WILLIAM WHITE BARBER.—Occupying a foremost position among
the worthy and respected citizens of Perry township is William W. Bar-
ber, who is conspicuously identified with the agricultural and horticultural
interests of this part of Clay county, being extensively engaged in general
farming and fruit growing. A son of Aaron Gleason Barber, he was born
February 27, 1835, in Miami county, Ohio, of Dutch ancestry, his grand-
father, Aaron Barber, having been born in Holland.
    Coming to America in colonial times, Aaron Barber settled in New
York state, and at the time of the Revolution remained neutral, taking
sides with neither the crown nor the colonists. Subsequently removing
to Rutland, Vermont, he spent the remainder of his short life in that state,
meeting an accidental death from freezing while lost on the Green
Mountains. He married a Miss Boutwell, a member of the prominent
New England family of Boutwells, and they became the parents of four
children, Aaron Gleason, Roswell, Fanny and Electa. After his death
his young widow with other Dutch colonists who had moved to Vermont
when he did started westward in search of a home. For a time this little
band lived where the city of Syracuse, New York, now stands, afterwards
being located on Cayuga Lake. Going still farther towards the frontier
line, the little band sailed down the Allegheny and Ohio rivers to the pres-
ent site of Cincinnati, at that time a mere trading post, with no special
attractions for the travelers. Continuing their way to the interior as far
as the present site of Dayton, Ohio, some of the colony concluded to
remain there. Mrs. Barber, with her four children, located in what is
now Miami county, and there took up one hundred and sixty acres of gov-
ernment land, it being heavily covered with timber. She subsequently
married for her second husband Colonel Dugan, an officer in one of the
Indian wars, and there resided until her death, at the age of sixty years.
    Aaron Gleason Barber was born May 9, 1802, in Rutland, Vermont,
and was but a boy when he went with his widowed mother to Ohio, where
he was brought up and educated. A natural mechanic, he learned the
cooper’s trade when young, and was equally as skilled as a plasterer or
a blacksmith. Leaving Ohio in 1851, he came with teams to Clay county,
Indiana, locating in Perry township, and here bought of David Christy
eighty acres of land, about twenty of which had been cleared, the re-
mainder being covered with its virgin timber. Devoting his time to the
improvement of his place, he remained there until 1875, when, having
acquired a competency, he removed to Saline City and there lived retired
until his death, in July, 1883, at the advanced age of eighty-one years.
The maiden name of his first wife, mother of William W. Barber, was
Mary Murphy. She was born in New Jersey, a daughter of John and
Sarah Murphy, and died of cholera in 1849. She bore her husband seven
children, namely: Maria Frances, Cordelia, Mary Ann, Catherine, Will-
iam White, Aaron Conery and Henry. The latter served during the Civil
war in the Forty—third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was killed in bat-
tie at Marks Mills, Arkansas.
    Beginning his education in the pioneer schools of Ohio, William W.
Barber subsequently attended the subscription schools of Clay county,
there being no free schools in Perry township when he came here with his
father. The log schoolhouse which he attended was rudely constructed
and furnished, having slab benches for seats, with neither backs nor desks,
a board placed along one side of the cabin serving for a place upon which
the pupils could write, while light was admitted through a piece of glass
inserted in place of one log. Deer, wild turkeys, and other kinds of game
were then abundant in the forests, and with the productions of the land
formed the food of the people. When out of school William assisted his
father in his pioneer labors, and at the age of twenty years, while working
for wages on the reservoir, had the misfortune to break one of his legs.
While awaiting recovery from the accident Mr. Barber studied medicine,
but on deciding his life work he chose farming and horticulture rather
than a professional career. For two years thereafter he rented land, after
which he purchased land in Lewis township, where he remained five years.
Selling out at the end of that time he bought forty acres of his father’s
farm in Perry township, and two years later sold that at an advantage.
Mr. Barber then purchased the farm which he now owns and occupies,
and has since been here profitably engaged in general farming, stock-rais-
ing and horticulture. He has exercised good judgment and sound sense
in the management of his interests, and has made many and valuable
improvements on his estate. He has erected a substantial set of frame
buildings, and has set out many shade, ornamental and fruit trees, having
more than a thousand apple trees in his orchard, besides which he has
peach, pear, plum, apricot, mulberry and other fruit trees, and a various
collection of small fruits.
    Mr. Barber married, November 19, 1857, Sarah Gilbert, who was
born May 31, 1841, on section eight, Posey township, Indiana, a daughter
of Jedediah Gilbert. Her grandfather, Ebenezer Gilbert, moved from
New York, his native state, to Clermont county, Ohio in the early period
of its settlenient, and from there came, about 1828, to Clay county,
Indiana. He located in Perry township before ever the wild beasts of the
forest had lied from the advancing steps of civilization, but, with the
dusky savage, habited the vast wilderness. Taking up government land
in section nine, he improved a homestead and on it remained until his
death, at a venerable age. The maiden name of his wife was Mehitable
Seeley. Jedediah Gilbert was born May 23, 1805, in Clermont county,
Ohio. where he lived until after his marriage. A man of versatile talents
and possessing much mechanical skill and ability, he never learned any
special trade, but could turn his hand to almost any employment, and
as a bricklayer built many of the first chimneys in this part of Indiana,
where he settled about 1835. Taking up government land in Posey town-
ship, in section eight, he also bought another tract, which had previously
been entered. Building first a log cabin, he moved into it before there was
either a chimney or door, hanging a quilt over the opening to keep out
the wolves, which were inclined to be altogether too free and friendly.
Coming from there to Perry township in 1844. he entered forty acres of
land in section twenty-three, and bought one hundred and sixty acres in
section twenty-two. A few acres of his purchase had been cleared and a
log cabin had been built. Here he was actively and successfully
employed as a tiller of the soil until his death, December 26, 1860. His
wife, whose maiden name was Mary Lindsey, was born in Clermont
county, Ohio, February 27, 1807, a daughter of Hezekiah and Elizabeth
(Laycock) Lindsey. She survived him, passing away December 3, 1893.
She reared four children of her own, namely: Nancy, Mehitable, Sarah
and Nelson. She and her husband also brought up several orphan chil-
dren, one of whom, a girl, was kidnaped when two years old in Cleve-
land, Ohio, and after her marriage, found, by advertising, her mother.
    Mr. and Mrs. Barber are the parents of nine children, namely: Mary
Aletha, Aaron Gleason, Laura Ella, Hervey Briley, Cordelia Mehitable,
Willard S., Roberla Olive, Grace Victor and Edith Catherine. Mary E.,
wife of John Coble, has nine children, Maude, Harland, Edward, Her-
vey, Desta, Walter, Berlin, Lester and Ernest, Aaron G. married first
Carrie Corbin, who at her death left one child, Daisy Dove; and married
second Laura Logston. Laura M., wife of William S. Gard, has two
children, Ernest and Ethel. Cordelia, wife of Norris Swearengen, has
three thildren, Rachel, Bessie and Hope. Roberla O. married Nathan
Ely. Grace V., wife of Edgar Scherb, has one son, Von. Edith C. is
the wife of Harvey Nees. On November 19, 1907, Mr. and Mrs. Barber
celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage on the old farm on
which their union was solemnized, they having succeeded to the owner-
ship of the Gilbert homestead. It was an occasion long to be remem-
bered, the many friends and relatives there congregated having a most
enjoyable time, bringing, also, joy and comfort to the host and hostess,
and leaving with them substantial tokens of their love, regard and
esteem. Mr. Barber’s homestead is known as “Pine Ridge Farm.”