Submitted by Lisa Hamilton Thanks Lisa!

Among the worthy tillers of the soil of Washington County, Ark., who have become extensive land holders and acquired a handsome competency, may be mentioned Mr. Barr, who is a native of Lawrence County, Ala., and was born on December 27, 1829. His parents, Isaac and Sarah (Holt) Barr, were married in Tennessee, and soon after that event moved to Alabama, where the father died. She was a Georgian by birth, he a Virginian, but reared in Tennessee, and throughout life was a farmer. He died in Alabama, and his widow and seven children moved to Washington County, Ark., where she met and married John C. Neill, and died about 1845.

John F. Barr attended the common schools of Arkansas. At the age of seventeen he crossed the plains to New Mexico, and returned the following year. At the age of twenty years he was married to Miss Mary A. Boyd, a native of Washington County, Ark., and by her became the father of seven children: Ardilla, Mell and Belle (twins), Dora and Ida, five girls, four of whom are married; two boys, Humphrey and Frankie. Humphrey graduated from the Commercial College of Lexington, Ky., in 1883, also from the literary department of the Rogers Academy, with class honors, June 1, 1887.

John F. Barr has farmed in Washington County, Ark., ever since marriage, with the exception of four years, from 1852 to 1856. which he spent in Oregon and California, having crossed the plains in a 'prairie schooner' drawn by four yoke of oxen, making the trip to Oregon City in seven months and two days. After remaining in the West four years he returned home by sea, crossing the Isthmus of Panama, via New Orleans. He has ever since assiduously followed his avocation of farming until, recently, he has sold his farms of 450 acres, and has moved to Springdale, where he has some valuable property, to pass the remainder of his days. He is a strong supporter of Democratic principles.

Lisa Hamilton submitted the above data from Goodspeed's; she did so to help others, is not researching the above person or families mentioned therein.

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