Barr, Phoebe "Bebe" E. 1842-1922

BARR, BROWN

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/18/2013 at 11:22:35

Mrs. Bede E. Barr and Husband Settled
-Where Town Now Stands .

Mrs. Bede E. Barr, the first woman resident of Akron, died at her home in that town on July 16, aged 80 years. Five years ago Mrs. Barr was struck by an automobile and was unable to walk since and a year ago fell from a chair breaking her shoulder.

With her husband, Harvey D. Barr, she came from Wisconsin in 1859 to Mason City, Iowa. In 1869 Mr. Barr worked at his trade of miller for E, W. Sargent and L. N. Crill at a point east of Elk Point on the Big Sioux.

In 1871 the proprietors of this mill decided a better place for the mill was where the town ot Akron now stands and Mr, Barr helped them install a mill there. The place was First called Portlandvllle. Mr. and Mrs. Barr built the first house and she lived there, ever since. Mr. Barr was a veteran of the Civil war and Mrs. Barr was active in the W. R. C, of Biddlecome Post. Mr. Barr died thirtteen years ago.

She is survived, by three sons and two daughters, thirty four grandchildren, twenty-five great-grandchildren and ono great-great-grandchildren.

Le Mars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Tuesday, July 25, 1922
Le Mars, Iowa

ANOTHER PIONEER IS GONE

Mrs. Bede E. Barr, Akron's First Woman Resident, Dies at Age of Nearly Eighty Years.

Mrs. Bede E. Barr, one of the earliest of the pioneer settlers of western Plymouth County and Akron, passed away Saturday, July 15, 1922, at 6:00 p.m., at the home of her daughter, Mrs. C. H. Maxson, at the age of 70 years, 8 months, 4 days.

About 5 years ago Mrs. Barr was struck by an auto and her hip so badly injured that she was afterward unable to walk, but previous to that time she had been very active for one of her age. Almost a year ago she fell and broke her shoulder and since then has been bedfast and in declining health. During the past two years she had been cared for by her daughter, Mrs. Maxson.

Bebe E. Brown was born in Hillsdale county, Michigan, November 11, 1842. She moved with her parents from Michigan to Wisconsin when she was ten years of age. She was united in marriage with Harvey D. Barr at Nealsville, Wis., on November 30, 1866.

They moved from Wisconsin to Rock Falls, near Mason City, Iowa, in 1859, making the trip by ox-team. They resided there until 1869, whn they came west and located at a point east of Elk Point, S. D., known as the Big Sioux Mills, where Mr. Barr worked at his trade as miller for the owners, E. W. Sargent and L. N. Crill.

In 1871 the proprietors decided that a better place to establish a mill was on the high banks of the Big Sioux river where Akron is now located and Mr. Barr assisted them in installing the mill here, the lumber being prepared at their saw-mill, operated in connection with their flouring mill. Mr. Barr hauled in the lumber for the first building in the new settlement at the mill site, which was called Portlandville, and soon afterward the dwelling of Mr. and Mrs. Barr was erected here.

This was in 1871 and theirs was the first family to live in what is now Akron. Mrs. Barr was a veteran of the Civil war and was a charter member of Biddlecome Post, No. 401, Grand Army of the Republic, organized in Akron in the spring of 1889, being its first vice commander. Mrs. Barr was a charter member of Biddlecome Women's Relief Corps, organized here February 20, 1892, being its first chaplain. Both of them always took an active part in these organizations.

Mr. Barr preceded his wife in death thirteen years ago. They were the parents of eight children and are survived by three sons and two daughters--Mrs. Chas H. Maxson, of Akron; Major Barr, of Richland, S. D.; Ora and Grant Barr, of Akron, and Mrs. Bert Port, of Sioux City. There are also thirty-four grandchildren, twenty-five great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, thus making Mrs. Barr the head of five generations. One brother, France Brown, lives in Hills City, in the Black hills section of South Dakota.

This pioneer woman was of that pleasant, hospitable type whom every one revered. She was a kind and devoted wife and mother and a helpful friend and neighbor, whose many good deeds and early connection with this community will long sustain her in the memory of its people.

Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Carl Hammer in the Akron M. E. church Monday afternoon and many friends were in attendance as a final tribute of respect. Hymns were sung by a quartet composed of Miss Joy Brady, Edw. Stinton, Miss Clara Stoutenburg and Dr. G. H. Wooten and Miss Alice Barr, of Elk Point, a granddaughter of the deceased, sang a beautiful solo. Interment was in Riverside cemetery, beside her husband and two sons, Marion and Frank Barr.

Akron Register Tribune
Thursday, July 20, 1922
Akron, Iowa