TUSCARAWAS COUNTY OHIO - BIO: BARR, James A. (published 1925)
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HISTORY OF OHIO
The American Historical Society, Inc., 1925
Volume V, page 383-384

        JAMES A. BARR, postmaster of the City of Dover, was appointed to
that office, but his appointment was in fact in a nature of a deserved
promotion, since he had been for many years experienced in the postal
service of that city.
        Mr. Barr is a native of Tuscarawas County, born in the little
locality known as Barr's Mill, on December 2, 1868. His grandfather, Samuel
Barr, was a native of Pennsylvania, of Holland Dutch ancestry, and a
pioneer settler in Stark County, Ohio. The parents of James A. Barr were
David and Lavina (Tohm) Barr, both of them born and reared in Stark County.
Soon after their marriage David Barr bought a mill in Tuscarawas County,
and continued its operation for many years. In addition he built a
storeroom, and established and conducted for the convenience of the
neighborhood a postoffice. Ever since the locality has been known as Barr's
Mill. David Barr was a good business man, strong in character, a staunch
supporter of the Union during the Civil war, a republican, and both he and
his wife were active Lutherans. David Barr died October 12, 1883, at the
age of sixty-four, having survived his wife two years. They had two
daughters and two sons, a son and daughter now living.
        James A. Barr was twelve years old when his mother died, and two
years later he was left an orphan by the death of his father. Since
fourteen, therefore, he has directed his own career. Growing up at Barr's
Mill, he attended common schools there, and afterwards completed a business
course at Mansfield, Ohio. For some years he and his brother operated the
old mill until the property was sold. From childhood he has been familiar
with the business of milling, and this experience afforded him his chief
source of livelihood for many years. After leaving his father's old mill he
was employed by the Hardesty Milling Company at Dover, and for five years
was a traveling salesman, selling flour, first for a Kansas City Milling
Company and later for a company at Red Cloud, Minnesota.
        At the time Dover was given free mail delivery Mr. Barr, in order
that he might be at home with his family, sought and secured the position
of a mail carrier, later he became mailing clerk, and performed the duties
of that position in the Dover postoffice fourteen years. From subordinate
position in the postoffice appointments from President Harding in October,
1921, raised him to the office of postmaster. He received his commission
November 15, 1921, and has been made his administration a constant source
of good service to the community.
        Mr. Barr is a republican, a member of the Knights of Pythias and
the Lutheran Church. He married, December 25, 1890, Miss Mary Hostetler,
who died in October, 1892, leaving no children. On November 14, 1894, Mr.
Barr married Elizabeth Burkel. They have four children. The oldest, Harold
C., was with the United States Army during the World war as assistant
pharmacist, with the rank of sergeant, at Debarkation Hospital at Ellis
Island. He is a member of the American Legion and is in the drug business
at Dover. The second son, Arthur M., was a student volunteer during the
World war, is now with a manufacturing industry at Granite City, Illinois.
Walter J., the third son is in the tire and automobile accessory business
at Dover and Eugene A., aged fourteen, is still in school.





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