BIO: John C. BARR, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 141-142.
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  JOHN C. BARR, M. D., McAlevys Fort, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born 
in Jackson township, August 4, 1854, son of Daniel and Martha 
(Edmeston) Barr. The Barrs are Scotch-Irish by descent. Samuel Barr, 
the Doctor's grandfather, who was born in County Donegal, Ireland, came 
to America with his parents; his father, Robert Barr, is buried on the 
family homestead. Samuel Barr owned and cultivated a farm of 200 acres. 
He belonged to the old Whig party. At the age of forty, he married 
Lydia Wills, of Jackson township. Their children were: Robert; Gabriel; 
Samuel; James; David; Lydia; Jane; Mary; Elizabeth (Mrs. Oburn); and 
Daniel. Samuel Barr was a member of the United Presbyterian church; he 
lived to the age of ninety-one; he and his wife both died on the 
homestead. His son, Daniel Barr, the Doctor's father, was educated in 
the common school and subscription schools; he grew up on his father's 
farm, and remained there all his life, tilling the land and raising 
stock. He was a home-loving man, but did not on that account fail in 
interest in the affairs of the community. He was a Whig, and was active 
in township matters; was esteemed for his merits and intelligence. He 
was a member of the United Presbyterian church. His wife, Martha 
Edmeston, was born in Juniata county. Their children are: Samuel W., 
died young; Joseph, resides on the homestead; Lydia E. (Mrs. John E. 
McGill), of Jackson township; Dr. John C.; Mary E., died at the age of 
seventeen; Eliza J., died aged thirty-four; Sarah A., wife of William 
Cummins, merchant, of McAlevys Fort. Daniel Barr died on the homestead 
in 1865.
  John C. Barr first attended the common school of the township; he 
continued to do so until, at sixteen, he entered the Stone Valley 
Academy for a year's study. From the age of ten, he was practically 
familiar with farm duties, his vacation times being occupied with labor 
on the homestead. To this he returned at the end of his academic 
course, and filled with agricultural work the years between seventeen 
and twenty-eight. Then he began reading medicine with Dr. J. C. 
Cummins, and two years later, matriculated at the University of 
Maryland, in Baltimore. After attending one year's lectures, he 
returned to his home, and read two years more; then back to the medical 
school, from which he graduated in 1889. he then made a short stay at 
home, after which he attended a course at the Jefferson Medical 
College, Philadelphia, and took its diploma in 1890. His practice has 
been in his own neighborhood, and extends far beyond McAlevys Fort, 
over a considerable part of the valley. He has been physician for the 
poor in three township's Jackson, Barre and Miller. Dr. Barr, from the 
boy helper on the farm, has thus made his own way to a position of 
influence and responsibility. He has worked diligently with hands and 
with brain, making his bodily toil subserve his intellectual 
development, and supplementing by judicious reading his rather slender 
educational advantages. He takes some part in the activities of the 
township; has been judge and clerk of elections, assessor, etc. He is a 
member of Grange No. 951, P. of H. The Doctor is a Republican.
  Dr. Barr was married in Jackson township, December 28, 1876, to Mary 
E., daughter of John A. and Agnes (Cummins) Wilson, born in Barree 
township, November 15, 1855. Her father is a farmer in Jackson 
township. Their children are: John W., school teacher; Azile C., 
attending school; May and June, died in infancy; Laura A.; and Roy, 
died in infancy. The Doctor and wife are members of the United 
Presbyterian church, and he is active in church business.