Allen Barr, lumberman
and farmer, P. O. Dent's Run, Elk county, was born in what is now Gibson township,
Cameron Co., Penn., April 28, 1827, and is a son of William and Sally (Miller)
Barr. His paternal grandfather, John Barr, a native of Ireland, settled in what
is now Clinton county, Penn., in 1787. He was a soldier of the Revolution, under
Washington, and served seven years and six months. John Miller, the maternal grandfather
of our subject, and who settled in Gibson township, Cameron Co., Penn., in 1811,
was also a soldier of the Revolution, serving three years and six months, and
was with Washington when he crossed the Delaware near Trenton, N. J. William Barr,
father of Allen, was a farmer and lumberman by occupation. He was a pioneer of
Gibson township, and cleared and improved the farm now occupied by his grandson,
James F. Barr, where he died April 28, 1886. His children were fourteen in number,
thirteen of whom grew to maturity: Elias, Oliver, Delilah (Mrs. James Overturf),
Charles, Selana (Mrs. David F. Marsh), Allen, Jemima (Mrs. Hezekiah Bailey), Loruhama
(Mrs. Solomon Mix), Emily (Mrs. James Thomas), Martha (Mrs. Henry Loophole), Darious,
Wesley (killed in the battle of the Wilderness, in the Civil war) and Alice (Mrs.
George Ingerson). Allen Barr has always resided in Gibson township. He began life
as a lumberman, which occupation he has since followed, and cleared and improved
the farm he now occupies, besides other lands. He married Nancy, daughter of James
and Kate (Overturf) Mix, of Gibson township, and they have four children: Marshall,
James, Flora (Mrs. Alex. McPhee) and Merritt A. Mr. Barr is a prominent citizen
of this township, and has held the office of school director eighteen years; politically
he is a Republican.
This page was last updated on Saturday, August 24,
2002.