Francis S. Barber Biography


	This biography appears on pages 806-807 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				FRANCIS S. BARBER. 

	Francis S. Barber, the efficient cashier of the Farmers Bank of 
Onida, was born in Middleburg township, Wyoming county, New York, June 
7, 1877, a son of Edward and Ella L. (Miller) Barber, further mention of 
whom appears in this work. He began his education in the public schools 
of New York state and completed it in South Dakota, attending the Onida 
schools for some time, after which he became a student in Huron 
College. He almost completed a course in that institution, leaving 
there about six months before he would have graduated. Several years 
previously, however, he had begun to provide for his own support as he 
was but fifteen years of age when he held the contract for driving a 
stage between Onida and Blunt. He also carried the mail on horseback at 
that time and usually rode without a saddle. When he was sixteen years 
of age he had the contract for driving the stage between Onida and 
Milford. The following year he studied under a Mrs. Kimmel, who was 
living in Onida at that time. Under her tuition he studied Latin, 
rhetoric and other advanced branches and then turned his attention to 
teaching school, which profession he followed for three terms. At the 
end of that time he entered Huron College, making the trip on a bicycle 
and matriculating on the 15th of September, 1898, the day the college 
opened. Upon leaving that institution he went on a survey in Montana, 
starting on the 5th of July from Flathead lake. He devoted his time to 
surveying until the middle of November, when he returned to Sully 
county, this state, and proved up on a claim near Okobojo. He then 
taught school for one winter and for the next two years acted as deputy 
county treasurer. 

	At the end of that time Mr. Barber was elected county auditor and 
served in that office with credit to himself for four years. He next 
entered the Farmers Bank of Onida as cashier of the institution and is 
still serving in that capacity. The charter of the bank was obtained in 
July, 1908, and on the 1st of August of that year it opened its doors 
for business. It has since become firmly entrenched in the confidence 
of the people of Onida and the sure rounding country, and the volume of 
its business has grown steadily. Mr. Barber is recognized as an able 
bank official and the excellent condition of the Farmers Bank is due in 
no small measure to his vigilance in safeguarding the interests 
entrusted to him. He owns considerable land in South Dakota 
individually and in connection with his brother, Calvin F. Barber, and 
his mother owns a ranch near Okobojo. He also holds title to valuable 
city property in Onida. 

	Mr. Barber is a republican in politics and takes an active 
interest in public affairs. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic blue 
lodge at Onida, in which he is junior deacon, and to the Royal Arch 
Chapter at Pierre. He recognizes the claims of religion and is at 
present serving as superintendent of the Union Sunday school at Onida. 
No plan which is designed to further the moral and civic welfare of his 
community lacks his heartiest cooperation, and he is also ready to aid 
in efforts to secure the commercial and financial growth and expansion 
of his community. He is a man of well balanced interests and is 
recognized as a valued citizen of the community.