JOHN S. BARR is a leading representative of a well known family of Somerset township, Washington county, and an enterprising, successful and popular citizen of Canonsburg, serving his township and county in many ways, in addition to his usual duties as private citizen. His grandfather, John Barr, was a native of County Derry, Ireland, born in 1757, and died in 1838. He was married to a Miss Dickey, to whom were born the following children: William, John, Robert, Archie (who died at the age of twelve years), Margaret (wife of Robert Pattison) and Mary (wife of Andrew Jackson). In 1816 Mr. Barr and family emigrated to America, and after a six weeks' voyage landed at Philadelphia, finally coming to Somerset township, Washington Co., Penn., where he purchased a farm, making thereon a permanent home, where he died in 1838. He was a member of the Seceder Church of Peters Creek, and on the organization of a new congregation of the same denomination called Pigeon Creek, nearer his home, united with it, serving many years as elder. William Barr was born, in 1797, in County Derry, Ireland, and his youth was passed in his native land, where he was educated, becoming specially expert as a mathematician. In 1816 he came with his parents to America, and in 1826 was united in marriage with Mary, daughter of Hugh Boyd. Mr. Boyd and family, consisting of five children, came to America in 1824: Robert, Wilson (who preceded the rest of the family five years), Mary, Margaret and Bankhead. Both grandparents were elders in the same church in Ireland, and both elders in the same congregations Peters Creek and Pigeon Creek in America. After his marriage William settled on a farm where his life was passed and children born to him as follows: John S. (of whom a sketch is given below); Hugh and Eliza (Mrs. A. D. Williamson), living near Xenia, Ohio; Margaret (wife of James H. Dickey); William W.; Bankhead Boyd; Mary (married to W. G. Garrett), aud Martha Jane (deceased wife of William Berry). William Wilson Barr graduated at Canonsburg in 1856, studied theology at Xenia, Ohio; was called, accepted, and took charge in 1859 of the Eighth United Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, of which he is still pastor; Bankhead enlisted as a soldier, in 1862, in Company G, One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers; was wounded at the Wilderness, and died at Alexandria, Va., his remains being brought home and interred in Home cemetery. The father of this family was known as one who always acted from principle, and did what he conscientiously thought was right. He was for many years identified with the Seceder Church of Pigeon Creek (now United Presbyterian), in which he was a ruling elder, and for many years led its praise service. He died in 1838, being followed by his life companion in 1876. John Scott Barr was born January 26, 1827, in Somerset township, this county, passing his early life at home. Receiving but a limited education (such as the winter schools at that time afforded), he has supplemented it by an extensive course of reading. On November 25, 1851 (Thanksgiving day), he embarked on the matrimonial sea in company with Mary, daughter of James Gibson, a well-known citizen of Washington county. Two children were born to this union, the first dying in infancy. The mother died March 12, 1855, leaving an infant daughter of three weeks, who was given her mother's name, and is the wife of Rev. J. M. Duncan of the United Presbyterian Church at Richmond, Ohio. On January 26, 1865, John S. Barr was married to Mary S. Pattison, of Indiana, Penn., to whom three children were born, viz.: William Wilson (deceased), Archie John S. (deceased) and Martha Jane (wife of Rev. W. F. Weir, a Presbyterian minister of Toronto, Ohio). After the death of his father, which took place when he was less than twelve years of age, Mr. Barr took the principal management of his father's farm, consisting of 110 acres, one payment to pay on that; but by hard work and economy, and with the aid of a good mother and the gracious favor of Almighty God, was added to the home place over 200 acres more. The careful and attentive habits of his youth have attended his maturer years, and have secured for him a comfortable home. His instinctive uprightness in his dealings with his fellow- men, charity for the worthy poor, and generous support of all measures tending to promote the interests of Church and State, mark him as a man worthy of the esteem and confidence in which he is held by his friends and neighbors. In politics the subject of this sketch was first a Whig, then a Republican, and has held various township offices, serving six terms as school director, and in 1872 was elected commissioner of Washington county, which office he filled very acceptably. In response to Gov. Curtin's call for men to repel Lee's invasion of Maryland, he enlisted in a company at Canonsburg, which became part of the Sixteenth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and equipped at Harrisburg, carried by rail to Hagerstown and then marched toward Antietam expecting to get to the battle field that evening; but night came on, and they encamped in a nice piece of woods by the roadside, struck their tents and put out pickets. About dusk word came that they would be attacked by Imboden's Rebel cavalry that night; a vote was taken whether they would retreat or stand their ground, and the result was that they should stay. Every gun was loaded, and about 9 o'clock the commissary wagon drove up and a number of shots were fired into it; the mistake was soon discovered, no one was hurt, and no "rebs" came. After Lee's retreat into Virginia, they were disbanded and sent home. In May, 1889, he was appointed a manager of the State Reform School at Morganza, for four years, by Governor Beaver. Here from 300 to 400 boys and about 100 girls are educated and taught some useful trades. In June, 1891, when the Citizens' Bank of Canonsburg was organized, he was elected one of its directors. When sixteen years of age he united with the then Seceder Church of Pigeon Creek (now United Presbyterian) and was always an earnest worker, seeking her peace and prosperity. He was chosen an elder when thirty-five years of age, thus holding the place of father and grandfather. In April, 1888, he and his wife and family removed to their residence in Canonsburg, and united with the U. P. Chartiers Church of that town.

Text taken from page 242 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed April 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published April 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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