George Perry Barber, the eldest son of Samuel Reynolds Barber and his wife Adaline Flake Perry, born 22 August 1834, Georgia, 12 years after his great grandfather's (Captain George Barber) death.
George Perry Barber was to become the genealogist of the George Barber -Margaret Watkins family, with the genealogy he wrote in the 1870s, consisting of less than two sheets of paper.
When George Perry was young, his parents and grandparents moved from Georgia to Tennessee, on to Chambers County, Alabama by 1837, then to Shelby County, Texas.84
The following was written by B. B. Paddock, in his book History of North and West Texas, about George Perry Barber and his son George Patton Barber (page 261).
"George P. (Patton) Barber a representative business man who is engaged in real estate dealing at Mineral Wells, Texas, was born in Johnson County, this state, on the 4th of July 1866, and is the son of Dr. George P. (Perry) and Sallie A. (Smith) Barber. His parents were among the first settlers of Palo Pinto County and few are now residents here who lived within the borders of the county at the time of their arrival. Dr. Barber was born in Georgia, but on coming to Texas took up his abode in Palo Pinto County in the early '50s. A physician by profession, he practised for many years in this county, meeting all the dangers and hardships incident to the life of a pioneer practitioner, called upon to make long drives in a wild, unsettled district, where the Indians frequently made raids against the white men so that no man's life was secure. Dr. Barber participated in numerous fights with the redskins, and in fact, troubles with the Indians continued all during the period of his residence in Palo Pinto County or until 1865, when he was compelled to seek refuge with his family in Johnson County, his life being constantly imperiled. He remained in Johnson county until 1870, when he returned to his home in Palo Pinto county. Frank Baker a friend and neighbor, was killed by the Indians at Dr. Barber's door and other deeds as atrocious were numerous, causing consternation and dread among the settlers who were trying to establish homes on the frontier. During all this time Dr. Barber's home had been at what is known as Barber Mountain, on the Brazos, being about four miles southwest of where Mineral Wells now stands. In 1880 it was discovered that the waters of this region were of medicinal value and Dr. Barber came to Mineral Wells in the year and assisted in founding the town. Later he became extensively interested in local real estate dealings and made his home here. In partnership with the Rev. G.W. Slaugher, the founder of the prominent Slaughter family of Texas, Dr. Barber purchased, laid off into city lots, and developed several additions to Mineral Wells, which are still known as the Slaughter and Barber additions. Dr. Barber died at Mineral Wells August 8, 1888, respected by all who knew him for what he accomplished in the business world and the success he achieved, by the aid of which he rendered others through his professional service and through the part which he took in reclaiming this portion of the state for the use of civilization and wresting it from the domain of the savage.
"Dr. Barber's wife, who is now making her home temporarily in California, is the daughter of Sol Smith, of North Carolina, and she was married in Parker county, to which she had been brought at an early day, coming here with her father's family before either Parker or Palo Pinto counties were organized.
"George P. (Patton) Barber obtained his education in the local schools, learning the printer's trade at Mineral Wells. He afterward went to Seymour, in Baylor county, Texas, where he established the Seymour News, which he conducted for fourteen years. It was a good newspaper, devoted to the general interests of the locality, and received a good patronage, but on account of ill health Mr. Barber disposed of his paper and plant at Seymour and returned to Mineral Wells since which time he has been successfully engaged in the real estate business here. He has laid off and placed on the market the Barber addition, adjoining the town on the north, the growth of the town being in that direction. He is also owner of the George P. Barber well, with its pavilion, and also ships the water to outside towns, selling to the consumer. In addition to his real estate operations he is also a live stock broker, and he handles all kinds of insurance with the best companies.
"Mr. Barber is a prominent member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Mineral Wells. He was married at Albany, Texas, to Miss Sonora Douthitt of Lamar county, Texas, and they have four children: Sarah Velma, George D., Alfred Manning and Myrtle Belle. The parents are prominent in social circles in Mineral Wells and Palo Pinto county, and the hospitality of the best homes is freely accorded them. Mr. Barber has spent his entire life in Texas, is one of its representative business men and his strong characteristics are such as commend him to the respect, confidence and friendship of those with whom he has been associated."
From Frontier Times, February-March 1971 issue, appears an article on Content, Runnels County, Texas.
"The Hudmans (Phineas Watkins Hudman) did not retrieve their stock in Palo Pinto but leased land the first year and made a bountiful cotton crop.
"A new family by the name of Lynch arrived in the fall. (1878?) The health of Mrs. Lynch was very poor. She was placed under the care of a Dr. Barber, a relative of the Hudmans.
"J. W. Lynch dug a well and the water had such a bad taste no one wanted to drink it. At first he hauled drinking water from a distance of several miles, but the water hauling became quite a chore, not only for him but for others. Soon many of the people were drinking from the Lynch well regardless of the taste. Dr. Barber began to notice an amazing change in his patients, especially Mrs. Lynch. She, of course, was drinking from the well more often than the others.
"Dr. Barber began to investigate, to observe and make tests. He concluded that the water possessed helpful medicinal minerals. He discussed his discovery with W. P. (Phineas Watkins) Hudman, and the two of them bought up part of the Lynch land and advertised lots, telling of the medicinal water of the area and of its curative powers. People with illnesses came from far and near. This was the beginning of the famous Crazy Water Wells and the town of Mineral Wells..
"My father and Dr. Barber made money hand over fist" said J.B. Hudman."
Letter from George Douthitt Barber, Grandson of Dr. George Perry Barber, to David W. Morgan, 22 May 1974.
"Dear Sir:
Since I heard from you last, on April 9, (1974), I spent 11 days in the hospital at McKinney, Texas and had surgery for my emphesema on the 24th of April. I have been exceedingly weak, and still am, but I want you to know how much I appreciated your letter and the very interesting information concerning the Barber family. I have been able to find only a few pages my late sister, Velma Barber Dennison, sent me several years before her death.
"However, my cousin, Mrs. H. D. White, daughter of My deceased uncle Saul P. Barber, still lives at 4487 W. 540th S., Kearns, Utah 84118. I believe she might be able to help you some.
"I was born at Seymour, Texas on the 23rd of July 1895. I came here (Mineral Wells) with my parents in 1902 when I was nearly 7. I served as Mayor 1947-1953 (3 two year terms) and again for 18 months, first of May to October 1, 1953 when the new charter, manager-council form of government went into effect. I also served as manager of our local Chamber of Commerce on two different occasions: Sept. 1, 1925-May 1, 1930; and Oct. 1, 1950-July 1, 1953. I also was editor-publisher of two weekly newspapers in this county, The Palo Pinto Star and the Mineral Wells Health Resort.
"If I were physically able, I sure would like to be of help to you; but I doubt if I shall ever be able to."
Thanks, and Good Luck!
George D. Barber
Mr. George D. Barber attended Baylor University.
Dr. George Perry Barber married Sarah Amanda Smith, daughter of Sol Smith, 30 October 1856 in Weatherford, Parker County, Texas, by Z. B. Shirley, a Methodist minister. Their children:85
1. Samuel Byron Barber, born 2 February 1858, Barber Mtn., Texas,
married ____, died 13 February 1929, Wichita Falls, Texas.
A. Byron Barber
B. Bart Barber
C. Daws Barber
2. Saul Perry Barber, born 6 February 1860, Barber Mtn., Palo Pinto
County, Texas, married Lillian May Mundingee 3 February 1909,
Weatherford, Texas. He died 8 September 1954, Phoenix, Arizona,
age 94.
A. Josephine Bernice Barber, born Barber Ranch, near Picacho,
Imperial County, California, married (1) Albert Pizzaro, 1927,
(2) Charlie E. Rice, 12 October 1949. No children.
B. Saul Eugene Barber, born 29 July 1912, Yuma, Arizona, married
Melverta Imogene Ryan 28 November 1936, Las Vegas, Nevada.
a. Willard Eugene Barber, born 8 July 1930, Phoenix, Arizona,
married Bonnie Louisa Evans.
aa. Katie Barber, born 8 September 1969, Michigan.
bb. Susan Alice Barber, born 12 January 1973, Brisbane,
Australia.
b. Jerry Lynne Barber, born 16 November 1943, San Diego, Calif.
married Veronica L. in Honolulu, Hawaii. According
to DNA, Jerry Lynne Barber is an exact match for 12 markers
with Ryan Barbour and Newitt Henry Barbour, who are
descendants of Plyer Barber. For 37 markers, he is two
markers off from James Philip Barber. James is a descendant
of George Barber and Margaret Watkins, through their son
Reese Barber and his wife, Catharine Reynolds.
aa. Anthony Barber
C. Lillian May Barber, born 24 March 1914, Blythe, California, married
Henry Delvin White 18 August 1938. Henry was born 17 April
1908, died 7 May 1968 in Kearns, Utah. Lillian was living in
Kearns, Utah in 1975.
a. Delma Dean White, born 13 April 1942.
b. Marguerite Elaine White, born 29 March 1944.
c. Anna Marie White, born 11 August 1948, Jermone, Yanapai County,
Arizona.
3. Talitha Ann Barber, born 6 December 1862, died 1864.
4. Hittie Layne Barber, born 4 April 1865, died 21 April 1865.
5. George Patton Barber, born 4 July 1866, Burleson, Johnson County,
Texas, died 26 November 1928, married Sonora Douthitt, 5 June 1889
in Albany, Texas. Sonora was the daughter of Jett Presly Douthitt
and his wife Dovey Roseanna Johnson.
A. Burrel Patton Barber, born June 1890, died 9 December 1890.
B. Sarah Velma Barber, born 12 April 1892, Seymour, Texas, married
(1) Conrad Roland Ball, 25 December 1912, Teague, Texas,
(2) Charles Foster Dennison, 19 December 1946, San Diego, Calif.
(3) remarried her first husband after the death of Mr. Dennison,
in 1959. Velma died 21 September 1969, Balboa, California, is
buried Mineral Wells, Texas. Velma was a member of the Daughters
of the American Revolution, NSDAR #415403, through her proof to
Captain George Barber.
a. Conrad Roland Ball, Jr., born 31 December 1914, married
Calrice Andrews 7 March 1942. No children.
b. Rosemary Ball, born 29 October 1916, married (1) Jack Laroom,
2 January 1940, divorced 1953, married (2) E. Gil Mason 8
January 1955.
c. Cynthia Elizabeth Ball, born 31 December 1919, married
Harry Norrill Paine II 27 March 1942.
aa. Christina Ann Paine, born 30 January 1948, Altadena,
California.
bb. Harry Norrill Paine III, born 17 May 1951, Santa Ana, CA.
cc. Merry Hellen Paine, born 22 December 1953, Santa Ana, Ca.
C. George Douthitt Barber, born 23 July 1895, Seymour, Texas,
married Elizabeth Wright 19 April 1922.
a. Dorothy Barber married Ronald Bingham 26 February 1942.
aa. Ronald Barber Bingham
bb. Rhonda Bingham
b. George Wright Barber, born 24 March 1930, died 20 Jan. 1962.
c. Patricia Barber, born 24 June 1931.
d. Jerry Don Barber, born 14 October 1932, married Wilma ____.
D. Alfred Manning Sly Perry Barber, born Seymour, Texas, married
Beulah Genevieve Lunceford, who was born 27 July 1904. Manning
died in 1973.
a. Manning Howard Barber, born 22? June 1932, married Darlene
___
b. Merritt Alfred Barber, born 23? June 1932, married Sally ____
aa. two sons born in Bakersfield, California.
E. Myrtle Bell Barber, born 4 May 1902, Albany, Texas, married (1)
Leonard Lewis Newman 1 November 1933, Altadena, Calif. (2) ____
Miller.
a. Leonard Douthitt Newman, born 30 July 1934, married Rosie
Maddox, 1952, divorced 1954.
F. Mary Love Barber, born 28 September 1907, married (1) Kenneth G.
Coon, Weatherford, Texas, (2) W. E. Smith.
a. Kenneth Douglas Coon married Hortensia Ornelar 21 Sept 194-?
6. John W. Barber, born 16 November 1869, Burleson, Johnson County,
Texas, never married. He died 18 March 1914, Blythe, Ca.
7. Lucian Flake Barber, born 17 May 1872, died 1927, Missouri, married ___
A. adopted daughter
8. Hiram Barber, born 21 May 1875, died 17 August 1876.
9. Sarah Josephine Barber, born 25 November 1877, died ca. 1968, Pasadena,
California, married Walter Glenn Osborn, 23 November 1905-06. He was
born 5 April 1875, Keokuk County, Iowa.
A. Sylva Osborn, born 10 December 1906, Long Beach, Ca., married
August Larson Jr. No children.
B. Faith Osborn, born 11 August 1907, Long Beach Ca., married
Daniel Everett Schilling June 1938. No children.
C. Josephine Osborn, born 1908, Long Beach, Ca. married Sidney
deGrassie of Vancouver, B.C. Canada. She died 1956.
a. John deGrassie, born 21 December 1946, Pasadena, CA, married
Andrea Jill Anderson 31 August 1968, Pasadena. John is a
physicist working in fusion energy research in San Diego.
aa. Andrew John deGrassie, born 01 April 1975, married to
Robin Orr in LaJolla, CA on 15 May 1999
bb. Adrienne Jill deGrassie, born 28 April 1978, married
to Martin Sarkisian in Rancho Santa Fe, CA on 17 July 1999
cc. John Stephen deGrassie, born 28 October 1981.
D. Walter John Osborn, born 16 August 1911, Long Beach CA., married
(1) Bessie ____, (2) Hope Killam 27 April 1944. They live in
Atlanta, GA, 1999. Their child:
a. Candice Ann Osborn, (adopted) born 28 December 1952.
E. Sarah Esther Osborn, born 25 January 1914, Huntington Park, Ca.
was a missionary in India in 1974 (and still is!)
*******
Dr. George Perry Barber wrote a genealogy of the Barber family in the 1870s which has proved to be very accurate. His granddaughter, Mrs. Velma Barber Dennison, typed a copy, and sent to the Georgia Department of Archives and History, Atlanta, Georgia, in 1952.
The GEORGE BARBER (sometimes spelled Barbour) Genealogy is from
the original written by my Grandfather, Dr. George Perry Barber. My
Aunt Josephine Barber Osborn (Mrs. W. G.), 1709 N. Hill Avenue,
Pasadena, California, had the original on November 30, 1940, when I
copied it. She has since mislaid, or hid it, and cannot find it --
Grandpa's writing began at the bottom of the page going upwards.
Being an old paper, and unfamiliar script, some of it was not easily read
-- Aunt Jo, now blind, born Nov. 25, 1877, Barber Mts. Mineral Wells, and
Uncle Saul Perry Barber, born Feb 6, 1860 at Barber Mtn., Mineral Wells,
Texas (Palo Pinto, Co.) are the sole survivors of their immediate family. He
lives in Phoenix, Arizona. They have given me numerous historical facts
and dates on our Barber Line. All the following in quotations is by Grandpa,
Dr. George Perry Barber.
"GEORGE BARBER, born in England, 1727, crossed the water as a
young man. He settled and married in North Carolina prior to the
Revolution. Married Mary Wadkin of Welsh descent, and moved to Georgia,
on Long Creek in Wilkes County, also, prior to the American Revolution.
He entered the Revolution at its opening - in command of a regiment of
Buckskins, against the British. He fought under Washington until Peace
was made. A forefinger was shot off by the Indians after the Revolution,
and one hand and wrist was shot to pieces. he was a Colonel. His brother,
Ply (Plier) married, remained in N. C., no trace of him after the Revolution.
His sons: (meaning GEORGE's)
1. William, survived by a daughter (note cert list Ga. Troops,
page 375, in Ga's Roster of Am. Rev. by Knight - Wm Barber,
Ga. Troops. (Knight Roster written 1920, this note added by
Velma Dennison.)
2. Robert, married Miss Orr.
3. Samuel, a bachelor, adopted 2 children named Sam and Emily.
4. Reece, married a Miss Reynolds, Their 3 sons were Reece,
Spruce and George, all that I can remember.
5. Matthew, married Mrs. James Johnson 2-24-1803. Their sons
were George, and Josiah W. George's 3 sons were Josiah, who
settled in Comanche Co., Texas, Matthew, and George and James.
6. George Jr., born 1786, Clarke County, Ga., died 7-2-1854,
Shelby County, Texas, veteran of War - 1812, married Miss
Betsy Reynolds, (Elizabeth), 5-11-1806, Clarke County,
Georgia. Their children were Samuel Reynolds, Phineas,
Josiah, George C., Nancy, Louisa, Betsy, Phobee, & Margaret
Barber.
7. Josiah
daughters:
8. Sallie Barber married George Reynolds, whose sister Betsy
Reynolds had married George Barber II, making 1st double
cousins. The children of Sallie Barber and George Reynolds
were: Josiah, Ben, and others, the youngest being Watt and
Baskin Reynolds. Watt's daughter Sallie married John
Matthews in Texas, Grandma Barber cooked their infair dinner.
9. Martha Patricia (Patsy) married James Scott. Their children
were Josiah, James, Polly and Mary Scott.
10. Elizabeth (Betsy) Barber married Joe Stiles. Their children
were: Sallie, Nancy, Aggy, and Margaret Stiles.
It appears that Dr. George P. Barber wrote this genealogy between 1866,
when George Patton Barber was born, and 1869, when John W. Barber was
born, Dr. Barber did not name his other children. Some of the dates in
the above was obviously added by Mrs. Dennison, for instance death date
of Dr. barber and his wife.
This page was last updated Wednesday, 08-Oct-2008 21:10:49 MDT
