ROBERT T. BARBOUR, a retired farmer of Hanover township, is a native of Jefferson township, this county, and a grandson of Abraham Barbour, who was the first member of this family to locate in Washington county. Abraham Barbour was born of English parents in 1775, in New Jersey, and was there married to Jane Moore, a native of that State, whose parents were also of English extraction. Soon after their marriage this young couple, with Mr. Moore and family, started to seek a home in western Pennsylvania. The party came together across the mountains in a large, six horse wagon, which contained the passengers and their entire stock of worldly goods. When coming down hill, in the absence of a lock, the men would cut down a small tree, attaching it to the rear end of the vehicle to drag on the ground and hold back the wagon. Other teams having adopted the same scheme, huge piles of such material were soon collected at the foot of the steep hills. On arriving at Westmoreland county, Penn., William Moore and his family concluded to remain there, and made a location in that vicinity, but Abraham Barbour and his bride went farther west, locating in the territory then called Cross Creek township, but which is now Jefferson township. Here he bought a farm by making a small cash payment, and in order to pay the amount of his indebtedness then began the traffic of packing salt over the mountains, bringing it from Winchester, Va. He would start with his two or three horses and so many sacks of feed, leaving the grain at various places along the road, and on the return trip would feed his horses at the same places. This business proved a profitable one, for he was soon freed from debt, and devoted the remainder of his life to "tilling the virgin soil." In politics he was a Democrat, and was one of the highly respected citizens of Jefferson township. He died in 1858, and his wife passed away in 1859. The children of this family were born as follows: Cornelius, a deceased farmer of Knox county, Ohio; a daughter, died in early youth; John, whose sketch follows, Jane, deceased wife of George Stewart, of Knox county, Ohio; Eleanor, widow of William Allen, is living in Knox county, Ohio, and Abraham (a farmer of Knox county, Ohio). John Barbour was born in 1800, in Jefferson township, having been reared to manhood on the home farm and educated in the rude schools of the period. In 1824 he was married to Elizabeth Moore, who was born in 1803 in Muskingum county, Ohio, a daughter of John Moore. The following children were born to the union of John and Elizabeth Barbour: John M., a farmer of Jefferson township; Cornelius, a farmer of Hanover township; Sarah J., Mrs. T. M. Patterson, of Patterson's Mills; Robert T., the subject of this sketch; Abraham, a farmer of Jefferson township, and Fanny M., a maiden lady of Jefferson township. The parents passed their first years of wedded life in an old log cabin in Jefferson township, this building being afterward supplanted by a comfortable dwelling. He was a successful farmer, and in politics a lifelong Democrat, having held several offices in Jefferson township. His death occurred June 30, 1873, and February 19, 1892, his wife was laid by his side in Cross Creek cemetery. Robert T. Barbour was born January 14, 1829, in Jefferson township. He grew to manhood on the farm, and was educated in the rate schools. He married Mary E. West, April 27, 1853. She was born May 18, 1838, in Harrison county, Ohio. Her mother dying when Mary was an infant, she was reared to womanhood by an aunt, Eleanor Hill, of Paris, Penn. To this union the following children were born: Elizabeth E., widow of Stephen Peabody; Fanny M., living at home; Sarah J., residing with her parents; William M., agent and operator at Dinsmore Station, P. C. C. & St. L. Ry.; Maggie V., Leona and Halbert, the latter three living at home. After his marriage Robert T. Barbour located in Hanover township, and soon afterward moved to McLean county, Ill., remaining there until 1859, when he returned to Hanover township, and has since been engaged in general farming and stock raising. In 1885 Mr. Barbour was seized with rheumatism, and this unwelcome companion has clung to him so tenaciously that he has been obliged to almost retire from active farm work. Mr. Barbour is gifted with a good memory. He is a pleasant and agreeable companion, a good neighbor and valued citizen. In politics he has been a lifelong Democrat.

Text taken from page 524 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed May 1997 by George & Mary Ann Plance of Gainesville, FL as part of the Beers Project. Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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