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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Garland County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Dr. William H. Barry, Hot Springs, Ark. This prominent physician was originally from Spartanburg, S. C, where his birth occurred February 11, 1836. His parents, Hugh W. and Malinda (Kilgore) Barry, were natives of South Carolina, the father born in Spartanburg, and the mother in Greenville, and both of Irish ancestry. The paternal grandfather was a captain through the Revolutionary War, and his death occurred in South Carolina. The father, Hugh W. Barry, followed agricultural pursuits for a livelihood and remained in his native State until 1839, when he removed to Cherokee County, Ala., and from there in 1845 to LaFayette County, Miss., where he died in 1880. The mother is yet living. They reared six children, only four now living, and Dr. William H. Barry the eldest. He was early taught the duties of farm life, and remained under the parental roof until fifteen years of age, when he entered the academy near Oxford, preparatory to the university. He began the study of medicine in 1856, graduated at the Memphis Medical College in March, 1858, and immediately began practicing at his home in Mississippi, where he remained two years. In December, 1860, he came to Monticello, Ark., and here lived until the war broke out, when, May 4, 1861, he enlisted with the First Arkansas Regiment, as assistant surgeon, and was in Virginia when Arkansas seceded. At the battle of Shiloh he was prostrated with jaundice and went home on a furlough. After the war he resumed his practice at Monticello, remained there until April, 1875, when he came to Hot Springs, and has since been in active practice. Soon after coming here he was one of the organizers of the city government of Hot Springs, and as chairman of the committee on ordinances, wrote all the original ordinances of the city and served two terms in the city council. In 1876 he was elected president of the Arkansas State Medical Association, which position he honorably filled for one term. Soon after coming here he was appointed school examiner, which position he still fills. He organized the public schools of the county, which are now a credit to any community. In 1878 he was elected to the legislature without canvass, and re-elected in 1882, serving two terms with honor. The Doctor has been a valuable citizen to Hot Springs, and has done much in building up its great future. In 1883 he was appointed president of the board of health, and after serving a year or two resigned, and in June, 1887, he was again appointed with enlarged powers, being chief executive health officer and president of the board of health which consists of himself and two consulting members. He was appointed by the United States Government as pension surgeon in the same year, and is now president of the board of surgeons at Hot Springs. He is also president of the Hot Springs Medical Society at this time. He was married in 1859 to Miss Lou Watt, a native of South Carolina, and the fruits of this union are three living children: Linda H., Nita and Pat L. One son, H. Walter, died in October, 1887. He was manager of the Western Union Telegraph Company, at Hot Springs, and was one of the most promising young men of the county.

“Close his eyes; his work is done.
What cares he for friend or foeman,
Rise of moon or set of sun,
Hand of man or kiss of woman?
Lay him low.”

He left a widow and two children to mourn his loss. The Doctor is a Mason and an Ancient Odd Fellow. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which the Doctor has been an elder for many years, and has been clerk of the session for the last thirty years. He has served as superintendent of the Sabbath school for many years, and is one of the most esteemed and respected citizens of the county. He has had many honors bestowed upon him that he could not accept, has been earnestly solicited to run for Congress, State senator and the Governorship of Arkansas. The Doctor is connected with some of the most prominent families, and his ancestor, William T. Barry, was the originator of the system of Democratic National Conventions. The first convention held was when Andrew Jackson was nominated for president, and for his services William T. Barry was made postmaster-general in Jackson’s Cabinet.

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This family biography is one of 55 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Garland County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Garland County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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