BARBER
Thomas Barber, immigrant ancestor of the Barbers of Clinton county, arrived from England in the ship "Christian" in 1635, going first to Dorchester, Mass. His age is given in the records as twenty-one years. He served in the Pequot war, the first struggle between the colonists and the savages of New England, and instead of returning to Mass., he settled in Windsor, Conn.
(II) Lieutenant Thomas (2) son of Thomas (1) Barber, was born in Windsor, July 14, 1644. He married, in December, 1665, Mary, daughter of the first William Phelps, and subsequently moved from Windsor to Simsbury. His children were:
Mary, Sarah, Thomas. The daughters were born in Windsor.
(III) Thomas (3), son of Lieut. Thomas (2) Barber, was born in Simsbury, Conn., in 1701. He settled in Windsor. He married Abigail Buel and has three children.
(IV) Lieutenant Thomas (4) son of Thomas (3) Barber, was born in Windsor, Jan. 19, 1700-01. He married Mary Case.
(V) Daniel, son of Lieut. Thomas (4) Barber, was born in Windsor, Feb. 16, 1732-33. He married, July 15, 1755, Martha Phelps; they had a son Roswell and probably other children.
(VI) Roswell, son of Daniel and Martha (Phelps) Barber, was born in Windsor, in August, 1770. In early manood he went to Clinton county, N.Y., and purchasing a farm in Beekmantown he settled there as a pioneer, becomign a successful farmer. He was twice married and the maiden surname of his first wife was Howe. His second wife, whom he married Nov. 16, 1823, was Philanda Ransom, born at Shelburne Falls, Mass., April 30, 1783, daughter of Elisha Ransom, who is again referred to.
Children:
Roswell, Oscar, Alonzo, Alanson, Chloe, Esther Ransom who was the only child of his second marriage.
None of the children are now living. [1910].
(VII) Roswell Oscar, son of Roswell Barber, was born in Beekmantown, Dec. 22, 1814, died in Plattsburgh, June 6, 1898. When a young man he engaged in tilling the soil, and being naturally industrious and thrifty he made general farming a very profitable occupation. In 1860 he relinquished agriculture and entered the grocery business at Plattsburgh as a member of the firm Morgan & Barber. Two years later the firm was reorganized by the admission to partnership of his two sons, Charles O. and George Edward, and the new concern, under the firm name of R. O. Barber & Sons. In 1867 they hadded dry goods, which has since been their principal business. His untiring energy and sterling integrity, which so largesly contributed to his success as a farmer, were displayed to equal advantage in his mercantile career, and for the remainder of his life, covering a period of nearly forty years, he was one of Plattsburgh's most enterprising and successful merchants.
He married, May 24, 1838, Sabrina, born in Chazy, N.Y., Nov. 10, 1817, died Jan. 2, 1902, daughter of Roswell and Ruth (Kinsley) Ransom. Sabrina Ransom was a descendant in the seventh generation of Robert Ransom (1) and the line of decent is, Joshua (2), Robert (3), Newton (4), Elisha (5), who married Irene Wells, and Roswell (6). She was a neice of Philanda Ransom, previously mentioned as the second wife of Roswell Barbre (6).
Roswell O. and Sabrina (Ransom) Barber were the parents of seven children, all of whom were born in Beekmantown:
1. Henry Ransom, July 18, 1839, died March 31, 1863.
2. Charles Oscar, Feb. 14, 1841; married Betsey Amelia Heaton; died Aug. 25, 1893; had five chldren, of whom Parley Heaton, Jessie Cordelia and Charles Henry are now living. [1910].
3. George Edward, again referred to.
4. Robert Barrington, Aug. 7, 1850, died Oct. 28, 1866.
5. Helen Irena, March 4, 1854, died July 15, 1871.
6. Herbert, Aug. 14, 1856; married Ella Lampson and has one son, Robert L.
7. Ruth.
(VIII) George Edward, son of Roswell O. and Sabrina (Ransom) Barber, was born in Beekmantown, Jan. 8, 1843. His preliminary studies in the district school were supplemented with the regular course at the Plattsburgh Academy, and in 1862 he became a member of the firm of R. O. Barber & Sons. He acquired his business training in this establishment, which he assited in developing into its present position of importance; he has survived his associates and is now the senior proprietor of the business, which is still carried on under the original firm name. The firm is composed of G. E. Barber, Silas D. Barber, and F. L. Finn. Identified with the mercantile interests of Plattburgh for nearly half a century, he is one of the most widely known business men in that section of the State, and his numerous estimable qualities, including his high moral character, have brought him into prominence, both as a merchant and a citizen. He is ever ready to assist in promoting any legitimate enterprises calculated to prove beneficial to the city of his adoption, and his interest in the genearl welfare of the city has been frequently demonstrated. He is vice-president of the Plattsburgh National Bank, president of the board of trustees of the Presbyterian church and a trustee of the Samuel F. Vilas House for Aged and Infirm Women. In politics he is a Republican.
Mr. Barber was married in Champlain, N.Y., June 14, 1876, to Elizabeth Rebecca Dewey, born in that town Oct. 28, 1850, daughter of Silas H. and Caroline (Clark) Dewey. She died Feb. 24, 1905.
Children:
1. Mary Elizabeth, born Nov. 1, 1877.
2. Silas Dewey, May 10, 1879, of the R. O. Barber & Sons.
3. Helen Caroline, March 23, 1882.
4. Roswell Oscar, Sept. 22, 1883, died Sept. 9, 1903.
5. George Edward, May 16, 1887, died Feb. 18, 1903.
Elizabeth R. (Dewey) Barber was a descendant in the eighth generation of Thomas Dewey (1), who came from Sandwich, county of Kent, England, about the year 1635. From him the line of descent is: Israel (2), David (3), Captain Charles (4), Joseph (5), Elias (6), and Silas (7).
(N. B. - Admiral Dewey, United States navy, is of the ninth generation in descent from Thomas. (1)., thorought he latter's eldest son Josiah. Admiral Dewey's name is among the brightest in American history, and his splendid victory in Manila Bay will go down among the most brilliant in our naval annals.