Chapter 5
Reese Barber
Reese Barber, the fifth son of George and Margaret (Watkins) Barber, was born ca. 1774 in Wilkes County, Georgia.
Reese Barber served in the Indian Wars in Georgia, which took place between the American Revolution and the War of 1812.43
Reese Barber married Catharine Reynolds ca 1805. Catharine was born 1778 in Virginia, the daughter of Spencer Reynolds, and granddaughter of Richard Reynolds, Revlutionary Soldier from Henderson County, Virginia.44
Reese and Catharine (Reynolds) Barber were the parents of eight children. They settled on Trail Creek in Clarke County, Georgia in 1802. The community they settled became known as Barberville, on the edge of Athens, not far from Reese's brother, Robert Barber.
Reese Barber died ca. 1829 in Clarke County, Georgia. His widow Catharine lived there at the home place till about 1845, when she moved with her sons Spencer and Samuel, and daughter Eveline to Sumter County, Georgia.
1830 Census, Clarke County, Georgia Catharine Barber 1 male 5 to 10 years of age (George Barber) 1 male 10 to 15 years of age (Greensby Barber) 1 male 15 to 20 years of age (Spencer Barber) 1 male 15 to 20 years of age (Samuel Barber) 1 male 20 to 30 years of age (Reese Barber Jr) 1 female 5 to 10 years of age (Eveline Barber) 1 female 10 to 15 years of age (daughter) 1 female 20 to 30 years of age (daughter) 1 female 50 to 60 years of age (Catharine Barber)
Tax digests of Clarke County Georgia from 1820 to 1829 show Reese Barber owning 208-235 acres of land on Trail Creek. Beginning 1830 to 1835, this land is owned by Catharine Barber, with her sons Reese Barber, Spencer Barber, and Samuel Barber acting as her agents.
Children of Reese and Catharine (Reynolds) Barber
1. daughter, born ca. 1807, name unknown.
2. Reese Barber, Jr., born 1809, Clarke County Georgia, married Miss
Matilda Lester 24 December 1833, Madison County, Georgia.45 Reese
Barber Jr. was living September 1864, when he signed an affidavit
concerning his son Columbus, who was killed in the Civil War. Reese
also served in the Civil War as a private in Captain Taylor's
Company, Georgia Infantry. (The local defense of Athens)
A. William L. Barber, born 1836, Clarke County, Georgia, served as a
private in Company K, 3rd Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Infantry,
during the Civil War. He was wounded at the Crater, near
Petersburg, Virginia. He was living in Clarke County, Georgia in
1896, when he filed for a pension, which was denied.
B. Columbus A. Barber, born 1838, Clarke County, Georgia, served
as a private in Company K, 3rd Regiment, Georgia Volunteer
Infantry, during the Civil War. He enrolled in the service with
his brother, John R. Barber, on June 10, 1861. They traveled
together to Portsmouth, Virginia, where they were mustered in June
30, 1861. Columbus was wounded 14 May 1864 at the battle of
Spottsylvania, Virginioa, and he died June 2, 1864. Reese Barber,
Jr., signed an affidavit 22 September 1864, stating that he was
the father of Columbus A. Barber deceased. Columbus never married.
C. John R. Barber, born 25 March 1840, Clarke County, Georgia, served
as a private in the same company with his brothers, later became
a corporal. He was wounded at the Crater. He married Terressa
L. C. Pittman, 28 December 1869 in Madison County, Georgia. He
died just before his 84th birthday, on 9 February 1924. His widow
died 25 August 1928. A witness to Mrs. Barber's pension
application was N. P. Barber, relationship not stated
D. Samuel M. Barber, born September, 1842, Clarke County, Georgia,
served as a private in the same company with his brothers. He
enlisted 10 April 1862, was wounded at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania,
2 July 1863, was made a prisoner at Williamsport. He was
exchanged and rejoined his outfit. He surrendered with Robert E.
Lee at Appmattox. He was living in Clarke County in 1920, age
78.46
E. Adolphus Barber, born 1848, Clarke County, Georgia.47
3. Spencer Barber, born 1811, Clarke County, Barber, married Elender
Chambers, who was born 1829 in Georgia. They were living in Sumter
County Ga. in 1850.48
Spencer and Ellender Barber
A. America Barber, born 1848, Sumter County, Georgia.
B. Edward Elbert Prince Barber, born February 1850, Sumter County,
Georgia, married ____.
a. Madison Lafayette Barber, married ____.
aa. _____
aaa. Kathleen Barber, married ___ Thomas, has brothers also.
4. Samuel W. Barber, born 1814, Clarke County, Georgia, married (1) ___,
(2) Sarah Ann Harvey, 20 December 1849, Sumter County, Georgia.
Children of first marriage.49
A. Susan Barber, born 1843, Clarke County, Georgia.
B. Henry Barber, born 1845, Sumter County, Georgia.
C. Sarah Barber, born 1847, Sumter County, Georgia.
5. daughter, born 1816, name unknown.
6. Greensby Wetherford Barber, born 1818, Clarke County, Georgia, married
(1) Frances Barber, 7 January 1838, (2) Sarah Bryant, 1851, (3) Miss
Mary T. Conger, 16 May 1861.50
7. Eveline Barber born 1821, Clarke County, Georgia, married Moses Joiner.
A. Lewis Joiner, born March 1850, Sumter County, Georgia.
8. George Barber, born 1825, Clarke County, Georgia.
**********
1850 Census, Sumter County, Georgia, 29th Dist. October 31, 1850
815
Moses Joiner w m 27 farmer $1,200 North Carolina
Eveline Joiner w f 29 Georgia
Lewis Joiner w m 7/12 Georgia
Catharine Barber w f 72 Virginia
********
Greensby Wetherford Barber
(from Annals of Athens, Georgia, 1906, by A.L. Hull, page 204)
"Greensby W. Barber -- 'Wed' Barber, as he was universally known, was a 'rare' character. I use the word 'rare' advisedly. He was a man of sterling integrity, with more than his share of 'horse sense,' whatever that may mean. He had a keen wit and would perpetrate a joke on his best friend. His house for many years was on the hill beyond the uppper bridge, and he owned all the land between the road and Sandy Creek. He offered his place once as a large tract of bottom land, and when an inquirer, finding that it was mostly poor hillside, asked for an explanation, Mr. Barber replied that all the top had been washed off and thre was noting left but bottom. He believed in sand as a remedy for indigestion. He said that the sand acted mechanically and held the victuals down, the tendency of the food being to rise up and return to the mouth. He declared also that it acted morally; that dyspeptics were 'chickenhearted,' and the remedy put 'sand in the gizzard,' and converted cowardly dyspeptics into the bravest heroes. He said a teaspoonful of sand after each meal ould enable you to digest hickory nuts if you kept it up and would insure peace to every family.
"Mr. Barber was born near the famous 'Barber's Spring' opposite Mr. Linton's and died in Barbersville, in the esteem of the community among whom he had spent his entire life."
*********
Greensby W. Barber, born 1818, Barber's Spring, Clarke County, Georgia, died 1884, Clarke County, married (1) Frances Barber, his first cousin, daughter of Robert Barber, 7 January 1838, Clarke County, Georgia. Their children were
1. Joseph Barber, born 1839, Clarke County, Georgia, died 6 November
1857, Clarke County, Georgia.
2. Mary Barber, born 1841, Clarke County, died 5 October 1857.
3. Sarah Barber, born 1843, Clarke County, Georgia, died 1916, married
(1) ___Dowdy, (2) ____Bolling.
A. son Dowdy.
B. son Dowdy
C. Rev. Hugh Bolling.
4. John S. Barber, born 1845, Cass County, Georgia, served in Lumpkin's
Battery, Palmer's Battalion Georgia Artillery during the Civil War,
married Nora Gray. John was severely wounded in the Civil War at the
Crater near Petersburg, Virginia, his right arm was paralysed, and two
fingers shot off the left hand. He was living 1920, Whtehall, Clarke
County, Georgia.
Greensby's wife, Frances Barber, died about 1846, and Greensby married Sarah Bryant about 1851. Sarah was the daughter of Samuel and Polly (Barber) Bryant, and the granddaugher of Robert and Sarah (Orr) Barber. Their children.51
5. Cornelia (Neely) Barber, born 1854, Clarke County, Georgia. 6. infant baby, died 5 October 1857, Clarke County, Georgia.
Mrs. Sarah Barber Bryant Barber died 7 November 1857, and Greensby married for the third time Miss Mary T. Conger, 16 May 1861 in Clarke County, Georgia. Their Children.
7. Julia Barber, born 1862, Clarke County, married J. T. Brown, 30 October
1883, Clarke County, Georgia. Children:
A. Dr. John Brown
B. Dr. Greensby W. Brown
C. Elizabeth Brown, married Rev. George Telford, Presbyterian
minister.
8. Greensby Wetherford Barber Jr, born 1864, Clarke County, Georgia,
married ________. Children:
A. Genevieve Barber, married Rupert A. Brown.
B. Greensby W. Barber III (Wedford), was assistant postmaster of
Athens, Georgia (retired before 1974)
9. William Barber, born 1866, Clarke County, Georgia, died 1933,
Presbyterian Miniser, never married.
********
Greensby W. Barber enlisted in Company D, Cobb's Legion, Georgia Volunteers, 15 September 1861 at Athens, Georgia, by Captain Thomas Camak, as a corporal. He was discharged, 25 November 1861 for general debility. He soon enlisted in Lipscomb's Volunteeers, where he rose to Lieutenant.
Letter from Mrs. Rupert A. Brown to David W. Morgan March 24, 1974
"I use to be told that the mother of Grensby W. Barber was a Runnels, I do know that his father was Rees Barber, and his mother a Runnels and Rees was son of George and Mary or Margaret Watkins."...
"Grandpa Barber (Greensby W.) lived on a big hill. It was a large tract from the river on thru Barberville on to Trail Creek. A white house. In those days all this was in the country near Athens. Later, he built and moved further out, I lived there about all my life until I married. It really was a beautiful place, both house and surroundings. A shopping center is where the house was. His father Rees lived on or at Trail Creek. I think his son George went to south Georgia. He had a son George who went to the legislature. Robert Barber, brother of Rees, lived on Barber Street (Athens). Miss Mary Franklin, a famous artist, 90 years of age in 1922, told me they were known for their good cooking and that they had many friends who liked to go there, she among them. I remember taking a walk about 1922 out that way when visiting a friend and seeing some grave stones. Grandpa Barber and his first two wives ere buried there. In recent years, we looked in vain for them. Perhaps a road covered them as there are roads and buldings there now or maybe they are covered by dirt and growth or the stones carried away, but they were there, out Barber street back of where colored school (Now integreed) now is.
"Mac Barber of Commerce, Public Service Commisioner, was in the Legislature, is related to me in some way."
Genevieve Barber Brown
*******
Power of Attorny, Spencer Barber to Samuel W. Barber
Georgia )
Clarke County )
Deed Book S. )
Page 205 )
Know all men by these presents that we
Sumter County ) Spencer Barber and Joseph Hodden of the County and
Georgia ) State aforesaid for divers good Causes and consider-
ations an hereunto moving have Ordered and do by
these presents make and Order and appoint Samuel W. Barber of the County
of Sumter in the State of Georgia as our true and lawful attorney for us
and in our name and for our proper use and benefit to assist us in
selling and making a title to a certain peace or tract of land situated
lying and being in the County of Clark in the State of Georgia known and
distinguished as a part of a survey containing two hundred and thirty five
acres which peace or parcel of land was deeded by Robert Billups to Reese
Barber adjoining lands of WIlliam Matthews, Stephen Thomas and Carlton
and others which title of said peace or parcel of land was last conveyed
to Spencer Barber by Catherine Barber lying in the waters of Trail Creek
which parcel of land we hereby authorise the said Samuel Barber to sell and
convey the same by deed or otherwise for us and in our name as if we were
personally present at the selling and delivery of same ratifying and
confirming whatever said Samuel E. Barber our Attorney may lawfully do or
perform in the premises in selling and executing the title, therof. In
Testimony wherof we have hereunto set our hands and seals taken and
acknowledge before June 1845.
Elihn N. Waldrip J. P. Spencer Barber (seal)
Joseph Hodden (seal)
recorded 4 July 1845
Reynolds Family52
Spencer Reynolds, born ca. 1750 in Virginia, was the father of the
following children. He died 1830, Williamson County, Tennessee.
1. Richard C. Reynolds, born ca. 1772, died 1830, Williamson Co.
Tennessee, married Prepare ____. Their son Reuben born 1790 in
Georgia.
2. Green Reynolds, born ca. 1774, Virginia, living 1830.
3. Nancy Reynolds, born ca. 1775, Virginia, married ___Kennerly.
4. George Reynolds, born ca. 1777, Virginia, married Sarah Barber ca
1798. Sarah was the daughter of George and Margaret (Watkins) Barber.
5. Catharine Reynolds, born ca. 1778, Virginia married Reese Barber, ca
1805, Georgia. She was living 1850, Sumter County, Georgia. Reese
was the son of George and Margaret (Watkns) Barber.
6. Matilda Reynolds married John Durham, 21 October 1810, Clarke Co. Ga.
7. Reuben Reynolds, born 1784, married Eliza Jane Gillespie, settled
in Marshall County, Tennessee.
8. Coleman Reynolds, born 1785, Virginia, married Betsy Durham, 24
November 1809, Clarke County, Ga. settled in Walton Co. Georgia.
9. Elizabeth Reynolds, born 1789, Wilkes County, Georgia, married George
Barber Jr., 1806, Clarke County, Georgia. She was living in 1860
in Nacogdoches County, Texas. George was the son of George and
Margaret (Watkins) Barber.
10. William C. Reynolds, married _____, settled in Columbia, Tennessee.
11. Phoebe Reynolds married Thomas Smith.
12. Spencer Reynolds, born 1800, married (1) _____, (2) Mary Davis, 31
October 1844, settled Wiliamson County, Tennessee.
**********
Will of Spencer Reynolds
Williamson County )
Tennessee ) In the name of God Amen, the twentieth day
Record of Wills ) of May Eighteen hundred and twenty six. I Spencer
and Inventory ) Reynolds, in the County of Williamson, and State
July Session 1830 ) of Tennessee being much indisposed and weak in body,
page 561 ) but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given to
God therefore, and calling to mind the mortality of
my body, knowing that it is appointed for all men and to die, do make and
ordain this my last will and testament. That is to say, principally and
first of all, I recommend my Soul to God, who gave it, and my body to
return to its mother earth: and as touching such worldly estate, where
with it hath pleased God to bless me, in this life, I give devise and
dispose of the same in the following manner and form. It is my will and
I order that all my just debts, general charges, be paid. Item I give
and bequeath to my beloved son Richard C. Reynolds, heirs Ten dollars to
be paid in twelve months after my death. I also will and ordain that all
of property of every kind be sold and the money equally divided between
my beloved children as follows, to wit: Green Reynolds, Nanchy Kennerly,
George Reynolds, Catharine Barber, Spencer Reynolds, Coleman Reynolds,
Elizabeth Barber, Reuben Reynolds, Matilda Durham. And I do likewise
constitute make and ordain my sons Spencer Reynolds and my son Reuben
Reynolds, Executors of this my last will and testament, wholly and solly,
and I do hereby disallow, revoke and disannul all and every other will
and testament, bequested and execution by me at any time before named,
will or bequeath, ratifying this and no other to be my last will and
testament.
Spencer Reynolds (seal)
signed, sealed in presents )
of us )
Thomas Wilson )
Robert Wilson )
proved July Session 1830
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