San Luis Obispo County Biographies

E. S. BARRY

Submitted by Peggy Hooper

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

E. S. BARRY is one of the public-spirited citizens and prominent business men 
of San Miguel. He came to the coast in 1869. Mr. Barry is a native of Galena, 
Illinois, born February 22, 1845. His father, Richard F. Barry, was born in Washington, 
District of Columbia, and his grandfather. Commodore Barry, was first commodore of 
the United States navy. The ancestors of the family were originally from Ireland, having 
settled in America before the Revolution. His mother's maiden name was Emily Weber. 
She was a native of France. There were only two sons in the family, J. D., now living in 
San Francisco, and E. S., the subject of this sketch. He was educated in St. Louis, Mis- 
souri, and started in business in that city as entry clerk in a large wholesale dry-goods 
house. During the war he was chief clerk in the disbursing office at Little Rock, 
Arkansas. At the close of the war he continued in the occupation of entry clerk in the 
wholesale business. After coming to this coast he was paymaster for "Wells, Fargo & 
Co., on their route between Salt Lake and Fort Benton, on the head waters of the Mis- 
souri River; was in that business three years, and made payments along the route for 1,100 
miles, while the country was infested with stage robbers and Indians. After that Mr. 
Barry spent some time in the White Pine country, Nevada. 

In 1869 he came to California and was in the employ of the Northern Pacific Trans- 
portation Company, Holladay & Brenham agents, San Francisco. Afterward with the 
Southern Pacific Railroad Company, and after that engaged in mining. In 1879 he 
went to Soledad and engaged in stationery and express business, and has been with the 
company ever since. Mr. Barry is a prominent Odd Fellow, has passed through all 
the chairs, and is now District Deputy. 

He was married in 1874, to Miss Ella M. Little, of Hollister. Their union has been 
blessed with three children, viz.: William B., born in San Francisco, in 1877; Edward L., 
in Soledad, in 1885, and Gail W., in San Miguel, in 1888. Mrs. Barry is a Presby- 
terian. In his political views, Mr. Barry is a Democrat. 

In speaking of his ancestors, it should be further stated that his grandfather, on the 
maternal side, Captain John H. Weber, a noted sea captain, had the honor of having 
Weber River and Weber Canon named for him. 

History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California  - by 
C.M. Gidney, Benjamin Brooks, Edwin M. Sheridan, Vol I, II.  -Lewis Publ. Co., 
Chicago, 1917.