My Genealogy Hound

JAMES BARBOUR, farmer and stock-raiser, post-office Carthage. The subject of this sketch hails originally from Barren county, Ky., where he was born Aug. 25, 1825. His ancestors were Virginians. Dr. Edward Barbour and Jane, his wife, of Richmond, Va., were his paternal grandparents. Governor Barbour of Virginia history was a brother of his grandfather. His maternal ancestors were the Ralstons of Virginia. Our subject came to Missouri with his parents in 1843 and settled near Jefferson City. At the age of twenty-four he engaged in the mercantile business as salesman at Pleasant Mount, in Miller county, Mo. Also speculated in stock quite successfully. Was married in his native county in 1850, to Miss Julia A. White, also a native of Barren county, Ky.; she died in Coles county, Mo., in 1854, where he had purchased a large farm and was extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising. The advent of the civil war found him possessed of a large share of worldly goods, real and personal. Was also holding an important office in the state government, firmly believing, as did his fathers before him, in the sovereign rights of the states. He was naturally in sympathy with the Southern cause, but endeavored to observe a strict neutrality in his actions; however his property became a prey to both contending armies, and the disturbed condition of business interfered so materially with his affairs that his losses during the “late unpleasantness” were distressingly severe. Shortly after the close of the war he disposed of the remnants of his once fine property and engaged in stock and grain speculations until 1878, when he became a resident of Jasper county, Mo. He is at present farming about 700 acres, making a specialty of wheat-growing. Was married Jan. 8, 1865, to Miss Lucy J. Taylor, a native of Missouri. Her paternal ancestors were Tennesseeans; her maternal ancestors were by name Adcock, a very old and highly respected family of Knox county, Va. One son has blessed this union, Joseph T. Mr. Barbour has traveled extensively in the United States and Mexico, and thinks Jasper county will compare favorably with the very best, and in prospect far surpasses most countries.