James Luther Barber, M. D. V.


	This biography appears on pages 848-851 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JAMES LUTHER BARBER, M. D. V. 

	Dr. James Luther Barber, a prominent veterinary surgeon of South 
Dakota residing at Tyndall, has passed practically his whole life in 
Bon Homme county, although he-is a native of Stephenson county, 
Illinois, born May 16, 1870 His parents, David Watson and Anna E. 
(Crocker) Barber, are mentioned at greater length elsewhere in this 
work. In 1872, when our subject was but two years of age, the family 
removed to Old Bon Homme, where James L. Barber lived until he was ten 
or twelve years of age. His father owned a store there and also a farm 
southeast of Tyndall. In 1883 the family removed to Tyndall and from 
that date until 1891 James L. Barber was employed in his father's store 
at that place. He then formed a partnership with his brother Lewis and 
together they engaged in farming and stock-raising. In 1905 the family 
went to De Funiak Springs, Florida, and Dr. Barber lived in the 
peninsular state for about fifteen months, but in 1906 entered 
McKillip's Veterinary College of Chicago, from which he was graduated 
in April, 1909, with a class of one hundred. 

	Returning to Tyndall, our subject entered into partnership with 
his brother, Dr. Lewis F. Barber, who is mentioned elsewhere in this 
work and with whom he had practiced during his vacations. They have one 
of the best equipped veterinary hospitals in the southern part of the 
state and have gained an enviable reputation in their profession. On 
the 1st of July, 1913, Governor Byrne appointed Dr. James L. Barber 
state veterinary and superintendent of the live stock sanitary board. 
He only held the office a little over a year, resigning on the 1st of 
September, 1914, as his duties kept him away from home about half of 
the time and as his private practice demanded his entire attention. 
During his incumbency in the office his work was entirely satisfactory 
to the state authorities and a credit to himself. He now has extensive 
farm property and other interests. 

	Dr. Barber was married in Broadhead, Wisconsin, on the 29th of 
August, 1906, to Miss Mary E. Stair, a native of that state and a 
daughter of Henry and Mary (Chambers) Stair, who were natives of 
Virginia and Wisconsin respectively. To Dr. and Mrs. Barber have been 
born three children, Elsie E., Robert J. and Faith Eleanor. 

	Dr. Barber is a republican and has served for three terms as 
alderman in Tyndall. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern 
Brotherhood of America and in his daily life exemplifies that spirit of 
fraternity which is the foundation of the order. He has never forgotten 
the unselfish devotion of his teacher in the Tyndall schools. At that 
time nothing higher than the ninth grade was included in the regular 
course, but the teacher gave freely of his time after school hours and 
gave the graduating class work in algebra, physical geography and other 
sciences in order to give them a broader and more thorough training. 
The class shared their master's enthusiasm and made good use of the 
opportunities offered them and never ceased to feel grateful to him for 
his unusual interest in their welfare. Dr. Barber remembers vividly the 
great blizzard on the 12th of January, 1888, as he, with other pupils, 
remained in the schoolhouse all night without food, save what was left 
from their noon-day lunch. He has seen a great deal of the 
transformation that has changed South Dakota from a trackless, treeless 
prairie to a region of cultivated farms and thriving towns, and has 
definitely cast in his lot with that of the state, having great faith 
in its future.