Thomas J. Barr

Thomas J. Barr was born in April, 1824 and reared on a farm in Donegal, Ireland. It was the year one of Beethoven's greatest masterpieces, Symphony No. 9, premiered in Vienna. He immigrated to the United States in the mid-1800's, and landed in Pennsylvania, where he joined his brother William Barr, who had preceded him here. We know that William had at least one child, a daughter. Thomas hired to a Quaker farmer, and remained there for six years. Some believe that Thomas married his bride Mary Grant-Barr in Pennsylvania, while their granddaughter Gladys Ruff-Barr wrote that the two held their nuptuals in Burlington, Iowa, where they had since located, and had their first children.

Cathy Summers (5th generation Barr descendant) sent us an article of unknown origin, that reflects Mary Grant-Barr was engaged to Thomas in Ireland, and that Thomas sent for her once he had established in America. She joined Thomas, but missed her brother Richard (born in 1833 Londonderry, Ireland), who was her only remaining family member. Thomas J. Barr provided Richard Grant's passage money and Richard agreed to work in the coal mine on Thomas's farm to repay the money. Richard then sent money back to County Meath for his fiancee Anna Cooney (born 1832), to join him here. They then had eight children, Mathew, James, Charles, Tom, Mollie, Janie, Maggie, and Katherine Grant. Anna Cooney also had one brother (Charlie), who came to America and worked on the railroad.

Thomas ran a "dray" (a cart designed to carry heavy loads) for awhile, and later engaged in farming for a few years while starting our family. He and Mary moved to Saline County, Missouri in 1865, where they rented a farm for two years, then bought forty acres of raw land to improve, eventually buying several tracts of land totalling over five hundred acres, amongst the most valued in the area. He was proud to have been recognized as one of the most "prominent and substantial men in the area", always investing his surplus money in land, farming, and stock raising. Thomas J. Barr was a life-long member of the Catholic faith, and raised his family in his faith. It is said that his character was "beyond reproach".

Mary Grant-Barr's parents lived and died in Ireland. She was born there in February, 1828. Other than the aforementioned Richard Grant, we don't know if she had any more siblings. Thomas and Mary married in 1856. They enjoyed full and useful lives, both living past eighty years of age. Published works have said that the two had eight children, however our research reflects that they had ten, two of which died at a very young age. Their first children were born in a log cabin, yet their hard work eventually allowed them many comforts, including a "beautifully located home, many outbuildings, and everything to make a life in the country desirable and pleasant".

Thanks to Gary Barr: barrfamilytree.com