Capt. John P. Barr and Catherine D. McCurdy

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Husband Capt. John P. Barr ¹

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           Born: 30 May 1842 - Rockland Twp, Venango Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: Aft 1909
         Buried: 

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         Father: Milton Barr (1815-      ) 1 2
         Mother: Sidnia Pryer (1812-1858) 1

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       Marriage: 

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   Other Spouse: Ann J. McCoy (      -      ) 3

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Wife Catherine D. McCurdy ³

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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Children

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General Notes: Husband - Capt. John P. Barr

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He was reared in Venango County, Pennsylvania, and was but eighteen years of age when the Civil war opened. However he tendered his services to his country, enlisting as a member of Company L, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, as a private soldier. The date of his enlistment was October 9, 1861. He was mustered into service as first sergeant, soon after promoted to the rank of second lieutenant, and again advanced to first lieutenant, which was soon followed by his commission as captain of his company. Toward the close of the war, he was breveted major of his regiment, having made a brilliant, brave and useful officer in each succeeding step in line of his promotions. He participated in each and every engagement of his regiment, which were not a few, and among which were many of the noted battles of that terrible conflict between Union and Rebel forces. He was twice wounded, but was fortunate in never having been taken a prisoner of war. He was long identified with the Grand Army Post at Franklin, Pennsylvania.
Upon the close of the war, Captain Barr resumed his duties as a citizen and civilian, at once embarking in the mercantile business in Cranberry township, of his native county. He continued this until 1870, then went to Franklin, which was the county seat, and for three years thereafter served as deputy prothonotary, in the meantime applying himself to the study of law. For two reasons he was never admitted to the bar: First an experience of his own caused him to believe that the practice of the legal profession would not be to his liking, and second, he yielded to the request of his friends to enter politics. He was a defender of the underlying principles of the Republican party. Being made a candidate for the office of recorder of deeds, register of wills and clerk of the courts (all one office), and he was three times elected to that combination of offices, serving nine years. After the term of his office had finally closed, he resided two years at Edenburg or Knox, Clarion County, Pennsylvania, where he was associated with a mercantile and banking establishment. He then moved to Grove City, which place became his permanent home.
He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a Master Mason. As a business man, he was successful in his undertakings, and he always sustained the friendship which grew up within a wide circle of friends and admirers.

He had four children with his first wife.

1 J. G. White, A Twentieth Century History of Mercer County Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909), Pg 463.

2 J. H. Newton, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Columbus, OH: J. A. Caldwell Publishers, 1879), Pg 593.

3 J. G. White, A Twentieth Century History of Mercer County Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909), Pg 464.