William Barr ^{2 3 4 5 6}

  General Notes:

THE WILL OF WILLIAM BARR
Will Book I, pages 95-97
Calhoun County, West Virginia

In the name of God: Amen; I, William Barr of the county of Calhoun and State, being of infirm health, but of sound mind and disposing memory, do hereby make, publish and declare my last will and testament in the terms following, hereby revoking any and all former wills by me at any time heretofore made.

First, I will and desire that so soon after my decease as practicable all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid by my Executor hereinafter named.

Second. I will and devise that as soon as convenient and practicable after my decease my executor shall make sale either at public or private sale as shall be most expeditious for the estate, of all my property, both real and personal, selling the real estate for cash in hand and the personal property upon six months credit, taking notes with good security therefore, unless the purchases after sale made, shall elect to pay cash in had for any article purchased, in which event the executor shall receive - Wm. Barr - the money in lieu of notes.

I also devise that my Executor shall collect all outstanding indebtedness due and owing to me which with the proceeds of the sales of the same estate and personal Estate aforesaid shall constitute a fund to be distributed as hereinafter set forth after the payment of my debts and funeral expense.

Third, I will, devise and bequeath unto my dear wife Rachel Barr the sum of Fifteen Hundred Dollars, To my daughters Marrietta Sharps, Emma Wilson, and Narcissa Hardman, each the sum of five hundred dollars. To A. J. Barr, Jr. the infant child of my deceased Son A. J. Barr, the sum of two hundred dollars. To my son John Barr, to be held for his use and support as hereinafter set forth, the sum of five hundred dollars: To my son S. C. Barr and to my daughter Theodocia Marshall and to my son Levi J. Barr each the sum of one hundred dollars, which several bequests to these are not reduced by lack of affection for them, but for the reason that I have heretofore provided for them in excess of what has been done for - Wm. Barr - my other children herein named and provided for.

The bequests herein before made have been made upon the hypothesis that the fund to be realized and distributed herein under, will after payment of debts and expenses of settlement amount to four thousand dollars and I hereby provide that if such net sum shall exceed or fall short of that sum, then the distribution share of each devisee shall be increased or decreased ratably.

I further direct that the distribution share bequeathed to my son John, whom I do not believe to - mentally capable of handling funds, remain in the hands of my executor to be invested by him from time to time with its accruing interest so as to realize as large a sum as possible for him, when he shall become helpless and need the same for his support, but discretion in this respect is given to my executor, and if any thing shall remain of the fund at the death of my said son John, the same shall go to his legal heirs or representatives.

I desire that my estate shall be closed as speedily as practicable and - Wm Barr - consistent with good business principles and that the devised herein made be paid to the persons entitled thereto.

I nominate Allen Hardman, my son-in-law, to be the executor of the will and ask that such nomination be confirmed by the proper Authorities.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sit my hand and seal and do here by on this 28th day of October 1899 at my residence on Philips Run in the County of Calhoun in the presence of W. T. H. Dye, J. P. Switzer, A. C. Blair and J. M. Hamilton, publish and declare this paper, written on one sheet of paper, to each page of which I have affixed my name as and for my true last will and testament.

Wm. Barr (seal)

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the testator William Barr, as and for his last will and testament, in our presence, at his residence on Philips run in Calhoun, and we at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other did on this 28th day of October 1899 subscribe the same as Witnesses
W. H. H. Dye, MD
J. P. Swisher
A. C. Blair
J. M. Hamilton

West Virginia to wit: In vacation of the County Court of Calhoun, in the Clerks Office of said court, at the court house thereof on Monday November 13th 1899 A paper writing having date on the 28th day of October 1899, purporting to be the last will and testament of William Barr deceased, who has a known place of residence in said, wherein he died, was this day presented for probate to the undersigned Clerk of said County Court, in vacation of said court by Rachel Barr, the Widow of the said William Barr and one of the devisees named in said Will and thereupon came W. J. H. Dye, A. C. Blair and J. M. Hamilton, three of the subscribing witnesses to the said paper writing and who after being duly sworn proved that at the time of the execution of said will, the said William Barr the testator was of sound mind and disposing memory and over the age of 21 years; that he signed the said will in their presence and published and declared the same, as and for his true last will and testament, and that they at the same time, at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other and of J.P. Switzer another witness thereto, subscribed their names to the said will as witnesses. Whereupon the said will is here by duly admitted to probate as the true last will and testament of the said William Barr, deceased.

Teste: L. H. Trippett, Clerk

West Virginia to wit:
In vacation of the County Court of Calhoun County in the Clerks Office of said Court at the Court House thereof on Wednesday November 15th 1899. Allen Hardman; who is named as Executor in the last will and testament of William Barr, deceased, and being required to file his bond as such Executor, this day appeared before the undersigned clerk, in said Clerks Office, in vacation of said Court, with Geo. W. Hardman, his surety, also her present, entered into - and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of $6000, conditioned according to law and payable to the State, which bond is accepted as sufficient and is hereby approved. Where upon the said Allen Hardman took the oath prescribed by law as such Executor.

It is ordered that J. R. Stump, Jesse C. Gainer and S. P. Bell, be and are hereby appointed appraisers of the Estate, both real and personal of William Barr, deceased, whose duty it shall be, after being duly sworn, to proceed to appraise all the Personal Effects of the said William Barr deceased, and all the Real Estate owned by him at the time of his death, situated in Calhoun County, West Virginia.

Teste: L. H. Trippett, Clerk
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  Noted events in his life were:

• He appeared on the 1850 US Census in , Gilmer County, VA on 4 September 1850. ³

1850 US Census
Page 34, Roll 946, House 476, Family 478
17th District, Gilmer County, Virginia
William Barr..21..VA..Laborer
(Living with parents.)
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• He appeared on the 1860 US Census in Calhoun County, VA on 11 October 1860. ⁴

1860 US Census
Page 110, Roll 1340, Dwelling 799, Family 733
, Calhoun County, Virginia
William Barr..30..Randolph County..Farmer
(Living with wife and 4 children.)
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• He appeared on the 1870 US Census in Sherman Magisterial District, Calhoun, West Virginia, United States on 16 July 1870. ⁵

1870 US Census
Page 14, Dwelling 89, Family 89
Sherman Township, Calhoun County, West Virginia
William Barr..41..VA..Farmer
(Living with wife and 7 children.)

NOTE - If his birth date was 27 Jul 1829, then his age should have been 40 instead of 41.
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• He appeared on the 1880 US Census in Sherman Magisterial District, Calhoun, West Virginia, United States on 10 June 1880. ²

1880 US Census
Page 229B, Roll 1401, District 143, Dwelling 19, Family 19
Sherman District, Calhoun County, West Virginia
William Barr..Self..50..VA..Sheriff
(Living with wife, 6 children, and 1 granddaughter.)
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• His obituary was published in the Calhoun Chronicle on 4 November 1899 in Grantsville, WV.

William Barr, one of the most esteemed, as well as one of the oldest citizens of the, departed this life at his late residence on Phillip's Run, on Saturday, November 11, 1899, at about 1:30 PM

He has been suffering from a disease of the stomach for several months, which took a fatal turn some weeks ago, and since then his death has been but a question of time.

Mr. Barr was a citizen known throughout the whole of Calhoun, and any attempt to eulogize him here would be superfluous. He has held many important trusts, including one term in the office of Sheriff, in which office, as well as in all others occupied by him, he gave full and complete satisfaction. He was a citizen strictly honest in all his dealings and his integrity was a byword amongst all who knew him. He has been for perhaps a half century one of the most prominent members of the Baptist Church, and as such is character and life was equal to his profession. He was a Christian in act as well as by profession, and in his death that denomination in Calhoun and adjoining counties has suffered a great loss. His home on Phillips Run was known and recognized as one of the most hospitable places in this section of the State, and no man was ever turned away hungry therefrom.

In early life he was married to Rachel Huffman, one of the daughters of the late Alexander Huffman, deceased, and his domestic life has been one of Christian peace and happiness. He was the father of five sons and four daughters, three of the sons and all of the daughters being yet alive.

A. J. Barr, the oldest son, died at Grantsville in November 1896, and was soon followed by the youngest son, Victor, who died in June, 1897. The second son, Samuel C. Barr, is the well known editor of the Calhoun Chronicle. Another son, Levi J., is a farmer and timberman, residing on Steer creek; and the remaining son, John is at the homestead.

The four daughters are all married and reside in this county. The oldest Marietta, being the wife of Rev. Joshua S. Sharps, of Sycamore, and the next, Theadocia, the wife of W. T. Marshall, of Rush Run, the next, Emma, the wife of James M. Wilson, of Sycamore, and the youngest, Narcissus, the wife of Allen Hardman, Deputy Sheriff of this county. A good life, like the virtue, is, to a certain extend, its own reward, and this is proven in the case of Mr. Barr, because it will be a long number of years before his upright walk will be forgotten by the people. A life like his cannot be in vain, and when we consider the hereafter, it well becomes us all to imitate the example which he left. The writer saw him a few days before his death, when he was fully conscious of his state, and knew that it was but a few days until he would be called away, and yet he was as calm and undisturbed as when he was in the best of health and surrounded by the full enjoyment of all that makes life pleasant. He stated that he had a full and complete reliance in the God whom he worshiped.

(Source: Calhoun Chronicle, Grantsville, West Virginia, 14 Nov 1899)
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• He was buried after 11 November 1899 in the Bethlehem Cemetery in Grantsville, WV.

Find A Grave Memorial #26589628
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William married Rachel M. Huffman on 18 March 1852 in , Gilmer County, VA.^{1 2} (Rachel M. Huffman was born on 27 November 1834 in , Lewis County, VA,^{1 2 7 8} died on 8 July 1904 ⁸ and was buried after 8 July 1904 in Grantsville, WV ⁸.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• They appeared on the 1860 US Census in Calhoun County, VA on 11 October 1860. ⁴

1860 US Census
Page 110, Roll 1340, Dwelling 799, Family 733
, Calhoun County, Virginia
William Barr..30..Randolph County..Farmer
Rachel Barr..30..Lewis County
Maryetta Barr..7..Gilmer County
Alexander J. Barr..5..Gilmer County
Samuel C. Barr..3..Calhoun County
Hannah T. Barr..1..Calhoun County
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• They appeared on the 1870 US Census in Sherman Magisterial District, Calhoun, West Virginia, United States on 16 July 1870. ⁵

1870 US Census
Page 14, Dwelling 89, Family 89
Sherman Township, Calhoun County, West Virginia
William Barr..41..VA..Farmer
Rachel Barr..36..VA..Keeping House
Marietta Barr..17..VA..House Keeper
Alexander J. Barr..15..VA..Farm Laborer
Samuel Barr..13..VA..Farm Laborer
Hannah T. Barr..11..VA
John S. Barr..9..VA
Emily J. Barr..4..WV
Levi B. Barr..2..WV
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• They appeared on the 1880 US Census in Sherman Magisterial District, Calhoun, West Virginia, United States on 10 June 1880. ²

1880 US Census
Page 229B, Roll 1401, District 143, Dwelling 19, Family 19
Sherman District, Calhoun County, West Virginia
William Barr..Self..50..VA..Sheriff
Rachael Barr..Wife..45..VA
Theadosia Barr..Dau..21..VA..At Home
John Barr..Son..19..VA
Emly Barr..Dau..14..WV
Levi J. Barr..Son..12..WV
Narcessus Barr..Dau..8..WV
Victor E. Barr..Son..5..WV
Georgia Barr..GDau..1..WV

NOTE - I believe that Georgia Barr was actually a daughter of Hannan Barr who did not marry William Thomas Marshall until 1881. Georgia Barr was born in 1879 so she was probably the illegitimate daughter of William Thomas Marshall.
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