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NAT. G. BARTER
From the 1887 History
of Vernon County, Missouri, p. 617-619:
Nat. G. Barter
(Editor
and Proprietor of the Nevada Ledger)
Nat.
G. Barter, a well known newspaper man and an editor of no mean merit,
was born at Cadiz, Harrison county, O., May 5, 1839. His father, Noah
Barter, an Englishman by birth, served in the British army 11 years, and
in the early part of the present century emigrated to America and
settled in Harrison county, O., where he died September 22, 1850. His
wife, formerly Nancy Woods, bore him five children, of whom Nat. was the
fourth child. When three years old he removed to Steubenville, O.,
where, save for one year spent at Cannonsburg, Pa., he attended the
public school, until, much against his inclination, he was apprenticed
to the tailor’s trade. But this was not congenial to his tastes and
later he was placed in the office of the Steubenville Daily Union
to learn the printer’s trade. Eleven months afterwards he went to
Wheeling, Va., worked a year in a candy factory, then returned to
Steubenville and after a year passed in a job printing office he entered
the office of the True American, in which he continued until
1857. For six months he then ran as cabin boy on the steamer J. S.
Pringle. In June of that year, going to Griggsville, Pike county, Ill.,
he found employment in the office of the Pike county Union and
subsequently with the Griggsville Independent, and remained with
that paper after its removal to Pittsfield until 1858. In 1859 he
removed to Bourbon county, Kas., where his stay was brief; taking a case
for a short time in the office of Paola Chief, he soon returned
to Griggsville, Ill., but in the fall of 1860 again went to Kansas,
where, July 22, 1861, he enlisted in Co. D, 3d regiment Kansas infantry,
serving under Gen. Jim Lane against Price, Coffey and Jackson in
Missouri. In 1862 the 3d and 4th regiments of Kansas infantry were
consolidated into the 10th Kansas infantry, and private Barter became a
member of Co. E; the regiment was in service along the Kansas and
Missouri borders and was then ordered to Humboldt, Kas., going into the
Indian Nation with Gen. Blunt; returning to Missouri it took part in the
campaign against Hindman, was at the battles of Newtonia, Lone Jack,
Maysville, Cane Hill and Prairie Grove, and did provost duty at Rolla
and St. Louis. Returning to Kansas when Quantrell raided the State, the
regiment went thence to Alton and St. Louis and finally to Leavenworth,
where it was mustered out. Mr. Barter now resumed his chosen calling
first in the office of the Fort Scott Monitor for 11 months, then
as foreman of the Border Sentinel, Mound City, Linn county, Kas.,
for two and a half years, after which he purchased the paper and
continued its publication until 1874. Returning again to Fort Scott he
published for two months a weekly and tri-weekly paper, then sold out
and entered the office of the State printer at Topeka, and later on
assumed control of his old paper, which he managed until September,
1875. A partnership was now formed in job printing under the firm name
of Barter & Scott, but in May, 1876, Mr. Barter disposed of his interest
and for three months superintended the Fort Scott Monitor. In
September, 1876, he purchased the Nevada Ledger, and since then
has continued its publication with splendid success. He has never
missed a single issue, not excepting holidays, and throughout this
section the Ledger is recognized as an able exponent of
Republican principles. Mr. Barter has ever taken an active part in
political matters, his own preferences being Republican. September 8,
1864, he was married to Miss Mary T., daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth
Harrington, of the Harding family from Rhode Island. Three children
were born of this union: Cora S., wife of H. H. Moies, of Cedar Rapids,
Ia.; Bessie L., and one now deceased. Mrs. Barter died April 8, 1882.
Jul 25, 1886, Mr. B. was again married, Miss Clara B. Morgan becoming
his wife. She was born in Macoupin county, Ill., and is an experienced
and practical compositor. The United States Biographical Dictionary,
published in 1878, speaks of Mr. Barter in the following manner, which
we feel justified in repeating:--
* * * Mr. Barter has given his life time to the business of
which he is now engaged and has so mastered all the practical details of
his profession as to be justly recorded an efficient and competent
editor. He is a man of integrity in his business, of fine social
qualities, and enjoys the esteem and confidence of a large circle of
acquaintances in the western part of the State.
[Transcribed by Becky Siple.]
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