Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Barber, Royal E ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com September 3, 2007, 1:25 am Author: Genealogical/Biographical Publishing Co ROYAL E. BARBER, a resident of this county since 1832, represents the seventh generation of his branch of the Barber family in America, the first of his ancestors in this country being Matthew, who in 1634 came from England to Connecticut. From Connecticut Daniel Barber, with others, removed to Benson, Rutland County, Vt., about 1780, and there followed farm pursuits. His son, John, father of Royal E., was born in Benson in 1796, and during the war of 1812 was one of the volunteers who marched to Plattsburg to defend that city against the British; however, his company did not reach the place until after the battle had been fought. Later he served as captain of the military company in his native town. He married Emma Perry, who was born of English descent in Orwell, Rutland County, Vt., and was a cousin of Commodore Oliver H. Perry. They became the parents of six children who attained maturity, three of whom are now living. In 1831 a party of men from Rutland County came west and the reports they sent back were so encouraging that John Barber decided to seek a home in Illinois. In the fall of 1832, accompanied by his family and others, he started on the long journey, traveling by packet from Whitehall to Buffalo, which took a week. From there the steamer "Henry Clay" took them in two days to Detroit, where they boarded the schooner "Austerlitz" for Chicago, arriving a week later. The schooner anchored three miles from land, owing to a sand bar that rendered further progress impossible. Passengers and freight were taken ashore in boats, which, being small, stuck to the sand bars, but were pushed out by the sailors. The passengers landed in the Chicago River, at the foot of Wabash avenue. At that time Fort Dearborn was enclosed by a few stockades. The only frame building in the place had been built by J. H. Kinzie, of lumber which he hauled from Walker's Grove (now Plainfield, this county). Mr. Barber was offered by a real-estate agent a lot on Lake street, 85x200, for $50, but ridiculed the idea of "sinking $50 in a mud hole." Getting a team, wThich forded the South branch of the river a little south of the junction of the branches, he proceeded to Naperville, where some acquaintances had settled. He selected farm land at what was later known as Barber's Corners, this county, and in February, 1833, moved his family into a log house. The surroundings were primitive. For many years oxen were used in ploughing. At that time the whole country was an open stretch of prairie, with the exception of a grove here and there and generally skirting a water stream. The only building in Joliet was a log house below what is now the corner of Exchange and Bluff streets. Through exposure in the cold winter, when engaged in getting out rails for his fences, Mr. Barber contracted rheumatism, from which he suffered almost constantly during his later years. His wife died May 1, 1874, and three years later he passed away. Much of the work of developing and improving this part of Illinois had been witnessed by Mr. Barber. About three years after he came here the canal was first begun by the state. It was operated under contract for two years, when, the funds being exhausted, the work stopped. In 1845 the state succeeded in making a loan of a large sum in England and thereupon resumed work, with some changes from the original plans. When the canal authorities were arranging the route of the canal they asked the proprietor of West Joliet to give them a certain block of land for their headquarters, and promised in return to give their influence to aid the then new town, but the proprietor refused. Upon that, they laid out what is now Lockport, which at first was a rival to Joliet, the authorities doing all in their power to foster their own town, which indeed for a time seemed to have the advantage; but when in 1852 the Rock Island Railroad entered Joliet, the town took on new life and in two years had left Lockport far in the rear. The canal was completed and opened in 1847. Born in Benson, Vt., August 3, 1822, the subject of this sketch was ten years of age when he accompanied his parents on the toilsome journey to the west. In those days schools were few and consequently his advantages were meager. In the spring of 1833 he began to break prairie land, using five yoke of oxen. From the time he was sixteen he taught school in the winters and farmed in the summer months. However, he found farm work (which was then all done by hand) too hard upon him, and the recurrence of chills and fever at each harvest season led him to determine to seek another occupation. When he came to Joliet in 1845 he was the owner of an eighty-acre farm which his energy and industry had secured for him. For several years he was employed as deputy in the offices of the circuit and county clerk, then known as the county commissioner's court. Meantime he studied law and in 1847 he was admitted to the bar and began to practice in this circuit, which included all the territory from Iroquois to Winnebago Counties inclusive. Judge Henderson at that time presided over the circuit court, and was one of probably six or seven circuit judges in Illinois. Later, with the increase of population, the size of the circuits was lessened. He has continued in practice from that time to this and is now the oldest attorney of Joliet. In 1848 a circuit clerk was elected who was a farmer and unfamiliar with legal business. At his request Mr. Barber took up the duties of deputy, having practically the entire charge of the office for three years. In 1852 he was elected circuit clerk, filling the position for four years, during which time he originated and compiled a set of abstract books, giving the title to real estate in the county. Upon his retirement from the clerk's office he resumed practice and during the time of his clerkship had charge of the county records. More than ten years ago he became interested in a case relating to the distribution of property where one child remains at home during the long life of the parents and the others leave in early life to make their way independently in the world. It had been the practice that no distinction was made in the settlement of the property, all heirs receiving the same; but an instance of this kind came to practice, where a daughter remained with her parents, the other children leaving. When the father died at an advanced age the other children wanted an equal share of the property. All that saved the property to the daughter was the fact that the father stated, in the presence of neighbors, that he had given the homestead to this daughter. Mr. Barber brought a bill in equity, claiming the title to the homestead in return for the daughter's services; but, although he proved all the details in the bill, the judge followed established precedents and dismissed the bill. Mr. Barber then appealed to the supreme court, by whom the decision of the lower court was reversed, and the title given to the daughter. In this way a precedent was established that has since been followed. Mr. Barber laid out several subdivisions of Joliet, and in 1887-88 erected the Barber building, which is still one of the finest office buildings in the city. It was the first structure that deviated from the ordinary old-fashioned style of architecture, with square buildings and plain walls, and it has since been a pattern for other private and public buildings. On the Citizens' ticket he was elected mayor of Joliet in 1876. For nine years he was a member of the school board, of which he served as clerk. He is connected with the State Bar Association. In Central Presbyterian Church he is a ruling elder, has served as a trustee and for many years was Sunday-school superintendent. In 1849 he and his wife began housekeeping in an old frame house, but later he erected a commodious stone residence that has since afforded the family a comfortable home. While he has been engrossed by professional work and his duties of citizenship, he has found leisure for recreation and travel. In 1896, accompanied by his wife and daughter Emma, he made a tour of Europe, Egypt, the Holy Land and Asia Minor, spending considerable time in Turkey, Italy, Greece, Switzerland, France and Great Britain, and after a trip of eight months returned home on the "Paris." In Joliet, in 1849, Mr. Barber married Ellen Elizabeth Crowley, who died of cholera the next year. In 1854, in Rome, N.Y., he married Miss Frances Cornelia House, who was born in that city. They are the parents of four children now living. The eldest, Alice Stillman Barber, a graduate of Houghton Seminary, New York, was appointed a missionary of the Presbyterian board at Beirut, Syria, in 1885, and has since been successfully engaged in her chosen work in that place. Edward M., the older son, graduated from Hamilton College, in Clinton, N. Y., and is now in Utica, that state. William C., also a graduate of Hamilton College, has charge of the abstract of titles and other lines of business in Joliet. Emma F., a graduate of Houghton Seminary, is the wife of Dr. Beckwith, of Joliet. Additional Comments: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present Biographical Publishing Company; Chicago 1900 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/barber1616nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 10.0 Kb