Sutter-Yuba County Biographies

JAMES B. BARRIE

Transcribed by: Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


 
            Among the enterprising men who have given their best efforts towards 
the development of Yuba County is James B. Barrie, who was born in Lanark 
County, Ontario, Canada, October 24, 1848, a son of James and Marian (Chalmers) 
Barrie, natives of Scotland.  His parents came to Canada when they were young 
folks and his father, who was a farmer, died when he was sixty-three years old.  
Mrs. Barrie preceded him to the grave.  They were the parents of five children:  
James B., of this sketch, Anna, Marian, Christina, and W. J.
            James B. Barrie started out for himself when he was fifteen years 
old.  He went to Port Huron, Mich., and worked for his board and clothes and 
also attended school.  Afterwards he was employed as cabin boy one season and 
then for two years he was on vessels on the Great Lakes and for three years was 
a teamster for a mill company at Alpena, Mich.  He returned to his home and 
learned the trade of plasterer at the suggestion of a schoolmate, and worked 
with him for one season.  In 1869 Mr. Barrie came to California on an immigrant 
train, four months after the first transcontinental train had passed over the 
road, and for several seasons he farmed at Arboga in Yuba County for his uncle, 
John F. Barrie, who started him teaming to the mountains.  James B. Barrie drove 
a team for two years, then bought a team and worked for himself for a number of 
years.  In 1876-1877 he worked on the New England orchard, then leased about 
1200 acres and farmed and raised stock.  He also ran a dairy of fifty to sixty 
cows until late years, when he began to raise cattle, now keeping 150 head of 
cattle and a bunch of horses.
            On August 26, 1875, at Wheatland, James B. Barrie was united in 
marriage with Mary A. O�Donald, a native of California.  She was born at Oregon 
House, Yuba County, a daughter of John O�Donald, who was a miner.  Her parents 
were born in Ireland and were among the early settlers of Yuba County.  She was 
educated in Nevada City.  Mr. and Mrs. James B. Barrie were blessed with nine 
children:  James H., at Hammonton; Mary, Mrs. Joe Perkins at Marysville; Anna, 
Mrs. Sam Kuster; John, William, David, Harry, Roy E., at Hammonton; and Floyd.  
John, who is a truck driver, married and had two sons.  His wife passed away 
when the youngest boy was three weeks old, and Mr. James Barrie raised the 
children to young men.  Mr. Barrie is a Republican.  He is a member of 
Marysville Lodge No. 783, B.P.O.E., and has been a trustee for many years, and 
is a trustee of the Brophy school district.
 
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 1255-1256