Document Collection

Captain Barr Dies, Aged 80

Local Officer Served with Distinction in Civil War. Funeral on Friday.

Captain Jacob Eby Barr died at his residence, 218 East King street, at 1:45 o’clock this morning. He was the son of Elias and Anna Eby Barr, and a brother of the late Charles H. Barr. He was born at East Petersfield, Lancaster county, on October 4, 1843.

Captain Barr served with distinction as a commissioned officer during the Civil War. On September 17, 1862 he was commissioned by Governor Curtin Adjutant of the 12th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, and on November 22, 1862 he was again commissioned as captain of Company E of the 178th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was then less than 20 years of age and one of the youngest captains in the Union Army. In 1864 he was commissioned in the Regular Army and later in the same year was honorably discharged on account of physical disability.

After his discharge from the Army, Captain Barr became associated with the firm of J. P. Coates and Company, publishers in Philadelphia, and later formed a partnership with J. W. Shellenberger under the name of J. E. Barr and Company, of 1124 Walnut Street, Phildelphia, where he dealt in pictures, rare prints, etc. He was a member of the firm until his death, and took an active part in its affairs until a few months ago.

His wife who was Susan Kline, of this city, died in 1897; and from that time until his death, he divided his time between his residence, 218 East King street, Lancaster and The Union League, of Philadelphia. He will be remembered by his many friends in Lancaster and Philadelphia on account of his genial nature and kindly disposition.

Captain Barr was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, The Union League of Philadelphia, and the Hamilton Club, of this city.

He is survived by a brother, W. U. Barr, of Reading, PA., and a sister, Mrs. Annie L. Baer, of Sacramento, Cal.

The funeral services will be held from his late residence, 218 East King street, on Friday afternoon, at 3 o’clock.

Lancaster New Era (Lancaster, Pennsylvania), 2/5/1924


Notes: Found by Meg Wiederseim. Barr was on the board of the Daylesford Water Company.