BARBER, LEVERETT C.

BARBER, CHAMBERLAIN, YAW, HAM

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/26/2004 at 15:05:35

Biography reproduced from page 237 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Leverett C. Barber, proprietor of the Home Park Stock Farm, on section 16, Harrison township, is one of the well known and substantial agriculturists of this county. His birth occurred in Oneida county, New York, on December 17, 1836, his parents being Philo and Fidelia (Chamberlain) Barber. He is descended from unmixed Pilgrim stock, his forebears having lived for many years before the Revolution in Oneida county, New York. Philo Barber, the father of our subject, was a physician and surgeon by profession. After the completion of his public-school course in Oneida county, he entered the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from which institution he was graduated in due time with the degree of M. D., and entered at once upon the practice of his profession at his home in Oneida county. Subsequently he removed to western New York and settled near Buffalo where he continued as physician until 1858, at which time he came to Iowa, locating in Waterloo, where he practiced medicine until the time of his death, which occurred in 1887.

Leverett C. Barber remained at home with his parents until twenty years of age, obtaining his education in the schools of Fredonia and Buffalo, New York. In 1856 he made his way to Waterloo, Iowa. In this place and the vicinity he resided for many years and during this time bought and sold a number of farms, which he improved and cultivated. In 1894 he came to Kossuth county where he bought and improved three different farms, among them a farm which he purchased in Harrison township and one which he remained until 1900. In that year he moved to the farm one mile east of Swea City, where he now resides and which he had previously purchased. His is one of the most beautiful and best known stock farms in the far-famed state of Iowa. Its picturesque surroundings and its adaptability for the purpose of stock-raising, under the management of its experienced and successful owner, have made this farm one of the show places of the county. It is known throughout the state as the Home Park Stock Farm. This name was chosen by Mr. Barber as the one most suitable to designate its location and also in some measure to indicate its picturesque beauty. In addition to this place he owns other lands in this county, located not far from the Home Park Stock Farm. He makes a specialty of buying and feeding cattle, which he prepares for the market. This necessitates his continuance in general agricultural pursuits and for this purpose his farm holdings in the county have been brought to a high state of cultivation and today are yielding their owner a full measure of reward. Personally he is retiring somewhat from the arduous toil and care of his business interests and is renting certain portions of his land, but the Home Park Stock Farm is under his management. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers Elevator Company of Swea City and is a stockholder in that company.

In 1860 Mr. Barber was married to Miss Delia Yaw, of Buffalo, New York, a daughter of Hiram Yaw, who was a well known bell manufacturer of the east. To this marriage has been born one daughter, Mary, the wife of Colonel Clifford D. Ham, collector general at the part of Nicaragua. Colonel Ham was lieutenant-colonel of the Forty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry during the Spanish-American war and accepted his appointment to his present post in the fall of 1911. Prior to this time Colonel Ham had served for eight years as surveyor of the port at Manila. To Colonel and Mrs. Ham have been born two children: Marian, who is at present a student in St. Mary’s Academy of Faribault, Minnesota, from which institution she graduated in June 1912; and Clifford Dudley. Mr. and Mrs. Barber are affiliated with the Baptist church of Swea City. Mr. Barber has for several years served as township trustee of Harrison township and is acting in that capacity at the present time. He is one of the well known and substantial citizens of the county in which he resides and his business and social activities have been factors in making for the betterment of all those interests which contribute to a well ordered and prosperous community.