MEAFORD EXPRESS (April 1926) - The death of Charles Barber took place yesterday afternoon following a very brief illness from bronchial pneumonia, and his passing removes the oldest manufacturer in town, he having been identified with the business of Meaford for upwards of sixty years.
   Deceased was born in Horsham, Sussex, England, in 1842, and came with his father, the late Philip Barber, to Meaford in 1848. After an early education, he spent eight years in Owen Sound and was apprenticed as a machinist in the late Christie and Corley Foundry. In 1866 the late Mr. Barber served with the Grey Regiment in the Fenian Raid under Col. J.P. Telford of Owen Sound who still survives.
   The following year he returned to Meaford, and in July 2nd, 1867, he established the Georgian Foundry here and was closely identified with the business until last year, when owing to ill health he was forced into retirement from active service. Being of alert mind the subject of this sketch was the inventor of the Canadian Turbine water wheel in the early sixties, which he commenced to manufacture on opening the Meaford Foundry and continued to improve throughout the past half century until he eventually realized his fondest hopes in seeing it occupy an eminent place in the world's industrial accomplishments. Today the celebrated turbine stands as a monument to his memory and he lived to see the day that the fruits of his labours were duly recognized and endorsed by leading engineers, and his product used in many of the largest power schemes on this continent and as far away as Ireland and New Zealand. Not only has the Barber product found favor in Canada but it holds a high place in the world's water power developments and stand ace high in the official testing at Holyoke, Mass., where the zenith of efficiency has been universally admitted. At the International Exhibition at Philadelphia, Penn., in 1867, the late Mr. Barbour was presented with the certificate of award and medals by the United States Centennial Commission as well as the Canadian Commission. Preparations were about to be made for his attendance at the coming Centennial at Philadelphia in the near future showing the progress made by the Meaford Turbine.
   For several years the late Mr. Barber served in the Town Council and gave good service to the town. In politics he was a staunch Reformer and used his influence from time to time with that of his sons in getting assistance from Ottawa for the Meaford Harbour.
   Deceased is survived by two sons; George, who is in a delicate state of health; and Thomas, who will succeed his father as head of the Georgian Foundry. His wife predeceased him some five years ago. The funeral, which is private, will take place on Friday afternoon to Lakeview Cemetery.