Wilson R. Barr and Jennie Ceven Harding

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Husband Wilson R. Barr ^{1 2}

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           Born: 11 Oct 1839 - Erie Co, PA 2 3
     Christened: 
           Died: 12 Jul 1912 - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 3
         Buried:  - Grove Hill Cemetery, Oil City, Venango Co, PA

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         Father: William Barr (      -      ) 2 3
         Mother: Susan Wasson (      -      ) 2 3

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       Marriage: 30 Jun 1874 4

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Wife Jennie Ceven Harding ^{1 2 5}

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           Born: 22 May 1853 - Warren Twp, Bradford Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 3 Oct 1937 - Oil City, Venango Co, PA 6
         Buried:  - Grove Hill Cemetery, Oil City, Venango Co, PA

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         Father: Dr. Joseph Mayhew Harding (1828-1903) 7 8
         Mother: Thankful Slingerland (      -1859) 1 5

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Children

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1 M Joseph Wilson Barr ^{2 4 6}

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           Born: 1 Jul 1875 - Oil City, Venango Co, PA 2 4
     Christened: 
           Died: 1955
         Buried:  - Grove Hill Cemetery, Oil City, Venango Co, PA

         Spouse: Florence Laura Byles (1879-1953) 9 10
           Marr: 16 Jan 1913 - New York City, NY 11 12

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General Notes: Husband - Wilson R. Barr

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He received his early education in Jef-ferson, Ohio, whither he removed with the family when a child. In 1873 he came to Oil City, Pennsylvania, and engaged in oil producing; he became well known through this industry, in which he continued most of the time throughout the remainder of his life. He was engaged also in real estate and insurance business, and was counted among the most successful and prominent business men of Oil City. He was active and influential in public affairs and for several terms was a member of the city council. For twelve years he was treasurer of the Oil City Hospital, which at the time of his death passed the following resolutions:
Whereas, By the death of Wilson R. Barr on the 12th day of July, 1912, the Oil City Hospital lost a zealous and devoted director, officer, and firm friend, his term of service beginning with the organization of the institution in 1892 and only ceasing with his death, and
Whereas, The Board of Directors desire to express their appreciation of his work and service for the hospital;
Resolved, That his earnest manner, his constant attendance at meetings of the board and of the corporation, his watchful care of its financial business, were invaluable and always regulated only by the demands of the hospital.
That the Board of Directors appreciate highly his record and shall always hold his memory in high esteem. That we extend to his family our regret at his death and express our sympathy with them in their bereavement.
That a copy of these resolutions be made and given to his family, and that they be recorded in the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors. S. Y. Ramage, H. H. Rand, George N. Reed, R. D. McLouth, Committee.
Mr. Barr was also a director of the Oil City Trust Company, and took a leading part in various other enterprises in that city. He was a member of Petrolia Lodge of Free Masons; and he was a member of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, which he supported financially.

He had been engaged in the general insurance business in Oil City for many years. A very young lad when his father died, he removed with his brothers-Washington, Lafayette and John Barr-to Girard, Pennsylvania, and later to Conneautville, Crawford County, where he lived for many years prior to arrival at Oil City in 1871. A Republican in politics, he served on various civic and municipal bodies in Oil City, and was a member of Christ Episcopal Church.

He was very young when his father died, after which he moved with his brothers Washington, Lafayette and John to Girard, Pennsylvania, and later to Conneautville, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, where he lived many years prior to his removal to Oil City. His early education was acquired in public schools at that place and Meadville, and he took higher studies in the academy at Jefferson, Ohio. At the time of the gold excitement in Colorado he went West, but met with no success there and returned to Conneautville. In 1871 he came to Oil City, here in 1873 founding the insurance business which he continued until his death, and later carried on by his son under the old name of W. R. Barr & Co. As resident agent for leading companies he built up a large patronage, and in connection with that line handled real estate, many important local transactions passing through his hands. In 1880 he formed a partnership with Dr. J. N. Bolard, a well known oil man, with whom he was engaged in the production of oil for about twenty-five years, with results which brought him considerable reputation, and he was a director of the Oil City Trust Company, becoming prominent in business circles. Mr. Barr served several terms in the city council, in whose deliberations he took an influential part. When the Oil City Hospital was organized in 1892 he became director, later succeeding J. R. Campbell as treasurer and serving as such until his death, which occurred at Vancouver, B. C., while he was on his way home from a pleasure trip to the Pacific coast.

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General Notes: Wife - Jennie Ceven Harding

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She was born in Apalachin, Tioga County, New York.

1 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 1137.

2 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 651.

3 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 1138.

4 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 1139.

5 Editor, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk, & Co., Publishers, 1890), Pg 867.

6 Joseph Riesenman, Jr., History of Northwestern Pennsylvania, Vol. III (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., Inc., 1943), Pg 62.

7 Editor, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk, & Co., Publishers, 1890), Pg 866.

8 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 1136.

9 Samuel P. Bates, LL.D., Our County and Its People, A Historical and Memorial Record of Crawford County, Pennsylvania (W. A. Fergusson & Co., 1899), Pg 751.

10 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 652.

11 Joseph Riesenman, Jr., History of Northwestern Pennsylvania, Vol. III (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., Inc., 1943), Pg 63.

12 Joan S. Hanson & Kenneth L. Hanson, Marriages from Venango County Sources (Apollo, PA: Closson Press, 1994), Pg 12.