Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889 [page 528-529] JOHN BARR, one of the oldest and best known citizens of Amherst Township, although an American by adoption, claims Ireland as his native land, where he was born in County Londonderry, in October, 1841. He is a son of DAVID and SARAH (MULHOLLAND) BARR, who emi- grated to this country when our subject was four years old. They settled in Canada, where JOHN was reared to the occupation of a farmer, and received his education. In 1869 he and two brothers, were not satisfied with what they had seen of the world, decided to take a trip to California, where they spent four years. It was while living in that State that Mr. BARR, through one GEORGE WARD, invested in land in Iowa; he bought 120 acres in Amherst Township, Cherokee County, and in 1874 he came here and settled and began making a home. As his means would permit he has bought more land, until he now owns 400 acres of as fine land as can be found in Cherokee County. Through his own efforts it has been brought to an advanced state of cultivation, and has been improved with a good residence, barns, cribs and granaries. The buildings are surrounded by a beautiful grove of four acres, which adds much to the attract- iveness of the place. Mr. BARR has seen the rough side of life in Cherokee County, but is the more able to appreciate fully the pre- sent prosperous condition of the community, having witnessed its development from the wild state of nature in which white men found it. He is a stanch Republican, and takes an active interest in political affairs. Mr. BARR was married January 8, 1875, to ELIZA- BETH CAMPBELL, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, who was born in 1853. Four children have been born of this union: DAVID C., PETER C., JESSIE B. and ELSIE M. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are among the leading settlers of Amherst Township. ===========================================================================