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PAST AND PRESENT OF THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD AND SANGAMON COUNTY ILLINOIS
By Joseph Wallace, M. A.
of the Springfield Bar
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, IL
1904



BAYLISS L. BARBER - Bayliss L. Marber follows farming on section 16, Fancy Creek township, operating the old Barber farm of five hundred and sixty acres. He is a native son of Sangamon county, havng been born on the farm where he now resides, February 27, 1873. His father, Andrew J. Barber, was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, on the 5th of October, 1836, while the grandfather of our subject, Nicholas Barber, was a native of England. Crossing the Atlantic to the new world, he settled in Virginia and married a daughter of Andrew Wolf, who was a native of Germany. Andrew J. Barber was reared in the Old Dominion and at the time of the Civil war he served under General Stonewall Jackson as chief quartermaster, continuing with the army until the close of hostilities. In 1869 he came west to Illinois, establishing his home in Sangamon county. He brought with him some means and here he purchased land and also engaged in the loaning of money. He was an active and successful business man and became widely and favorably known in this portion of the state. In this county he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Lake a daughter of Bayliss G. Lake, who was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, on the 1st of November, 1795. With a four-horse team he made the journey to Illinois, arriving in the fall of 1827, at which time he took up his abode in Fancy Creek township. Mrs. Barber succeded to one hundred and thirteen acres of her father's estate and Mr. Barber afterward purchased more land, until he became the owner of a valuable property of five hundred and sixty acres. He also built a good residence, made many fine improvements and developed an excellent farm. He too, engaged in the loaning of money and in real estate dealing, and because of his capable control of his business affairs and his judicious investment, he became a well-known capitalist of this portion of the state. In all business affairs he was very active and energetic, and his judgment was seldom, if ever, at fault. In October, 1900, he removed to Springfield and there spent his last days, passing away on the 28th of May, 1902. His wife still survives him and now resides in the home in the capital city.

Bayliss L. Barber is the second of a family of three sons and two daughters the eldest being John A. Barber, an attorney of Springfield. The younger members of the family are: Maria K., the wife of Alvin Council, of Cantrall, Illinois; Clayton J., who is a student in the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, where he is pursuing a law course; and Florence E., at home.

Bayliss L. Barber was reared to manhood upon the old hone farm, where he now resides, and was educated in the schools of Cantrall. In his youth he became familiar with farm work and afterward took charge of the home place. Since that time he has carried on general agricultural pursuits and has also engaged in raising stock. He keeps everything about the place in a neat and thrifty condition, secures all modern improvements calculated to facilitate his farm work, and is a progressive agriculturist whose labors are crowned with a high degree, of success.

On the 19th of September, 1900, in Menard county, Illinois, Mr. Barber was united in marriage to Miss Lillian Shafer, of that county, where she was born, reared and educated. Politically Mr. Barber is a stanch Democrat, always supporting the men and measures of that party, and twice he has voted for William Jennings Bryan. For two terms he has served as township collector, but otherwise has not been active as an officeholder. He belongs to Van Meter Lodge #762, A. F. & A. M., of Cantrall, and in his life exemplifies the beneficent spirit of the craft. He is an active and successful farmer, a man of good business capacity, of sterling habits and upright character and worth.



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