BIO: Jacob Barber, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

                              CHAPTER XLIX.

         LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF NEW CUMBERLAND.

492  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

  JACOB BARBER, farmer, P. O. Lisburn.  The many reminiscences of the 
early days in the history of the various townships are replete with 
interest, and none more so than that of the Barber family, which, since 
1790, has been well known in this and adjacent counties.  The father of 
George C. Barber resided at Boiling Springs, Monroe Township, before 
George was born, which event occurred in 1794.  There were eight 
children in his family:  George C., Joseph, David, James, William, 
Mary, Elizabeth and Margaret.  George C., the father of our subject, 
left home at the age of eighteen and went to York County, the next year 
was married to Barbara Rinehart, of that county, and in 1839 removed to 
New Cumberland, and in 1840 purchased the farm on which his son now 
resides.  To George C. and Barbara Barber were born nine children:  
William, Jacob, John, Nancy, Martha, Elizabeth, Barbara, Susan and 
Sarah (the last named is the only one who was born in Cumberland 
County).  George C. Barber, by trade a mason, continued in that calling 
until 1840 and scores of buildings remain as monuments to his skill in 
this and Dauphin Counties.  In 1870 he died at the ripe age of seventy-
six years, having had the satisfaction of seeing his children grown to 
be useful men and women.  Jacob Barber was born in 1828; at the age of 
twenty-one he went to California, sailing from Baltimore on the clipper 
"Flying Cloud," the journey taking one year and nine months.  When he 
arrived at Fiddletown, near Sacramento City, Cal., he purchased the 
necessary tools and commenced digging for gold, and from the first was 
quite successful.  Having formed an attachment for Miss Elizabeth Hoff, 
of York County, Penn., prior to his Western trip, Mr. Barber returned 
to his native State in 1857, and in December of the same year the 
marriage ceremony was performed by Rev. Mooney, of Harrisburg.  They 
commenced home life on the Barber homestead, and have reared a family 
of four children:  Mary E., Harry, George C. and Charley.  The well-
known business qualifications of Mr. Barber early brought him forward 
as a candidate for official honors and he was first elected supervisor, 
which position he filled for three terms; three years he served as an 
official in the public schools, and in 1873 he was elected county 
commissioner, re-elected in 1875, and again in 1878, for a term of 
three years.  During all these years of public service Mr. Barber was 
never known to do a thing that would detract from his good name.