of Connecticut and became a well known farmer of Middletown, Vermont. His wife was Susan Humphrey, born in Connecticut.

Scott Barber was educated in the common schools, supplementing his early advantages by a course in the academy at Wyoming, New York. When the Civil war broke out he enlisted at East Bloomfield, New York, in Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth New York Infantry, on August 12, 1862, and served bravely and well until May 27, 1865. That he was more than an ordinary soldier is evidenced by the fact that he served as corporal and as sergeant. He was always in the thickest of the fight and took part in the battles of Maryland Heights, Harper’s Ferry. Gettysburg, and was wounded at Auburn Ford.

At the close of the war Mr. Barber returned to New York state and in October, 1865, removed to Greene county. Iowa. Here he made use of his early education by teaching a school for two terms. With the money that he saved he purchased forty acres of rough prairie land on section 17. Kendrick township. This was a primitive time in the history of our country and Mr. Barber erected the characteristic log hut, which served him for a dwelling for many years. Living in this simple way, he was supremely happy and had all that was necessary. On all of his land he was obliged to put much hard labor and all of his time, but so persistent was he in his efforts that he brought the farm to so high a state of cultivation that it yielded abundant crops. He also became interested in stock-raising. He is still the owner of his original forty acre tract and has other property, owning one hundred and sixty acres in one body in Kendrick township.

In 1874 Mr. Barber removed to Scranton and for twelve years was engaged in merchandising with his brother. At the end of that time he traded his interest in the store for seventy-two acres of land on section 2, Scranton township, and here he has set out and brought to its present state a fine orchard. Part of the land he makes use of as a pasture. He owns a beautiful home in Scranton, where he is always ready to welcome his many friends.

In 1866, Mr. Barber was married in Kendrick township to Mary F. Miller, a native of Indiana, whose memory carries her back to pioneer days. It is diflicult for us, as we spin across the continent in a few hours in our comfortable palace coaches, to realize the trip that Mrs. Barber made with her father, Dr. James
P. Miller, in 1855. The entire family with their household goods came across country by means of ox teams, cows and ponies and settled on section 16, Kendrick township, where Mr. Miller spent his remaining days. He was a native of Maryland, where he was born Decemher 3, 1809, and he passed away September 21, 1881. During his entire life he was a successful medical practitioner, riding over the country on his horse when the weather was so cold that at times he nearly perished. His life partner and partaker of both his joys and his hardships in this primitive country bore the maiden name of Rachel Lane and was born on the ocean when her parents were coming from England, Jauuarv 8. 1809. She passed awav March 12, 1895. They were the parents of ten children,
of whom five died when young. When the family came to this state things were still in a primitive condition and they did all of their trading in Des Moines, being obliged to go there for their mail as well as to market their crops.

Mrs. Barber was first married to John Pyle, who died in 1866, leaving her with four children: Nancy J., the wife of Albert Jenks; Rachel 15., who married George Rosey; Florence E., the wife of P. N. Williams; and Floyd M. By her marriage to Mr. Barber she has had three children: Susan E., the wife of J. A. Sexton; Jervis, who died in 1886; and Bussell R.

Mr. Barber has always been an active republican and served his party as township trustee for several years, and at one time he was a member of the council. He has always been ready to assist in the advancement of educational advantages in his community and was an efficient member of the school board. In religion he is afliliated with the Baptist church and maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in N. H. Powers post, No. 111. of Scranton. His character and ability have brought him to the front in spite of all the obstacles that may have come in his way. Both as a boy and a man he has been buffetted by fortune and obstacles, but his perseverance has cleared them away and he has moved on to success.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead,"
by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver,
Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

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